[knighthawk]

Europe-list

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

[BlueLancer]

"The towns surrounding U.S. bases in Germany that have benefited economically from U.S. Armed Forces' presence for more than 50 years want you as well. What have you done to allay their concerns?"

Why should we have to worry about their concerns? That's the job of the German governments, to prepare them for the time when they don't have Uncle Sugar in their AO anymore. They've suckled off of us long enough. It's time they were weaned.

[elhombrelibre]

There are many reasons to leave Germany. Here's one you won't hear often. Germany needs to grow up. US troops being here allows Germans to believe defense is a non-issue. They don't have any sympathy generally [not all but most of them] with our goals and objectives for world security and the peace that comes from security. They live in a dream world and their economy benefits from us being here. They align with the anti-American French and see nothing wrong with it! Time to go. Hit the road. Adios, fare thee well, Tschuss.

[wayoverontheright]

The underlying question a lot of people have is: Is this being done because of the perceived public political rift between the United States and Germany ... (there has been) much to do about that in the news, is this being precipitated as part of a rift between the United States and Germany or other NATO countries? And the answer is: No, it's not. This would need to be done regardless of any of those political decisions.

Obviously, geography plays a roll here but, going forward, the larger benefits are political.

For those who would attempt to get elected by bashing the US, certain consequences will have to be considered in the future. Shroeder will be out in the next election because his leftist economic policies have tanked the German economy. Austria's refusal to allow the use of their train tracks and roads will also have repercussions in the future, and their coalition government may go to the right also.

There is a sizeable constituency in both countries which was for accommadating the US, and their stock will have risen by election time, enough I think to cause big changes.

[ellery]

"The response from the emerging NATO countries is very positive, as you can imagine. They're interested in the United States being in their countries. ... And there's something to be said about that as well. It is nice to be wanted."

"So as we go down this road I think it is good that people who would prefer that we stay voice that opinion. That might make some difference and it is important that we're in places that are accommodating enough that we can do our job."

"Wherever we've been we've improved things either economically or even environmentally. When our welcome is up we will generally leave in good spirits."

Yep, he may say the move isn't at all related to Germany's opposition to Iraq, a matter we considered vital to our security. But his above quotes make the point very clear.

[Citizen of the Savage Nation]

The one good thing about the United States is that we've never occupied territory.

Oh yeah, good point. To those from Europe who criticise the US as Imperialists...well hellooooooo, if we really were, you wouldn't be having the freedom to say so BECAUSE YOU WOULD BE UNDER OUR CONTROL!! Get it?? Sheesh.

[Prodigal Son]

Around 84 percent of our U.S. forces are mostly in Germany and Central Europe and that is not necessarily where the security problem is anymore. The security problem is generating itself further to the east and further to the south. The turbulence to the Middle East culminating now in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Caspian Sea, are becoming more strategically important from a standpoint of terrorism and the same thing applies to countries in the Horn of Africa as well as Sub-Saharan Africa.

That is very very interesting. A lot of talk the past week about Liberia...

Does this mean that in the near future we will see troops deployed on the African subcontinent in the war on terror?

I'm bookmarking this one.

[curmudgeonII]

The sooner we're out of Germany the better.