Overseas military spending comes under congressional scrutiny

[unhappycamper]

http://www.stripes.com/polopoly_fs/1.111782.1279717712!/image/1657362801.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_240/1657362801.jpg

An F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Against the backdrop of a runaway national deficit and massive increases in defense spending, several lawmakers are calling for the elimination of one Air Force fighter wing overseas, one Army Brigade Combat Team in Europe and two reinforced Marine Corps infantry battalions in Asia.


Overseas military spending comes under congressional scrutiny
By John Vandiver
Stars and Stripes
Published: July 21, 2010

STUTTGART, Germany — As the Army’s transformation in Europe moves forward, with a string of base closures planned in the year ahead, a group of lawmakers has launched a campaign to further cut the U.S. military presence in Europe and Asia.

Against the backdrop of a burgeoning national deficit and years of massive increases in defense spending, the restructuring plan meant to save taxpayers $80 billion in overseas military spending has reignited the debate in Congress over the future of U.S. military bases abroad.

“I do not think we should be spending money to have troops in Germany 65 years after World War II. We have a terrible deficit and we have to cut back,” said Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass, who is spearheading a House effort to cut defense spending. “NATO was a wonderful concept. But 61 years later, I think it’s time to say our western European allies should be on their own. We’ll cooperate with them, but we shouldn’t be subsidizing their defense.”

Frank and several other lawmakers are calling for the elimination of one Air Force fighter wing overseas, one Army brigade combat team in Europe and two reinforced Marine Corps infantry battalions in Okinawa as part of a proposal to shave $1 trillion from defense spending worldwide over the next 10 years. The plan also would curtail spending on many expensive weapons systems. Frank hopes the recommendations will be included in next year’s Deficit Reduction Plan, which is being drafted by an 18-member commission assembled by President Barack Obama and has a Dec. 1 deadline.

House Democrats also held a congressional oversight panel hearing Tuesday on “rethinking our defense budget.”

[Obamanaut]

1. Bring them all (including families for those on accompanied tours),

shut down the bases, bring home all the equipment that is feasible to transport and sell the rest at a 'yard sale'.

Saves a butt load of money on lease payments, puts a butt load of money in the local economies when the troops/families are relocated to bases in the US.

Allows for downsizing via normal attrition as enlistments expire.