The elephant in the Afghanistan room is what U.S. troops are actually doing - guarding the poppy fields. Anyone who threatens that operation will be in serious peril.

3 hours ago, bristolboy said:

I guess the military industrial complex doesn't need those interventions anymore to justify their funding since Trump is willing to massively increase their funding while asking them to do less. You got an explanation for that?

The only explanation I can think of is that another war, in another region, is expected in the not too distant future and two major fronts would stretch military resources too thin.

Other bases that would be easy to close would be anything in Germany. They are big kids they can take care of themselves it isn't the cold war anymore. 

36 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

Other bases that would be easy to close would be anything in Germany. They are big kids they can take care of themselves it isn't the cold war anymore. 

USA is a NATO member. To unilaterally withdraw from NATO in a frontline country would be incredibly stupid in light of the real and ongoing threat of Russian expansionism in the region.

7 minutes ago, simple1 said:

USA is a NATO member. To unilaterally withdraw from NATO in a frontline country would be incredibly stupid in light of the real and ongoing threat of Russian expansionism in the region.

 

I guess Germany would have to spend some of their own money to rectify that situation then. Also America has the only fleet of aircraft carriers in the world now. We can mobilize a great deal of firepower to anywhere in the planet in a relatively short time. The fact is we are never going to get into a conventional war with Russia so ground troops in Germany are simply pointless.

 

We will not fight North Korea on the ground so troops in the DMZ are pointless. Do you think Russia will invade Germany?

2 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

 

I guess Germany would have to spend some of their own money to rectify that situation then. Also America has the only fleet of aircraft carriers in the world now. We can mobilize a great deal of firepower to anywhere in the planet in a relatively short time. The fact is we are never going to get into a conventional war with Russia so ground troops in Germany are simply pointless.

 

We will not fight North Korea on the ground so troops in the DMZ are pointless. Do you think Russia will invade Germany?

Your carriers won't last long in a real war

 

My personal view is that the USA should go home and stay home. They are not wanted as a "world policeman" and have lost all moral credibility. The USA is a risk to world peace these days.

Edited December 24, 20187 yr by Grouse

22 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Time to bring all the troops home from Syria

ISIS is 90% decimated and Turkey can mop up the rest. 

US troops should never have been in Syria anyway, so I don't think it's a case of both. 

As for Afghanistan, if they haven't been able to "fix" it by now, they probably never can. Not one more American should need to die in that place. Just arm "our" side and let them fight it out themselves.

If anyone is to  blame for the present situation, it's the US government that abandoned the place after they defeated the Russians and left it to the religious maniacs.

3 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

 

I guess Germany would have to spend some of their own money to rectify that situation then. Also America has the only fleet of aircraft carriers in the world now. We can mobilize a great deal of firepower to anywhere in the planet in a relatively short time. The fact is we are never going to get into a conventional war with Russia so ground troops in Germany are simply pointless.

 

We will not fight North Korea on the ground so troops in the DMZ are pointless. Do you think Russia will invade Germany?

Carriers are just a big floating target for new technology and just as obsolete as the battleships they superseded.

I doubt US troops are really in Germany to fight the Russians. 

It's time for the US to stop being the world's policeman, and go home. Let the Euros look after their own defence.

4 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

Do you think Russia will invade Germany?

Possibly if the strategic political calculus is in favour of the aggressor

enough of american bullying and arrogance.     enough of hegemony.     bring the young men home...

9 hours ago, lannarebirth said:

The only explanation I can think of is that another war, in another region, is expected in the not too distant future and two major fronts would stretch military resources too thin.

So Trump isn't really retreating from interventionism? I think you give him too much credit. I think he supports the military because it of the macho aspect of it and the fact that it angers "liberals" and he doesn't even think about the implications of his policy of non-intervention vis a vis military expenditures.

2 minutes ago, bristolboy said:

So Trump isn't really retreating from interventionism? I think you give him too much credit. I think he supports the military because it of the macho aspect of it and the fact that it angers "liberals" and he doesn't even think about the implications of his policy of non-intervention vis a vis military expenditures.

I don't know what he's doing. I was only trying to provide a possible answer to the question you posed.

On 12/23/2018 at 11:10 AM, Boon Mee said:

Time to bring all the troops home from Syria

ISIS is 90% decimated and Turkey can mop up the rest. 

 

And Turkey will mop up the Kurds for good measure before starting on Armenia. 

 

The US is the counter balance, with NATO / EU allies to the Turks and their once again mates Putin and Russia. Without the US presence the Kurds will be massacred and Syria will be a Russian puppet. 

 

That might explain why some people have resigned in despair at Trumps announcement.

 

Trump may be the catalyst that ends America's role as the world's policeman. Putin thinks Russia can step up but Xi may have a surprise for him!

4 hours ago, Grouse said:

Your carriers won't last long in a real war

 

My personal view is that the USA should go home and stay home. They are not wanted as a "world policeman" and have lost all moral credibility. The USA is a risk to world peace these days.

 

Last longer than a Grouse in mid August chummy!

