I'd be curious as to question the reasoning behind the need for hundreds of U.S. military instillations reaching every corner of the earth. What might you define this as.....??

I'd define it as the start of another US bashing thread - tiresome - irrelevant- not fit for OTB.

I'd define it as the start of another US bashing thread - tiresome - irrelevant- not fit for OTB.

No. Not bashing, just honest inquiry. Perhaps, such a subject matter is not ft for those whom are unnecessarily threatened and offended by such straight forward honesty. For some.....the same old apologist and defenders would become wearisome and irrelevant.

It may be an attempt to instill some awareness into these young men and women, that there is a whole another world out there. The US education, of its students about other countries physical location, their culture/religious practices, seems somewhat lacking. This is a method to correct a problem in typical government style. Spend untold millions of taxpayer dollars and several years to teach what could/may have been learned in a semester of study at the individual expense.

I recently saw this exact question posted on another site.

At first thought I would have guessed the canned answer would be to protect their interests in other parts of the world along with so called peace keeping. Then too military strategic locations would have to be added in as a thought towards stopping any attacks against the US before it reached its shores.

Of course as years go by those thoughts hold less & less logic with me personally & at times when I see what contractors & the big companies they work for make supplying everything to these bases as a business .....it does make me cynical. Especially given news of recent years & who has stock in these big companies such as Halliburton.

That aside the posted answer or question as the case may be that I saw on another site is as follows.

In the days of the Roman Empire, through the British Empire and all the European Empires, Britain in particular had so many bases around the world on which it was it was said the sun never sets, i.e. the bases were so wide spread around the world that the sun was always shining on one part. (The US now would qualify for that title.) All the other empires needed massive military spending and bases to:-

1) Control of as much of the world’s economy and financial markets as possible.

2) The taking over of as many natural resources, that is primary resources and nonrenewable sources of energy as possible.

Present military spending as world percentages are:-

The United States 46.5%

Russia 3.5%

China 6.5%

The greatest enemy of the US at the moment, Iran, doesn’t even get on the graph!

Source International peace research institute year book 2010

US figures from the Centre for Arms Control and Non Proliferation May 2010

The question is does the US need that much military spending to defend its homeland?

If not could it be for the same reason as all previous empires?

Empires. Great and vast empires. Historically, the crumble hard. The word is that this particular nasty Empire is headed {quite quickly} toward that course. Goes around.....

I suppose it depends on what you are calling installations, Bahrain has been in the news lately, and they always seem to mention that it is the headquarters for the U.S. Navy 5th fleet. They have some buildings they occupy at the civilian airport, the main base is listed at about 10 acres, the dock is or was seperate from that, then there is the DOD school on a seperate piece of property. Is each one of those an installation?

Aside from the duties in the Gulf area, it was particularly useful to have the equipment in place for rendering aid, as in earthquakes in Pakistan, the tsunami here in S.E. Asia, etc.

Anyway, I think some of this is blown out of porportion by the ignorant, but I also do not see the need to keep more than one base, if that, in the european countries. We could probably also consolidate more as they are in S. Korea, and eliminate some more bases in asia.

zzaa, you are so full of it...

I'd define it as the start of another US bashing thread - tiresome - irrelevant- not fit for OTB.

No. Not bashing, just honest inquiry.

followed by this...

Empires. Great and vast empires. Historically, the crumble hard. The word is that this particular nasty Empire is headed {quite quickly} toward that course. Goes around.....

It is like factory that makes cardboard. The factory ships cardboard to a box factory who makes boxes out of the cardboard and ships the boxes to the cardboard factory to package the cardboard to ship to the box factory.

I realize there are some technical holes in the analogy but you get the idea.

but I also do not see the need to keep more than one base, if that, in the european countries. We could probably also consolidate more as they are in S. Korea, and eliminate some more bases in asia.

True bg & something I have wondered about.

Take Germany for instance.... How many US bases there?

Existing installations

US military bases in Germany as of 2008.

