US Troop Withdraw

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-08-17 06:26pm

Wired_Grenadier wrote:
Crayz9000 wrote:As I recall, aren't the Germans starting to get a little annoyed with having us there anyway?
Not that I heard of.

Some of the younger generation dislike it from what I've heard. But then again I think that's the same group that think Bush and the Israelis staged September 11th so I wouldn't read too much into it. Overall the population doesn't mind, if only for the money the US spends through those bases.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-08-17 06:42pm

what are we defending Germany from these days anyway? Polish mounted cavalry?

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2004-08-17 06:49pm

Col. Crackpot wrote:what are we defending Germany from these days anyway? Polish mounted cavalry?

What goes around comes around...

BlkbrryTheGreat · Post by **BlkbrryTheGreat** » 2004-08-17 07:54pm

Well one thing's for sure, unemployment in Germany is about to get even higher...

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2004-08-18 01:49am

Col. Crackpot wrote:what are we defending Germany from these days anyway? Polish mounted cavalry?

Considering that the German's are equipping the Polish Army with some pretty high quality surplus heavy equipment, I don't think so.

Zed Snardbody · Post by **Zed Snardbody** » 2004-08-18 02:26am

I knew quite a few German exchange students in high school. While they were critical of US forign policy, and had a few interesting things to say about the educational system, most didn't mind the bases, and quite a few looked fondly on the US as a nation, ignoring the present government. I had one girl tell me of how her parents and grand parents in Berlin were saved by the airlift. It seemed to be something that really stood out amoung the ones that I knew and spoke with.

We even had one guy from Frankfurt, that after a good deal of paper work, was allowed to join JROTC.

While Europe is not an issue anymore since the end of the cold war, I think we need to be careful about pulling to much out of S. Korea. The nut job up north might have us trying to break out of another pocket.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2004-08-18 03:21am

Zed Snardbody wrote:
While Europe is not an issue anymore since the end of the cold war, I think we need to be careful about pulling to much out of S. Korea. The nut job up north might have us trying to break out of another pocket.

US forces in South Korea amount to one fighter wing, two infantry brigades and two tank battalions. The South Korean goverment has disbanded larger force then that in single fiscal years.

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2004-08-18 05:07am

Wired_Grenadier wrote:
Crayz9000 wrote:As I recall, aren't the Germans starting to get a little annoyed with having us there anyway?
Not that I heard of.

Well, there are irritations, but they get ignored mostly because of the money the bases bring to the cities they're based in.

And ever since Bush took office, the opinion of USA took a steep downhill slide with the younger ones...

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-08-18 10:07am

Zed Snardbody wrote:While Europe is not an issue anymore since the end of the cold war, I think we need to be careful about pulling to much out of S. Korea. The nut job up north might have us trying to break out of another pocket.

And the force we have their aren't much more than token. The idea for a long time has been that with US troops on the border the North can't invade for fear of hitting our troops and triggering retaliation. We haven't deployed enough to credibly repel an invasion for a very long time. Kim Jong Il might get the wrong message but I rather doubt he's going to gamble his country on it.

And lastly, as Sea Skimmer pointed out, South Korea can do more for it's defense than the US troops over there.

Neko_Oni · Post by **Neko_Oni** » 2004-08-20 06:07am

We Aussies certainly get annoyed at the American troops wher their over here. Locals get raped every now and then. Similar stuff in Okinawa if I'm not mistaken. Used to be a phrase about American troops in Australia "Oversexed, Overpayed and Over Here". Needless to say I'm not to fond of the American armed forces.