7 hours ago, Cryingdick said:

 

I guess Germany would have to spend some of their own money to rectify that situation then. Also America has the only fleet of aircraft carriers in the world now. We can mobilize a great deal of firepower to anywhere in the planet in a relatively short time. The fact is we are never going to get into a conventional war with Russia so ground troops in Germany are simply pointless.

 

We will not fight North Korea on the ground so troops in the DMZ are pointless. Do you think Russia will invade Germany?

 

Russia's got to get through Poland, Ukraine, the Baltic States, Hungry, Czech republic and Slovakia before thinking of Germany! Couldn't leave any of those as potential side attackers. And all those countries ain't to fond of the Russkies.

 

Russia, like all bullies, would attack weak countries. NATO's nuclear deterrent, American might, quality of NATO weapons, and economic power deters them. If they think that America and it's allies are weak they might start thinking differently. Despite all his macho bullshit, Putin isn't confident Russia and its allies could beat the US led NATO or China. So he bullies weak, nearer at home small non NATO non Asian countries. 

On ‎12‎/‎23‎/‎2018 at 6:56 AM, Chomper Higgot said:

If you are in Thailand you are enjoying life in a liberal society that would almost certainly have fallen unde Chinese sponsored communism but for the military intervention of the US in SEA.

 

Enjoy.

Yankees are poor fighters. They wanted to save Nam from communism. Instead ran with their tails tucked in their as..s from Vietnam.  Bleeding in Afganistan for 17 years now. Sure they have power to destroy countries with weapons from $800 B/yr. budget. 

22 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Russia's got to get through Poland, Ukraine, the Baltic States, Hungry, Czech republic and Slovakia before thinking of Germany! Couldn't leave any of those as potential side attackers. And all those countries ain't to fond of the Russkies.

 

Russia, like all bullies, would attack weak countries. NATO's nuclear deterrent, American might, quality of NATO weapons, and economic power deters them. If they think that America and it's allies are weak they might start thinking differently. Despite all his macho bullshit, Putin isn't confident Russia and its allies could beat the US led NATO or China. So he bullies weak, nearer at home small non NATO non Asian countries. 

How many times has Russia been invaded?

 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion_of_Russia

 

How many times has the USA been invaded?

 

You need to understand that before making silly comments 

 

No body wants American "protection"; nobody.

 

The USA is militarily incompentant and incontinent. Just look at the history and the problems caused

 

Pull out of Korea and Germany and U.K. for a start 

 

Europe does not need your military hardware either. Keep your poor performing F35s and give them to your Saudi and Israeli friends.

Edited December 25, 20187 yr by Grouse

On ‎12‎/‎23‎/‎2018 at 12:00 PM, oilinki said:

There was a plan to take out the Syrian president and solve this whole issue, before the war got worse in 2012.

 

This plan was supported by Russia but not agreed by the USA. 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/15/west-ignored-russian-offer-in-2012-to-have-syrias-assad-step-aside

 

In this case I give a thumbs up to the Russians.

Here is some food for thought: https://www.newsweek.com/now-mattis-admits-there-was-no-evidence-assad-using-poison-gas-his-people-801542?fbclid=IwAR2Z0Vgz7Rp6XgGWENOTJc_nUg6QV3y6OtN8lIPRuLYRH7BP5T8uY-NEffI

 

Bet trump is shocked this attempt to distract attention from his “wall funding” debacle went so badly wrong. 

Before you get into a fight it's good to have an exit plan. Obviously the U.S. did not.

Bring all US overseas troops home.

 

Use overseas deployment funding saved to build a really, really, really high wall along the Mexico border... plus another wall for the Canada border...

 

Any excess returning troops to help in the construction.

 

Problem solved.

 

Trump gets re-elected in 2020 ????

 

3 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

Here is some food for thought: https://www.newsweek.com/now-mattis-admits-there-was-no-evidence-assad-using-poison-gas-his-people-801542?fbclid=IwAR2Z0Vgz7Rp6XgGWENOTJc_nUg6QV3y6OtN8lIPRuLYRH7BP5T8uY-NEffI

 

Well, what Mattis said was that the US had no evidence. He didn't say that there was no evidence. It's just that others had gathered it.

For example:

September 12, 2018: The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, established in 2011 by the UN Human Rights Council reported that the Syrian government used chlorine as a weapon four times from January to July 2018.

https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/Timeline-of-Syrian-Chemical-Weapons-Activity

One of Trump's biggest weaknesses and cause of his problems is the manner in which he communicates. He can take a relatively common sense idea and  distort it such that it becomes foolish.

The issue in Syria is that the UN should have stepped up when Assad was using poison gas and barrel bombs on civilians. When the UN failed to act, the EU  could have and should have acted since it was most at risk from the millions of refugees. Instead, the world dumped the problem on the USA. Why should the USA shoulder much of this burden? Let Spain, Italy, Germany, Sweden, and France respond. The Germans are unhappy with millions pouring over the borders. Well then, they can  do what the USA was doing. 

