W: Bring GIs Home

New York Post ^ | August 17, 2004 | DEBORAH ORIN

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BRING GIS HOME: W.

By Deborah Orin

August 17, 2004 -- WASHINGTON -- President Bush yesterday unveiled plans to bring home up to 70,000 troops from Europe and Asia, with the biggest chunk coming out of Germany.

Democratic rival John Kerry's allies instantly opposed the idea.

"The world has changed a great deal and our posture must change with it," Bush said as he revealed plans for a massive shift of troops that he said will make it easier to strike fast against terror � and easier on military families.

"Our service members will have more time on the home front, and more predictability, and fewer moves over a career," the commander-in-chief told the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Veterans are a key voting group in the November election � Kerry is hoping his Vietnam service will win them over but polls show they favor Bush.

The White House gave no figures on savings but Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) predicted it will be "hundreds of millions." Countries that now host U.S. bases stand to lose megabucks now spent by troops and their families.

Kerry was taking the day off, but two of his allies, diplomat Richard Holbrooke and retired Gen. Wesley Clark, both claimed Bush's plan would "weaken America's national security" and anger European allies.

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Hey! ...but those poor Germans will STILL have the FRENCH standing by to "protect" them ...won't they...???!!!

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Thought you folks might 'know' someone who'd be interested in this info...

[GeronL]

Has anyone calculated the loss to the German economy?? Its gotta be billions.

70,000 troops, base leases, dependent families up to 100,000 people... all that spending.. coming to the USA

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RE: "Has anyone calculated the loss to the German economy?? Its gotta be billions. 70,000 troops, base leases, dependent families up to 100,000 people... all that spending.. coming to the USA"

OHMYGOSH, YES. ...Could we call that "IN"-sourcing of jobs...?
(...as opposed to, of course, what Heinz57 does?)

Then by standard 'election-season logic', couldn't we also then credibly claim that *ANYONE* who objects to Bush's plan here, must then, "quite obviously", *FAVOR* the continued outsourcing of American jobs...???!!!

[GeronL]

YES!!

Start writing those e-mails to talk radio and conservative websites.

[CHUCKfromCAL]

The western Europeans (except the UK), the Koreans, the Japanese and the Canadians are all welfare queens. They have been on the military dole for more than fifty years. Not only have we protected them but we allowed them to waste the money they would have had to spend on their own military on socialist schemes or subsidising their domestic companies to better compete with the USA.

We should have done this 10 years ago. Better late than never. I commend the Bush administration.

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Uh-huh. I think you NAILED it there Chuck.

[NYCVirago]

"As we face a global war on terror with al Qaeda active in more than 60 countries, now is not the time to pull back our forces," said Clark, who contended the move looks "politically motivated."

Of course, Clark's comments are not "politically motivated," right?

[PogySailor]

I'll agree with you on this except for Japan. They have as much of an armed force as their constitution (that we wrote) allows.

[gunnygail]

True. The Japanese back our plays, unlike the Germs/Frogs. Kudos to team Bush for yanking the Yanks out of Eurinal. It's going to cost the Germans well into the hundreds of millions when you figure in base employees, GI's living on the local economy, etc. Bottom line? You don't back US up, why should WE back THEM up? WELL DONE!

[Wonder Warthog]

The only problem with this withdrawal, is that it will be done in "slow motion", stretched out over a TEN-YEAR period. I say, bull****---pull them out over the next year, and be done with it.

[patriciaruth]

Do we lease those bases?

I thought we won the land in WWII, and the Germans can say squat about it. Or did Carter give it away with the Panama Canal?

[Wristpin]

It has to be huge! Currently an E-6 with a wife and two kids stationed in Germany draws $2500 a month in Overseas Housing Allowance and COLA. Far more than even the highest cost area in the US.

Also, the DOD must run a monstrous infrastructure to support troops and their families overseas. That means a DOD school system, full service hospitals, a PX system among many things.

Normally the Status of Forces agreement negotiated with the host country dictates theat the host nationals get the majority of the jobs to keep the bases running. With the German unemployment rate at nearly 10 percent, the loss of these gravy train jobs will hurt.

This will be a boom for military towns in the US!

[EQAndyBuzz]

Might be time to take another look at the base realignment/closing proposal. There will be quite a few upset Democrat Congressmen/Senators that will not be getting a base for these fine soldiers and their families.

Unless of course they throw something into the kitty. Miquel Estrada comes to mind....

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RE: "Unless of course they throw something into the kitty. Miquel Estrada comes to mind.... "

MEGABUMP !!!