On Mon, 28 Feb 2011 22:51:21 -0500, wrote:

On Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:27:07 -0800, wrote:

On Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:42:05 -0500, wrote:

On Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:25:11 -0800, wrote:

On Mon, 28 Feb 2011 02:17:16 -0500, wrote:

On Sun, 27 Feb 2011 11:57:30 -0800, wrote:


So, how are you going to "redirect" all these "low-paid" troops into
homeland jobs without displacing those low-paid construction jobs?

By starting new projects.

Ok. So, you have no objection to projects sponsored and paid for by
the gov't! Sounds like the heavy hand of gov't to me. I have no
objection your honor!
\\

Good deal


I don't think many are shot at in Germany and Japan, but I think it's
probably time to start moving them home. It can't all be done in a
moment. This won't have much of an effect either way, since it needs
to be a relatively slow process.

Why? What are they protecting? The Soviets are gone.

Good grief! You know that little about economics and/or how the
military works? You can't just decide one day to close bases and then
everyone leaves.

Now you are worried about the Germans?

I'm thoughtful about how we as a nation are perceived and our effect
on the rest of the world. You aren't I guess.

I imagine there are plenty of Germans who wish we would go but even if
they didn't we are not the world's p[olicemen. If they want us there,
pay us to be there.

There are plenty more who appreciate us spending our money there. I
think we need to stay engaged there, but we don't need lots and lots
of bases. There are a few that should probably remain.


We could close foreign bases pretty fast if we wanted to and it is not
our job to replace the hole in the German economy. There are a few
people here saying the locals don't get that much money from our bases
anyway.

Sure thing! I guess that was the same sort of decision that was made
post WW1. That worked out pretty well, didn't it.

False equivalency again.

Really? Well, you just got done saying you don't care about the German
economy. That's what we said after WW1.

Do you really think the best way to help the German economy is to
occupy them?

No. I think the best thing for the US to do is to carefully reduce our
presence there without damaging their economy.

Yet we keep kicking that can down the road too.

Yes. So? You're so skeptical that we can't reform our tax code, but
you have no problem believing we can get out of all our commitments
(treaty and otherwise) in 180 days.




There was nothing in common with the surrender of a largely intact
Germany at the end of WWI, left to it;s own devices and their total
destruction in WWII.
We have occupied them for 66 years. When will we decide they are OK?

As I said, I have no objection to closing most of the bases. It just
doesn't need to devastate our or their economy to do that. Again,
we're looking for a long-term solution not a short-term reactionary
policy.

We are looking for ways to cut an $800 billion dollar pentagon budget.
You have to cut something.

Let's start with getting the facts right...

http://www.janes.com/events/OnlineSe...DefenceBudget/

I guess that all comes down to what is included in the defense budget
doesn't it?
It is usually democrats accusing republicans of understating what the
real cost of defense is.
Interesting where you will go to disagree with me.

Nothing to disagree with... sorry.

Maybe we can get rid of some nukes... oh wait, this was opposed by all
those fiscal conservative Republicans.

Nukes are probably the most cost effective weapons system we have if
you are looking about a deterrent from another super power.

Which super power would that be? China? I don't think they're
interested.

I agree we have more than we need. The problem is disposing of them is
more expensive than storing them. Most are technically "disarmed"
though from what we are told. The triggers are not with the booster.

Disarmed? Huh? If it's so expensive, and we've already disarmed them,
why are we spending billions on them?

That is still not where most of the money goes. It goes into "jobs"
building hardware we don't need that are scattered across 435
congressional districts.

And, your solution is....

I know! I know! Don't vote for the treaty!