 

Trump would not have  had a leg to stand on if the EU and big mouth countries like Sweden and Norway intervened more than they did.  It's a bad mistake for the USA to  cut and run now, with the Russian naval base growing .  And without a doubt, if the Kurds are  murdered by Erdogan the tyrant, that blood will be on Trump and USA's hands. No group will ever trust the USA again and there will be less likelihood of gaining intelligence in foreign locales with this betrayal of loyal fighters. That's why the US military leadership and intelligence  community is worried.

On 12/23/2018 at 6:24 PM, Chomper Higgot said:

It wasn’t a ‘Think Tank’ that got the US into Afghanistan.

 

 

Doh!

I never said that at all, but you keep trying boy

4 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

One of Trump's biggest weaknesses and cause of his problems is the manner in which he communicates. He can take a relatively common sense idea and  distort it such that it becomes foolish.

The issue in Syria is that the UN should have stepped up when Assad was using poison gas and barrel bombs on civilians. When the UN failed to act, the EU  could have and should have acted since it was most at risk from the millions of refugees. Instead, the world dumped the problem on the USA. Why should the USA shoulder much of this burden? Let Spain, Italy, Germany, Sweden, and France respond. The Germans are unhappy with millions pouring over the borders. Well then, they can  do what the USA was doing. 

 

Trump would not have  had a leg to stand on if the EU and big mouth countries like Sweden and Norway intervened more than they did.  It's a bad mistake for the USA to  cut and run now, with the Russian naval base growing .  And without a doubt, if the Kurds are  murdered by Erdogan the tyrant, that blood will be on Trump and USA's hands. No group will ever trust the USA again and there will be less likelihood of gaining intelligence in foreign locales with this betrayal of loyal fighters. That's why the US military leadership and intelligence  community is worried.

complete nonsense, but then decades of failed policy and trillions of dollars later, it must be Trump to blame for the previous disastrous policies, right?

How many of you have actually served in the military? How many have served in Afghanistan/Syria/Iraq?

57 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

One of Trump's biggest weaknesses and cause of his problems is the manner in which he communicates. He can take a relatively common sense idea and  distort it such that it becomes foolish.

The issue in Syria is that the UN should have stepped up when Assad was using poison gas and barrel bombs on civilians. When the UN failed to act, the EU  could have and should have acted since it was most at risk from the millions of refugees. Instead, the world dumped the problem on the USA. Why should the USA shoulder much of this burden? Let Spain, Italy, Germany, Sweden, and France respond. The Germans are unhappy with millions pouring over the borders. Well then, they can  do what the USA was doing. 

 

Trump would not have  had a leg to stand on if the EU and big mouth countries like Sweden and Norway intervened more than they did.  It's a bad mistake for the USA to  cut and run now, with the Russian naval base growing .  And without a doubt, if the Kurds are  murdered by Erdogan the tyrant, that blood will be on Trump and USA's hands. No group will ever trust the USA again and there will be less likelihood of gaining intelligence in foreign locales with this betrayal of loyal fighters. That's why the US military leadership and intelligence  community is worried.

 

After his attempt to install a pro-Turkish Islamist regime in Damascus and the recurrent defeats of his protected Salafists and jihadists , if his God grants him victory and if Americans and Russians allow it, Erdogan found a new target in the conquest of all of Syrian Kurdistan.

Turkey's foreign minister  said Turkey has "the power to neutralise (IS) alone" .. for sure ..  Erdogan wants no witness when getting rid of the YPG Kurds at the same time.

"France will not gain in any way by retaining forces to protect a Kurdish militia in Syria", Turkey's foreign minister said on Tuesday, after Paris announced it would maintain a presence despite an imminent US withdrawal. 

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/erdogan-complains-to-macron-about-criticism-of-afrin-campaign-10073076

https://middle-east-online.com/en/turkey-warns-france-against-protecting-kurd-militia

Erdogan has proved to be dangerous for Europe with his two weapons of mass deterrence vis-à-vis Westerners:

- the threat to send to Europe new waves of migrants

- and the manipulation by the Turkish services of various jihadists groups ranging from the former Front al-Nosra to recycled elements of ISIS and Uyghur terrorists to commit attacks against countries hostile to his regime.

That's how it looks to be now!

Edited December 25, 20187 yr by Opl

1 hour ago, mcambl61 said:

I never said that at all, but you keep trying boy

OK kid.

Troll post and reply removed.  

 

On 12/24/2018 at 9:31 PM, Kasane said:

Yankees are poor fighters. They wanted to save Nam from communism. Instead ran with their tails tucked in their as..s from Vietnam.  Bleeding in Afganistan for 17 years now. Sure they have power to destroy countries with weapons from $800 B/yr. budget. 

Not true at all.

 

Unfortunately the US military are subject to the worst enemy they can have.

 

That is the US government. There are very few politicians world wide nor who have served their country, and the politicians are the ones who start wars but have no idea how to end a war and make peace.

 

Very few military forces world wide EVER start a war. They are there to fight it and sort out the mess that the politicians leave behind them.