American troops in Europe

[flash9286]

Why does America keep troops in Europe it cost billions. Let the Europeans pay for their own defense and stop leaching off America.

[DinoDoc]

Re: American troops in Europe

Originally posted by flash9286
Why does America keep troops in Europe it cost billions.

It serves all of our interests.

[Dr Strangelove]

Europe's a nice staging ground for you-know-what.

[BeBMan]

Because a global superpower looks bad without a network of bases around the world...

BTW, I agree that Europe should do more for its defense/reaction forces...

[Saint Marcus]

we don't want you here either flash. get the hell out.

[flash9286]

im not there im here.

[Pekka]

Exactly what countries does US protect in Europe?
Some NATO troops are stationed in Europe, but they're not there to protect Europe? They're there because of their own interests. Or then I have missed something.
If however there are some countries the US troops are clearly only to protect, what are those countries?

And for those countries I say get your own damn defense. I still believe the case is they want to be there for other reasons.

[Andrew1999]

The troops are needed to protect Europe from the Red Hordes--they're down but not out. Haven't you seen the Simpsons episode where the USSR returns? Tanks come out of hiding places in Moscow, the Berlin Wall pops out of the ground, and Lenin busts out of his glass coffin and starts wandering around. We must stay and protect Europe from this sneak attack.

"Must...crush...capitalism!"

[Jaakko]

You'll have to take issue with the folks in the Bush admin, who have made it clear that they do not want any kind of independent EU army.

[Dauphin]

I think it only fair that Europe have troops and bases in the US. Its about as necessary as the current situation.

[flash9286]

we haved try to pull troops out of Europe, ex: Germany, we tryed to pull our troops out and the President or chancoller whatever they have begged us to leave our troops, then he went and told his people that america wouldnt move their troop talk about a hypocrite

[Pekka]

Germany does not need US troops for their protection. They don't have a situation that requires any extra help.
If it server US interest to pull out of there, they would do it?

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

Read Kissinger's "Does America Need a New Foreign Policy?"

America needs to engage itself in meaningful ways with Europe. Europe is becoming increasing estranged from the US. Partially from US arrogance, partially of their own failings, partially because our interests should but don't coincide.

As Europe starts to pull itself into a meaningful union, the US wants to make sure it has some voice in how it shapes itself. Partially from purely selfish reasons but also because it serves both our interests. NATO is the last bastion of influence the US has in Europe. The US is precluded from entering into the inner chambers of the EU and wishes to have its voice heard rather than being dictated to. We would prefer to have a friendly amicable atmosphere that allows us the opportunity to air our differences before the EU holds court, being that we have no such opportunity it is in our interests to have some form of presence there. (And to you Euro's I'm not talking that the US would threaten military action)

This all stems from a change in Cold war thinking to present day. The US always was involved in policy decisions and had a de-facto member status of the Euro countries during the cold war era. It could attempt to woo favor one by one and influence the decisions of the Euro continent. If one country was relcutant the US would influence another and another etc. With the current EU set up the US has only one shot at influencing the Europeans.

Just as the EU has complained mightily that the US acts unilaterally, if the US is to be held to these standards, the US demands quid pro quo.

[Lord Merciless]

US military presence is about a fourth of what was during the height of the Cold War. It's really the local businesses who begged us to stay because our troops are providing them with a regular source of income.

[Apocalypse]

If there are no more American bases in Europe, then all your little league baseball teams will suck.

That is why military bases are needed.