* Artillery Kaserne, Garmisch-Partenkirchen

* Bamberg Local Training Area, Bamberg

* Barton Barracks, Ansbach

* Benjamin Franklin Village, Mannheim

* Campbell Barracks, Heidelberg

* Coleman Barracks, Mannheim

* Conn Barracks, Schweinfurt

* Dagger Complex, Darmstadt Training Center Griesheim

* Funari Barracks, Mannheim

* Germersheim Army Depot, Germersheim

* Grafenwöhr Training Area, Grafenwöhr/Vilseck

* Hammonds Barracks, Mannheim

* Heidelberg Army Airfield, Heidelberg

* Hohenfels Training Area/Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels (Upper Palatinate)

* Husterhoeh Kaserne, Pirmasens

* Kaiserslautern Military Community

* Katterbach Kaserne, Ansbach

* Kelley Barracks/Nathan Hale Depot, Darmstadt

* Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart

* Kilbourne Kaserne, Schwetzingen

* Kleber Kaserne, Kaiserslautern Military Community

* Lampertheim Training Area, Lampertheim

* Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl

* Ledward Barracks, Schweinfurt

* Mark Twain Village, Heidelberg

* McCully Barracks, Wackernheim

* Miesau Army Depot, Miesau

* Nachrichten Kaserne, Heidelberg

* Panzer Kaserne, Stuttgart

* Patch Barracks, Stuttgart

* Pulaski Barracks, Kaiserslautern

* Patrick Henry Village, Heidelberg

* Patton Barracks, Heidelberg

* Rhein Ordnance Barracks, Kaiserslautern

* Robinson Barracks, Stuttgart

* Rose Barracks, Vilseck

* Shipton Kaserne, Ansbach

* Smith Barracks, Baumholder

* Spinelli Barracks, Mannheim

* Storck Barracks, Illesheim

* Stuttgart Army Airfield, Stuttgart

* Sullivan Barracks, Mannheim

* Taylor Barracks, Mannheim

* Tompkins Barracks, Schwetzingen

* Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Wiesbaden

* Storage Station, Mainz-Kastel

* Warner Barracks, Bamberg

* USAG Wiesbaden Military Training Area, Mainz Gonsenheim/Mombach

* USAG Wiesbaden Training Area, Mainz Finthen

* USAG Wiesbaden Radar Station, Mainz Finthen

* Anderson Barracks, Dexheim (will reopen)

but I also do not see the need to keep more than one base, if that, in the european countries. We could probably also consolidate more as they are in S. Korea, and eliminate some more bases in asia.

True bg & something I have wondered about.

Take Germany for instance.... How many US bases there?

Existing installations

US military bases in Germany as of 2008.

* Artillery Kaserne, Garmisch-Partenkirchen

* Bamberg Local Training Area, Bamberg

* Barton Barracks, Ansbach

* Benjamin Franklin Village, Mannheim

* Campbell Barracks, Heidelberg

* Coleman Barracks, Mannheim

* Conn Barracks, Schweinfurt

* Dagger Complex, Darmstadt Training Center Griesheim

* Funari Barracks, Mannheim

* Germersheim Army Depot, Germersheim

* Grafenwöhr Training Area, Grafenwöhr/Vilseck

* Hammonds Barracks, Mannheim

* Heidelberg Army Airfield, Heidelberg

* Hohenfels Training Area/Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels (Upper Palatinate)

