Pentagon May Withdraw Troops From Germany

[Khephra]

WASHINGTON -- The Pentagon has advised Germany that as part of a global shifting of U.S. military forces, it wants to withdraw its two Army divisions and replace them with fewer, lighter, more mobile troops.

The move would represent a significant change in the U.S. military presence in Europe, where American forces stood guard throughout the Cold War against the threat of a land invasion from the Soviet Union. The Pentagon has no intention of abandoning Europe but wants more flexibility in the way it can move Germany-based forces into other parts of the world like the Middle East, U.S. officials have said.

Defense Undersecretary Douglas J. Feith briefed senior German defense and diplomatic officials last week in Germany on the Pentagon thinking about U.S. troops in Germany.

Feith stressed in an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday that there's been no decision on U.S. troops in Germany. He said, however, that planning was "very far along," and "we are going to share our analysis" with the Germans.

more..........

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-us-european-troops,0,666207.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[saigon68]

1. Its going to be a long war

Uncle Sam needs your help again.

[Warpy]

2. Uncle Sugar needs to start closing bases

It's high time the military gets redefined as a defensive force, and abandons its mission of supplying muscle for multinational corporations.

[James T. Kirk]

3. Good idea! Remove troops from Germany!

Large numbers of US troops are no longer needed in Germany because of the end of the Cold War with the Soviet Union. Also, Germany is developed enough that it could mostly defend itself from the conventional military threats it now faces. The current administration is certainly not perfect, but this is an excellent move.

[Dirk39]

4. Hello from Germany,

IIRC this was planned long ago. During the "punish France, ignore Germany"-period, it was somehow used for propaganda purposes, as if it would be a punishment for Germany's attitude towards the occupation of Iraq.
But I guess this was allready planned before BushII.

On the other hand, there is a real difference between the interests of the German and the U.S. corporations and their governments, and no Kerry could change this.
It's funny somehow, the more Europe and the U.S.A. resemble one another in cutting social programs, the rights of citizens, privatisation and deregulation issues, the more they become opponents.
Dirk

[CHIMO]

5. A Question

Why does the US still maintain troops in Germany?
And does Germany have any say on when they should leave?

And does the US maintain a permanent right to remain there?

[Dirk39]

6. Hi!

Why does the US still maintain troops in Germany?
Geostrategic interests? - For the same reason, they might want to shift their troops elsewhere.


And does Germany have any say on when they should leave?


Until 1990 they were declared as "Occupation Forces". Since then they are regularly "army bases". 1990 was the year of the 2+4 contract and the US declared the renunciation of their special privileges.
(The 2 German states and the 4 winners of WWII)


And does the US maintain a permanent right to remain there?
No, but I guess if Germany would want to throw them out, we had to leave the Nato. There are no longer special privileges as a result of WWII, but there are Nato-decisions.


But there might be people who know more about armys and the military than me, who know more.

Peace!
Dirk

[CHIMO]

7. Thanks For

The information.
So if the troops are needed in another area, then after they withdraw the new status quo becomes the fact, presumably any increase in forces would then have to be agreed upon.

Looks like a contraction of the Empire to me.
Thanks again.

[DoNotRefill]

10. If the Germans threw us out of our bases in Germany...

we'd throw them out of their bases in the US. And YES, there are at least 2 such bases in CONUS for training.

[shanti]

8. is this just the army?

or are they including the airforce in this? (my son is in the airforce in germany)

[Dirk39]

9. Maybe this helps....

"The Pentagon plans to withdraw two Army divisions from Germany -- the First Armored Division and First Infantry Division will return to the United States if the restructuring is approved. The decisions on the reorganization are expected to be made in a month or two, the paper reported. The aim is to give the military greater flexibility in sending forces to the Middle East, Central Asia and other potential battlegrounds. U.S. officials have spoken to their German counterparts and explained that the withdrawal plan had yet to be formally approved by President Bush and that the United States would listen to their concerns. "As far as we are concerned, the decision has not yet been taken and the whole thing is part of a worldwide process of discussion and consideration within the U.S. administration," a German spokesman told a regular government news conference. Other possible changes include moving a wing of F-16 fighters from their base in Spangdahlem, Germany, to the Incirlik base in Turkey; or transferring the Navy's headquarters in Europe from Britain to Italy, the Times said."

http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1430_A_1225829_1_A,00.html

Hi from Germany,
Dirk