What would the world be like if US pulled out of everywhere?

[Spiffor]

Originally posted by gunkulator
Hard to say. The few soldiers I've known in Germany note that it really is one of the better places to be stationed as far as going out into the country. All applaud the beer (of course) but most also take advantage of tourism along with the chance to buy a German car at a much better price than they could get back home.

Yes, but on a daily life, all commodities of these soldiers are directly imported from the US. Sure, there are some interactions with the local economy, but nothing buying your everyday food at a German store, getting your fuel at a German Tankstelle, etc etc.

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by paiktis22
And what do you mean good or bad thing?

It took you 3 posts to notice that. You really are slipping.

[TCO]

Originally posted by Spiffor

Yes, but on a daily life, all commodities of these soldiers are directly imported from the US. Sure, there are some interactions with the local economy, but nothing buying your everyday food at a German store, getting your fuel at a German Tankstelle, etc etc.

You have a point there. But there is also the issue of not using much social services. (so less of a cost.)

[PLATO]

My original assumptions are based on an influx of only $700 per month from the US soldiers. Considering that they are living there, and most have spouses I don't think that this is unrealistic even given that much of their staples come from the US. The are still using German utilities and German fuel, as well as buying many things "on the economy". My wife lived in Germany for 3 years with her 1st husband in the late 1980's and tells me that $700 per month would be conservative even back then.

[Chemical Ollie]

3.5 Billion dollars? First of all, Germany doesn't use $, they use €...

And assuming your calculation is correct, which I doubt, as the American soldiers bring a lot of goods from home instead of buying it in Germany (according to what I heard and what others said in this thread), 3.5 billion € is only about 44 € per citizen. About half a days salary for a German industry worker. A fart in cosmos.

[yavoon]

half a days salary for every citizen in a country is hardly a fart in ne cosmos. but if u think otherwise. then I would like to request that every swedish citizen fart half a days worth of salary into a lil cosmos I call "yav's bank account."

in which case I will agree w/ u.

[PLATO]

Olaf, Sorry I didn't put it in Euros. Unfortunately, I just don't have a use to keep up with exchange rates nor the inclination to do the math.

Obviously and as repeatedly stated the calculations were based upon assumptions. So far I haven't seen a resonable reply to refute them. It is easy to say "I doubt that" without providing any logical alternative, isn't it?

[kmad]

OK, so if this is a debate about what the world would be like without US intervention.....
Allies probably still would have won WWII, German forces were annihilated on the Russian front, the whole Cold War would most likely still have happened, but not have been the all out paranoia fest that it was, more or less simliar to the 'phoney war' that the Germans staged before their invasion of Poland, only more threatening, but would still have ended 15 years ago. (yes, if this really were, we'd still have Pav here for those few years)
And if the Americans had stayed out of Japan's business in the 30's and not put embargoes on oil, they wouldn't have bombed Pearl Harbour, but would most likely had control of all of China and the Orient, and the Americans woudln't have needed to go to war against the japanese. And w/Japanese control in Asia, who knows what kind of economic influence woulda come out of it. Would China have become Communist or not? What about N.Korea, and N.Vietnam? Those two wars would not have happened if Japan had taken over China, and kept Communism out, and preventing further leakage of it.
So, there goes those conflicts.
The wars in the Arabic nations? Those would probably have happened still. USA's didn't really cause anything there.
Gulf War I? Obvious...
same for Gulf War II..
US would not have trained Osama, or put Saddam in power if they had just stayed out, the whole Middle East would be more at peace if they had just let things go there as well..there'd still be ur screw ups, like in afghanistan, etc, but things'd be bettr off...
The world wold be completely different if the US hadnt intervened and stayed out of most nations business. I dont see these terrorist attacks happening against American posts happening either. US basically trying to be the great problem solver seems to always make things worse and causing more harm than good, with a couple exceptions...

[PLATO]

kmad, what about if we pulled out now? How do you think the world would be different for the next 50 years as opposed to the last 50?

[Chemical Ollie]

Originally posted by PLATO1003
Olaf, Sorry I didn't put it in Euros. Unfortunately, I just don't have a use to keep up with exchange rates nor the inclination to do the math.

A good estimation is 1:1. Right now, the $ is 10% or so below the € but a year ago it was the other way around.

I won't reply more on the thread topic tonight, as it's far beyond bed time for me already ...

[PLATO]

Nite Olaf. Sleep well

[Kirnwaffen]

A US pullout around the world would have a drastic effect on US military preparedness. We lose training grounds, air bases for transport, forwardly deployed troops, etc.

If you ask me, that translates into trouble when some of the less scrupulous folks in the world realize that we can't touch 'em. And no offense to Europe, but I don't exactly see anyone there intervening in place of the US, except for perhaps Britain.

Unfortunately, as much as British military power is appreciated, they simply don't have the same ability to project it as the US currently does.

I don't think that any of this translates into less resentment towards the US. In fact, the perception of weakness combined with resentment will probably encourage more terrorism, blackmail, etc.

BTW, Plato: The only reason I might question your figures is US Army salary. $700 a month translates into a third or a fourth of the average soldier's salary. With most goods being purchased on base, I just don't see that much being contributed to the local economy.

[PLATO]

Kirnwaffen, that was the exact discussion I had with my wife about that figure. She tells me that most of the stuff on base is purchased locally when possible. In addition, she says that after you have been there for a year or so you tend to go out "on the economy" (her words for doing things off base) much more often. She tells me $700/mo is probably conservative.

Any 'poly posters been in the USArmy in Germany?