[shezza]

Italy has been a staunch supporter. Ditto Spain, Romania, Hungary. I hear Budapest is lovely this time of year. (Why should we reward the Germans with our tax dollars in the form of base rental, civilian jobs, personnel housing costs, even payments to farmers for driving a tank down their dirt roads? Let's send that money to our friends, not our enemies.)

[ez]

Italy makes more sense as a base of Air Ops for the simple reason that it adjoins the Mediteranean, while Germany is landlocked. No overfly rights need to be secured before heading out to international airspace and hanging a left towards the Middle East.

In addition, supply efforts would be easier in Italy due to the same sea access.

[Destro]

We need zero European bases. I hear many parts of the States are also lovely this time of year.