(US military) Arson, crime test patience of Germans in Baumholder

[lebkuchen]

A year of increasingly serious incidents involving U.S. soldiers is testing relations between the Army and Germans in Baumholder.

The tension peaked last month with the arrest of two Baumholder-based 1st Armored Division soldiers in connection with the Aug. 11 arson that caused more than 1 million euros damage to a local government building.

“I think we’ve reached the tolerance level here, with the Rathaus (fire) the culminating event,’” said Brig. Gen. Michael Tucker, 1st AD assistant division commander-support, and the top ranking officer in Baumholder.

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...officials say a volatile combination of booze, drugs and deployments has escalated problems since troops returned from Iraq in July 2004.

http://stripes.com/article.asp?article=31586


It will only get worse, with more deployments, lesser qualified/poor quality "bottom of the barrel" recruits--eventually these lemons will be headed back to the US, adding to America's social problems, if not the population of Leavenworth.

[JustSayNO 2 Sheeples]

1. way to go

"eventually these lemons will be headed back to the US, adding to America's social problems, if not the population of Leavenworth."

That's a great way to convince a right winger that we support the troops but not the war. Got any more cannon fodder?

Maybe a little compassion here? Ever think that these men who have gone off to fight a useless and unwinnable fight for the oil barron might just be under quite a bit of unbelievable stress?

[lebkuchen]

2. The kid that burned down the Rathaus was 18 y.o.

How many of America's Finest want to claim him as their own?

[JustSayNO 2 Sheeples]

3. You missed the point

[lebkuchen]

4. No, I don't think I did.

[saigon68]

5. this from a companion article

Pvt. Stephen Blazofsky, 18, was charged Aug. 11 by the Army with attempting to murder a 62-year-old German woman. Blazofsky had been drinking heavily for three days when, after being told there was a party at the address, he pushed his way into a Baumholder home where the woman and her husband were sleeping, Police Chief Siegfried Meyer said. Blazofsky was so drunk that the woman was able to fight him off, Meyer said.

[lebkuchen]

12. Our army recruiters took anybody drunk enough to sign up

never mind their aptitude, psychological well-being or crystal meth tolerance threshold.

[Lost-in-FL]

8. I would not call them "bottom of the barrel"...

But overused, sick and tired, lied to, powerlessness, feeling lost... hoping to get in trouble so they can leave. It does not matter how bad they do, they won't be released.

[bluedonkey]

6. Nothing new

Baumholder always had a large US base and always has been a trouble spot.Most US soldiers do not behave well in Germany and many places are 'off limits' because of that behavior.

[Lost-in-FL]

7. There's really nothing to do in Baumholder...

I almost got stationed there but they switched my orders... THANK GOD! It is mostly artilery and infantry so maybe there's not enough girls around so they get stupid... Small base in the middle of nowhere.

[bluedonkey]

9. Where

were you stationed?If I may ask.

[Lost-in-FL]

10. Landsthul Regional Medical Center

That was 5 yrs ago. It is close to Ramstein AF Base, 1 hr from Baumholder

[bluedonkey]

11. Sorry,I didn't

get back to you last night,something outside was disturbing the dogs.Scared the life out of me!

I have family in the Frankfurt/Mainz area,beautiful wine country.I miss the wine tasting tours we used to take.
Auf Wiedersehen und lass es Dir gut gehen!
Why are you 'lost in FL'?

[LostinVA]

15. I spent alot of time and think there was alot to do there

I guess it's all according what you think is fun.... lots of stuff in the neighboring towns, too.

[lebkuchen]

13. Yes, it is new. The level of violence is now front page news Stripes

it's gotten that bad.

[LostinVA]

14. My brother-in-law and sister were stationed there 2001-2002

I visited a few times,a nd can tell you the locals do NOT like the (alot of the )military. Yeah, they bring money and jobs, but they bring alot of crime, arrogance, etc. I saw some hair-raising things done and said by military to local citizens, waiters, etc.

When I was with my sister and BIN, people were often quite rude to us. He had a very obvious military haircut. When not with him, people were very friendly and wonderful. The first time I went was at Christmas, and it was so pretty.....

I lived in Fayetteville, NC, for two years, and understand where they're coming from. The crime, etc., in Fayettenam was horrible. And Baumholder is much smaller and perched on the top of a mountain.

No, not all soldiers act this way, but where military bases are, certain crimes are sure to follow....

[saigon68]

16. Thugs and hoodlums are being recruited

To kill the Islamic brown man.

[eridani]

17. Psychological repercussions of this stupid war are already occuring

I wonder how many Tim McVeighs Oil War II will produce.