US military to close 15 bases in Europe

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

Excellent news. More, please!

The US will close 15 military bases across Europe, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has confirmed.

The Pentagon says the move will save around $500m (£300m) a year, and comes as the US military seeks to shift its attention towards Asia.

But the US has named RAF Lakenheath to be the first permanent European base for the F-35 aircraft.

The US currently has more than 60,000 troops stationed in Europe, mostly in Germany, Italy and the UK.

The number will remain the same, as the US ramps up rotations within Europe for training programmes.

Many of the closures affect smaller bases that were remnants of the Cold War.

BBC News - US military to close 15 bases in Europe

 

[westwall]

I agree. We have bases over there that should have been closed decades ago.

 

[ScienceRocks]

Now this is what I call saving money

 

[skye]

Now this is what I call saving money

I guess every little extra bit of money is needed for Obama's welfare state.

 

[The Irish Ram]

The Pentagon says the move will save around $500m (£300m) a year, and comes as the US military seeks to shift its attention towards Asia

Because Asian Muslims are a much bigger threat. And our cold war with our bff's Russia isn't relevant today.

 

[Moonglow]

The Japanese would like to see us gone also, but I doubt that happens any time too soon....

 

[bodecea]

The Japanese would like to see us gone also, but I doubt that happens any time too soon....

No, not really. They don't have to foot the bill for a larger military if we're still there.

 

[Moonglow]

The Japanese would like to see us gone also, but I doubt that happens any time too soon....

No, not really. They don't have to foot the bill for a larger military if we're still there.

There Constitution does not allow for military units larger than post war size...

 

[Agit8r]

A good start.

"Were armies to be raised whenever a speck of war is visible in our horizon, we never should have been without them. Our resources would have been exhausted on dangers which have never happened, instead of being reserved for what is really to take place"
-- Thomas Jefferson; from 6th State of the Union Address (Dec. 2, 1806)

"the Romans fought for Empire. The Pride of that haughty people was to domineer over the rest of Mankind. But this is not our Object."
-- Samuel Adams; letter to Alexander McDougall (May, 13, 1782)

 

[whitehall]

Since a global shooting war is unlikely it's time to save a buck by not pretending to save the Euroes from each other with a U.S. military presence in Europe. God knows we support them in other ways. For a little perspective you can blame MacArthur and Truman for the sixty years of the DMZ in Korea which is still an issue.

 

[Henrik]

US military should be strong and should be able to defense on two fronts. I think a restructuring of the army should be neccesary to lead the world with China. A restructuring of the army should include a more offensive and expensive education system of marines. At the same time, US will need more tanks and mark force and less carriars and should focus more on maintaing a strong national defense. US should also lead NATO against Europe and Russia and maintaing good realtions with Russia and China against rascism and non-diplomacy. NATO should stand for private ownership and a capitalism against China and focus on creating peace and development in poor regions.

 

[aplcr0331]

It's a start.

 

[MDiver]

I disagree with downsizing the military.
North Korea is run by a nutcase named Kim Jung Un, who is volatile and has basic nukes and continues to work on upgrading his missiles and is still technically at war with their neighbor to the south, who we have a defense treaty with.
Iran has centrifuges, keep stalling on any deal regarding them and while claiming to only want peaceful nuclear power, has clearly stated that they will blow Israel off the map. Peaceful european and american leaders believed Hitler when he said he only wanted peace with Russia, England and America. We saw where that went.
Russia has been upgrading its military, entered illegally into Crimea and has stated that they have repositioned their nuclear missiles.
China, while presently a good trade partner, is rapidly upgrading their military and will surpass ours in capability in a few years, while ours continues to shrink and decline. As they remain a communist nation, they could still pose a threat.
For these reasons, our military should be expanded, more research dollars put into upgrading our defensive and offensive capabilities and our nukes dusted off and upgraded.

 

[Delta4Embassy]

Excellent news. More, please!

The US will close 15 military bases across Europe, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has confirmed.

The Pentagon says the move will save around $500m (£300m) a year, and comes as the US military seeks to shift its attention towards Asia.

But the US has named RAF Lakenheath to be the first permanent European base for the F-35 aircraft.

The US currently has more than 60,000 troops stationed in Europe, mostly in Germany, Italy and the UK.

The number will remain the same, as the US ramps up rotations within Europe for training programmes.