* Husterhoeh Kaserne, Pirmasens

* Kaiserslautern Military Community

* Katterbach Kaserne, Ansbach

* Kelley Barracks/Nathan Hale Depot, Darmstadt

* Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart

* Kilbourne Kaserne, Schwetzingen

* Kleber Kaserne, Kaiserslautern Military Community

* Lampertheim Training Area, Lampertheim

* Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl

* Ledward Barracks, Schweinfurt

* Mark Twain Village, Heidelberg

* McCully Barracks, Wackernheim

* Miesau Army Depot, Miesau

* Nachrichten Kaserne, Heidelberg

* Panzer Kaserne, Stuttgart

* Patch Barracks, Stuttgart

* Pulaski Barracks, Kaiserslautern

* Patrick Henry Village, Heidelberg

* Patton Barracks, Heidelberg

* Rhein Ordnance Barracks, Kaiserslautern

* Robinson Barracks, Stuttgart

* Rose Barracks, Vilseck

* Shipton Kaserne, Ansbach

* Smith Barracks, Baumholder

* Spinelli Barracks, Mannheim

* Storck Barracks, Illesheim

* Stuttgart Army Airfield, Stuttgart

* Sullivan Barracks, Mannheim

* Taylor Barracks, Mannheim

* Tompkins Barracks, Schwetzingen

* Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Wiesbaden

* Storage Station, Mainz-Kastel

* Warner Barracks, Bamberg

* USAG Wiesbaden Military Training Area, Mainz Gonsenheim/Mombach

* USAG Wiesbaden Training Area, Mainz Finthen

* USAG Wiesbaden Radar Station, Mainz Finthen

* Anderson Barracks, Dexheim (will reopen)

What I tend to wonder is just how many local civilian German citizens, catering companies, fuel providers, etc, etc, would be financially harmed if the US pulled out and cut off their source of revenue.

I say pull the US out everywhere and let the local economies suffer the pangs of withdrawal.

but I also do not see the need to keep more than one base, if that, in the european countries. We could probably also consolidate more as they are in S. Korea, and eliminate some more bases in asia.

True bg & something I have wondered about.

Take Germany for instance.... How many US bases there?

Existing installations

US military bases in Germany as of 2008.

* Artillery Kaserne, Garmisch-Partenkirchen

* Bamberg Local Training Area, Bamberg

* Barton Barracks, Ansbach

* Benjamin Franklin Village, Mannheim

* Campbell Barracks, Heidelberg

* Coleman Barracks, Mannheim

* Conn Barracks, Schweinfurt

* Dagger Complex, Darmstadt Training Center Griesheim

* Funari Barracks, Mannheim

* Germersheim Army Depot, Germersheim

* Grafenwöhr Training Area, Grafenwöhr/Vilseck

* Hammonds Barracks, Mannheim

* Heidelberg Army Airfield, Heidelberg

* Hohenfels Training Area/Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels (Upper Palatinate)

* Husterhoeh Kaserne, Pirmasens

* Kaiserslautern Military Community

* Katterbach Kaserne, Ansbach

* Kelley Barracks/Nathan Hale Depot, Darmstadt

* Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart

* Kilbourne Kaserne, Schwetzingen

* Kleber Kaserne, Kaiserslautern Military Community

* Lampertheim Training Area, Lampertheim

* Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl

* Ledward Barracks, Schweinfurt

* Mark Twain Village, Heidelberg

* McCully Barracks, Wackernheim

* Miesau Army Depot, Miesau

* Nachrichten Kaserne, Heidelberg

* Panzer Kaserne, Stuttgart

* Patch Barracks, Stuttgart

* Pulaski Barracks, Kaiserslautern

* Patrick Henry Village, Heidelberg

* Patton Barracks, Heidelberg

* Rhein Ordnance Barracks, Kaiserslautern

* Robinson Barracks, Stuttgart

* Rose Barracks, Vilseck

* Shipton Kaserne, Ansbach

* Smith Barracks, Baumholder

* Spinelli Barracks, Mannheim

* Storck Barracks, Illesheim

* Stuttgart Army Airfield, Stuttgart

* Sullivan Barracks, Mannheim

* Taylor Barracks, Mannheim

* Tompkins Barracks, Schwetzingen

* Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Wiesbaden

* Storage Station, Mainz-Kastel

* Warner Barracks, Bamberg

* USAG Wiesbaden Military Training Area, Mainz Gonsenheim/Mombach

* USAG Wiesbaden Training Area, Mainz Finthen

* USAG Wiesbaden Radar Station, Mainz Finthen

* Anderson Barracks, Dexheim (will reopen)

What I tend to wonder is just how many local civilian German citizens, catering companies, fuel providers, etc, etc, would be financially harmed if the US pulled out and cut off their source of revenue.

