Bring Troops Home Versus Unemployment Level

[ASH]

Decided to start a seperate thread instead of hijacking the one about the budget.

I'll just ask a couple questions and see where this goes.

Who's seen the movie "Wag The Dog"?

Based on the theory of that movie, is it possible we are involved in wars overseas because it may be good for the American budget? Many jobs building guns, ammo, armored vehicles that wouldn't be if we weren't at war somewhere.

Another question: With unemployment hovering at 10%, what would happen if we brought home 50,000 troops or more and tossed them back into the work pool?

I'm not taking a position at all, I am hoping to hear opinions and thoughtful conversation.

 

[Matt J]

I've thought for quite some time that while I would prefer the troops come home, it would be detrimental to the economy at this point.

 

[GoodWitch58]

The troops coming home would only affect the jobs situation if you are talking about guard/reserve troops; the active duty ones would just resume whatever job they have at their home base;
many of the guard/reserve troops may also resume their pre-deployment job--although in this economy those jobs may not have been held as many are supposed to be;
that said, I think history shows that wars are seen by many as "good for the economy" -- it is the old warning from President Ike about the "military-industrial" complex. It is the military contractors in cohoots with the politicians that lead us into and keep us in these conflicts -- and the economy of which they speak is mostly their own!

 

[Lynnie]

I've thought for quite some time that while I would prefer the troops come home, it would be detrimental to the economy at this point.

Yes. I'd rather have them home regardless.

The troops coming home would only affect the jobs situation if you are talking about guard/reserve troops; the active duty ones would just resume whatever job they have at their home base;
many of the guard/reserve troops may also resume their pre-deployment job--although in this economy those jobs may not have been held as many are supposed to be;
that said, I think history shows that wars are seen by many as "good for the economy" -- it is the old warning from President Ike about the "military-industrial" complex. It is the military contractors in cohoots with the politicians that lead us into and keep us in these conflicts -- and the economy of which they speak is mostly their own!

I have always heard this as well. However, I think this situation has a different feel than what I studied in history books and economics classes.

 

[ASH]

Makes you wonder what this world would look like had we never gone after Saddam Hussein....

Would things have settled down?

Would the war(s) have come to our shores?

Would our whole economic crisis have turned out different?

:scratch:

 

[GoodWitch58]

well, for sure a lot of people who are dead now would be alive; a lot of people who are hurt really bad, would not be; a lot of children who now have no Mom or Dad would have a parents; a lot of parents would still have a son or a daughter; fewer people would be suffering from PTSD...a lot of people who were tortured would not have been; a lot of people who did the torturing would not have to live with that memory; a lot of displaced persons would still have a home; Haliburton and KRB and Black Water might have suffered some in their P&Ls, but they would have found another way to make money...

Sometimes when I think about it, I wonder if the survivors of the 911 attack over all feel any better because the US invaded Iraq? I know when my son was deployed in October 2001 to parts unknown, I was scared to death for his safety, but I felt we were going to Afghanistan to defend our country and deal with bin Laden. I supported Pres. Bush in that effort, and while it would not make life any better for the families of the ones who were killed on 911, it would (I thought) protect us from another attack from the same group--when we invaded Iraq, I was horrified and confused...imo it was a distraction that has led the US down the wrong path...I am not sure we will recover in my lifetime and that is a very sad feeling to have.

some more "academic" food for thought: http://economistsview.typepad.com/economistsview/2008/04/war-and-the-eco.html

 

[30ashopper]

Think of all the military pay currently being spent in foriegn countries by troops stationed there. I think bringing all those men and women home so they can spend that here in the states would have a very positive impact.

 

[idlewind]

The one certain thing is that we would not be as far in debt if the Iraq war had never happened. And if our troops were brought home the money spent maintaining them overseas would be spent at home. If countries such as South Korea,Japan, Germany etc had to pay taxes to defend themselves instead of the American taxpayer, maybe our industries would be more competitive against them.

 

[ASH]

A very good point Idlewind. Anyone have the numbers about that statement? I'd be interested to see them.

 

[Bob]

The one certain thing is that we would not be as far in debt if the Iraq war had never happened. And if our troops were brought home the money spent maintaining them overseas would be spent at home. If countries such as South Korea,Japan, Germany etc had to pay taxes to defend themselves instead of the American taxpayer, maybe our industries would be more competitive against them.

who are these countries defending themselves from?