Many of the closures affect smaller bases that were remnants of the Cold War.

BBC News - US military to close 15 bases in Europe

Good! Still kinda puzzled why any country has military bases of its own on foreign soil but isn't shooting at the locals. Don't see any UK bases here now dya.

 

[TimothysAlaska]

Excellent news. More, please!

The US will close 15 military bases across Europe, US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has confirmed.

The Pentagon says the move will save around $500m (£300m) a year, and comes as the US military seeks to shift its attention towards Asia.

But the US has named RAF Lakenheath to be the first permanent European base for the F-35 aircraft.

The US currently has more than 60,000 troops stationed in Europe, mostly in Germany, Italy and the UK.

The number will remain the same, as the US ramps up rotations within Europe for training programmes.

Many of the closures affect smaller bases that were remnants of the Cold War.

BBC News - US military to close 15 bases in Europe

Good! Still kinda puzzled why any country has military bases of its own on foreign soil but isn't shooting at the locals. Don't see any UK bases here now dya.

Singapore has a airforce unit in the us and there are a few others.

 

[Desperado]

We need to close a lot more than 15 bases in Europe, it is long overdue.
Let those countries provide for their for defense. We also need to expand those closure beyond Europe.
Japan are you listening?

 

[TimothysAlaska]

We need to close a lot more than 15 bases in Europe, it is long overdue.
Let those countries provide for their for defense. We also need to expand those closure beyond Europe.
Japan are you listening?

Loved it in Europe. Dumb to close all of them down.... It would cost quite a bit more to ship everything from stateside if we needed to get over there... And that global power global reach would be diminished to the point of nothing. And no response within 24 hours....crazy to do that. Guess you guys have no idea what we do and just say shut it all down......unbelievable.

 

[Desperado]

We need to close a lot more than 15 bases in Europe, it is long overdue.
Let those countries provide for their for defense. We also need to expand those closure beyond Europe.
Japan are you listening?

Loved it in Europe. Dumb to close all of them down.... It would cost quite a bit more to ship everything from stateside if we needed to get over there... And that global power global reach would be diminished to the point of nothing. And no response within 24 hours....crazy to do that. Guess you guys have no idea what we do and just say shut it all down......unbelievable.

Why would we need to get over there? All those countries have their own military. As far as having an idea of what you do, sure you are playing the part of the World Police. Not our job.

 

[TimothysAlaska]

We need to close a lot more than 15 bases in Europe, it is long overdue.
Let those countries provide for their for defense. We also need to expand those closure beyond Europe.
Japan are you listening?

Loved it in Europe. Dumb to close all of them down.... It would cost quite a bit more to ship everything from stateside if we needed to get over there... And that global power global reach would be diminished to the point of nothing. And no response within 24 hours....crazy to do that. Guess you guys have no idea what we do and just say shut it all down......unbelievable.

Why would we need to get over there? All those countries have their own military. As far as having an idea of what you do, sure you are playing the part of the World Police. Not our job.

Well it's funny sure shut it all down. You would see unemployment rates get bigger across the us. Almost everything is affected by it.... Contractors tools furniture. Plastics, clothing, every year the military buys things from the us economy and hires people. Not just bullets and bombs but a revolving account on goods and services. In some way even in the heart of the USA, you will be affected with less money per year. Even if it's bases overseas.

 

[Desperado]

We need to close a lot more than 15 bases in Europe, it is long overdue.
Let those countries provide for their for defense. We also need to expand those closure beyond Europe.
Japan are you listening?

Loved it in Europe. Dumb to close all of them down.... It would cost quite a bit more to ship everything from stateside if we needed to get over there... And that global power global reach would be diminished to the point of nothing. And no response within 24 hours....crazy to do that. Guess you guys have no idea what we do and just say shut it all down......unbelievable.

Why would we need to get over there? All those countries have their own military. As far as having an idea of what you do, sure you are playing the part of the World Police. Not our job.

Well it's funny sure shut it all down. You would see unemployment rates get bigger across the us. Almost everything is affected by it.... Contractors tools furniture. Plastics, clothing, every year the military buys things from the us economy and hires people. Not just bullets and bombs but a revolving account on goods and services. In some way even in the heart of the USA, you will be affected with less money per year. Even if it's bases overseas.

Show me the numbers or am I just to take your word for it?