Finally, common sense defense cuts
The Global Post reports that, with the coming defense cuts come plans to reduce our forces in Europe. Seven decades after World War II and more than two decades after the Cold War, it makes sense;
Still based in Europe at the moment are four Army “Brigade Combat Teams,” three in Germany and a fourth in Vicenza, Italy. The lighter, more deployable BCTs emerged from a major reform of the army’s force structure in the past decade and number about 3,500-strong, compared to the 10,000-12,000 soldier divisions they replaced. One of those four — likely one of the Germany-based BCTs, will be withdrawn in 2012.
The result will be an enormous change from the days when encountering American soldiers on leave or liberty in Europe was routine. Cold War U.S. troop strength in Europe, which peaked in 1962 at nearly 277,000 soldiers, remained well over 200,000 until the early 1990s. Under current plans, resisted by a military leadership increasingly resigned to the deep cuts coming in the years ahead, will cut European based troops from 42,000 today to 37,000 by 2015.
I loved the nine years I spent in Germany, but the mission has pretty much ended and it’s about time that the Defense Department and the government in general, started looking other places than personnel costs for their cuts.
The majority of Germans didn’t appreciate the job we were doing there even when there was a visible scar across Europe during the Cold War, so it’s time to leave them to their own devices.
Category: Military issues
“so it’s time to leave them to their own devices.”. Bingo…. Most of them never wanted us there, at least that was the feeling I got. Except for the few who lived close to the fence. The further west you got from the fence and wall, the less they wanted us around.
Apparently it was our fault that they started a war they couldn’t win, and ended up divided by the big guys on the block.
I couldnt agree more. We have held europes hand long enoungh,”3 generations” and gave them MORE then enough money. Time to care for yourselves. The old saying “I give you unto God.”
More importantly, it’s time to let them start paying for their own national defense. Europe has benefited from our military umbrella since before I was born and not only have they been getting free security, but we have pumped billions into their local economies.
Bring the troops home now! (Sorry, had to say it)
John,
This is so true.
The military needs to cut back on its spending. We have troops in more than 100 countries, yet we can’t even protect our own borders very well.
With 15 years of military service, I love my country. But as a taxpayer, I realize the importance of fiscal responsibility.
Great blog by the way.
Chuck
Wasn’t there a plan for this a few years ago and Germany pitched a bitch. They were going to lose a ton of money or something. I thought that we were going to do deployment cycles to countries like the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, etc.. Oh wait that is before Obama pussed out, got scarred of Vlad and decided to sell those countries out. Personally, I think that we should be pulling out of some of those ungrateful countries and help some of our potential new allies. Right now the world is changing and unfortunately we are still siding with western Europeans.
This all has a Paulian ring to it, methinks.
Ron Paul and Spanky Franks in 2010
I’m loathe to support either.
However it IS hard to argue that we shouldn’t focus on a more immediate threat first.
The Germans have been bleeding us with maneuver damages for decades. Let them pay for their own defense.
Da i’ war, auf einen Huegel im Deutschland. Ohne Kugeln, ohne Handgranaden….Yep, all good arguments. I enjoyed my tours there and still visit cousins & in-laws but its past time. Now Prag or Warsaw with maneuver rights would be cool. For all of ‘die Alte Kamraden’ from 273 Fallschirmjaeger Btln…”Glueck ab!”
Luck in Battle