US military to cut back troops in Germany

[dArKeR]

AP , WASHINGTON
Thursday, Jun 10, 2004,Page 6

The Pentagon plans to withdraw its two Army divisions from Germany and replace them with fewer, lighter and more mobile troops as part of a global shifting of US military forces, US officials said.

The move would represent a significant change in the US military presence in Europe, where US 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, US officials have said.

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

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/06/10/2003174495

[Gman]

1. The story should read:

AP , WASHINGTON
Thursday, Jun 10, 2004,Page 6

The Pentagon plans to withdraw its two Army divisions from Germany and replace them with fewer, lighter and more mobile troops as part of a plan to punish Germany for its lack of support of the Iraq fiasco, US officials said.

[hadrons]

6. not sure this punishes Germany ....

Germany spends a lot of money keeping the infrastructure to support those bases, something Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria don't have and can't afford to do

[Sporadicus]

2. This Concerns Me

A recent announcement that 1/3 of troops in South Korea being withdrawn, now Germany, and attempts to replace troops in Iraq with NATO? I wonder what grim deployment awaits our troops in the neocons' quest for eternal warfare?

[cliss]

3. Well, I'm wondering what the impact will be.

I've read that we're moving several thousand troops from S. Korea to Iraq. Now we're pulling them out of Germany as well.

It appears that we're just not winning the World Popularity Contest, even though Rummy's trying (he was just in Bangladesh, the world's poorest country to find some takers - no cigar).

I'm wondering: will this have an effect on world stability? Or were we just window dressing, just standing around, smoking cigars at the army base, yakking it up with no risks whatsoever?

Or will North Korea become emboldened by this, and Russia as well? I don't know..

I think the one thing that's clear now is that we are seriously undermanned. There simply are not enough American troops to do what the PNAC, or what Rumsfeld wants: world domination. When you have 4.6% of the world's population and the other 95% despises you, it's a little difficult. Rumsfeld is such an ass. He puts us at risk because of his geriatric incompetence.

[lebkuchen]

4. The impact on enlistment/reenlistment will be devastating

The Stripes survey taken last fall noted that 50% of troops in Iraq wouldn't reenlist. Take away Germany and replace with unaccompanied tours to Poland, Romania, and Bulgaria, and you've got an eviscerated Army.

That's one reason why we have an extended stop-loss. Troops are trying to get out in droves, but can't.

[zmdem]

5. Good, the Cold War is over

The Soviet Union is gone, there is no reason why we should maintain a large military presence in Germany. It makes sense to re-deploy them to where they can face current challenges, not a long since vanished threat from a long since vanquished foe.

[cliss]

7. Hi, zmdem.

Nice post. Welcome to the DU :smoke:

:toast:

Hm, I wonder about that Putin. He seems to be pretty pissed lately.....