Troop deployment restructuring would save $$

[30ashopper]

The United States long stayed secure without this kind of sprawling imperial apparatus. But as the Cold War drew to a close, instead of adjusting force structure and spending to a strategic environment newly friendly to U.S. and allied interests, the U.S. military began a dramatic expansion of its overseas presence into areas where, historically, it had been episodic at best. America's Cold War commitments, meanwhile, continued without interruption. After expelling the Iraqi Army from Kuwait in 1991, the U.S. military was directed to stay in the Persian Gulf and build massive facilities. And following the 9/11 attacks, the global war on terror resulted in major new Army and Air Force installations from Europe to Central Asia.

Why does America need all these facilities? The original Cold War goal of protecting European and Asian societies from communist threats and internal subversion has long ago been met, and many overseas U.S. bases are now redundant. What better time than now, when the United States faces fiscal calamity but few real military threats, to judiciously sort those that are truly needed from those the Pentagon can live without? It's time to declare victory and go home.

A Radical Plan for Cutting the Defense Budget and Reconfiguring the U.S. Military - By Douglas Macgregor | Foreign Policy

Bringing all these folks home would save a lot of money - 240 billion a year. Plus since they would be spending their paychecks here vs. overseas, it would also help the economy.

 

[Andy A]

Nothing could be more true. The committment of our troops to European bases has long ago outlived its usefulness.
We have the means to respond to any military emergency in a matter of hours with both personnel and materials. The only thing we are doing in maintaining foreign bases is strengthening that particular country's economy while doing damage to our own.

 

[30ashopper]

It wouldn't happen over night because we'd need to rework all our contingency plans, but I agree, it's time we stop policing the world.

Which begs the question, why are politicians of both polticial stripes not suggesting this kind of change in Washington? I read proposals like this on obscure blogs and web sites but it's rare you hear a politician giving a speech suggesting something like this.

 

[scooterbug44]

Gets my vote.

 

[poppy]

Nothing could be more true. The committment of our troops to European bases has long ago outlived its usefulness.
We have the means to respond to any military emergency in a matter of hours with both personnel and materials. The only thing we are doing in maintaining foreign bases is strengthening that particular country's economy while doing damage to our own.

Speaking of outliving its usefulness, why doesn't speaker Boehner lead by example and insist this plant be shut down in his home state?

It’s getting harder to imagine a scenario in which the Army would fight a big set piece tank battle, and although no one is seriously contemplating giving up heavy armor, the Army does want to bring its tank production to a halt. For awhile.
Army officials would like to shut down the Ohio factory that builds Abrams tanks for three years, which the Department of the Army says would save more than $1 billion. According to the Army’s plan, the line would close from 2013 to 2016, then start back up to begin upgrading existing tanks. It’s an usual situation: The U.S. government owns the tank factory in Lima, Ohio, but it’s operated by General Dynamics Land Systems, which is not pleased with the shutdown proposal.​

Read more: DoD Buzz | The tank at the end of history
DoDBuzz.com ​

 

[idlewind]

We need to bring our troops back to the home bases and stop production of hardware for a couple of years. We have more hardware than any two other nations combined and more than enough to defend ourselves. We could increase research and development by a half and still save billions. We also need to get out of Iraq, afganistan and Libya ASAP.

 

[30ashopper]

Speaking of outliving its usefulness, why doesn't speaker Boehner lead by example and insist this plant be shut down in his home state?

So this is all the republican's fault, democrats aren't complicit in this?

 

[poppy]

So this is all the republican's fault, democrats aren't complicit in this?

What happened to 30ashopper, where is the person we all admired for the reasoned responses to post??

Damn lighten up, I'm not placing blame anywhere just asking the Speaker of the House to lead by example and show he is serious about cutting spending by insisting a plant no longer needed be shut down per the armys request. This will show strong leadership and set an example for both partys to follow if they are serious about cutting spending.

 

[idlewind]

What happened to 30ashopper, where is the person we all admired for the reasoned responses to post??

Damn lighten up, I'm not placing blame anywhere just asking the Speaker of the House to lead by example and show he is serious about cutting spending by insisting a plant no longer needed be shut down per the armys request. This will show strong leadership and set an example for both partys to follow if they are serious about cutting spending.

I agree totally, I expect the Republicans to lead by example. Don't expect much out of Dems.