I say pull the US out everywhere and let the local economies suffer the pangs of withdrawal.

Thais did it in 1975. If they hadn't they would now have an economy like Japan. They showed em.

What I tend to wonder is just how many local civilian German citizens, catering companies, fuel providers, etc, etc, would be financially harmed if the US pulled out and cut off their source of revenue.

I say pull the US out everywhere and let the local economies suffer the pangs of withdrawal.

I have wondered the same for both local economies & also the specialized companies.

But I agree that many could & should be closed not so that other may suffer but so US funds could be better directed back home on infrastructure at a time when so many States need help

Germany is just one allied country that I wondered about because especially decades after the cold war ended what is the reason to spend so many tax dollars outside the country.

Same question for South Korea? These just the Army bases

This is a list of U.S. Army posts in South Korea:

* Camp Ames

* Camp Carroll

* Camp Casey

* Camp Castle

* Camp Colbern

* Camp Coiner

* USAG Daegu

* Camp Essayons

* Camp George

* Hannam Village

* Camp Henry

* Camp Hialeah

* Camp Hovey

* USAG Humphreys

* Camp Jackson

* Camp Kwangsa Ri

* Camp Kyle

* Camp Long

* Camp Market

* Camp Nimble

* Camp Red Cloud

* Camp Sears

* Camp Stanley

* Camp Walker

* Camp Yongin

* Far East Dist Engr

* H220 Heliport

* K-16 Air Base

* Kunsan Pol Terminal Site

* Madison Site

* Masan Ammunition Depot

* Pier #8

* Sungnam Golf Course

* Swiss and Swed Camp Mac HQ

* Tango (U.S. Army)

* Watkins Range

* Yong Pyong

* USAG Yongsan

There is no reason Germany, Japan, and South Korea (and several other well-off countries) can't maintain their own bases with their own militaries paid for by their own tapayer's money.

Yes, if the US pulled out, whole towns in Germany might cease to exist but that's not our problem.

So what if China doesn't feel comfortable with a resurgent Japan or if Germanies neighbors feel uncomfortable as well? J & G have been model countries for half a century and can be trusted with larger militaries, IMO.

There is no reason Germany, Japan, and South Korea (and several other well-off countries) can't maintain their own bases with their own militaries paid for by their own tapayer's money.

Yes, if the US pulled out, whole towns in Germany might cease to exist but that's not our problem.

So what if China doesn't feel comfortable with a resurgent Japan or if Germanies neighbors feel uncomfortable as well? J & G have been model countries for half a century and can be trusted with larger militaries, IMO.

Germany just decided to reduce its military manpower by from 250,000 to 180,000 and abolished the mandatory military service which was introduced in 1956.

There is no reason Germany, Japan, and South Korea (and several other well-off countries) can't maintain their own bases with their own militaries paid for by their own tapayer's money.

Yes, if the US pulled out, whole towns in Germany might cease to exist but that's not our problem.

So what if China doesn't feel comfortable with a resurgent Japan or if Germanies neighbors feel uncomfortable as well? J & G have been model countries for half a century and can be trusted with larger militaries, IMO.

Germany just decided to reduce its military manpower by from 250,000 to 180,000 and abolished the mandatory military service which was introduced in 1956.

So now what do I do? Go down to the pub and kick a German? He is sitting there drinking German beer and my dollar will hardly buy a water because i am covering his defense budget. ................ 10 minutes later........... I went down to the pub and he was bigger than me. So now what?

So now what do I do? Go down to the pub and kick a German? He is sitting there drinking German beer and my dollar will hardly buy a water because i am covering his defense budget. ................ 10 minutes later........... I went down to the pub and he was bigger than me. So now what?

did he call you names when you claimed you are covering his defense budget or was he sympathecially smiling when telling you not to watch FAUX News too often where they might spread that kind of bullshit?

There is no reason Germany, Japan, and South Korea (and several other well-off countries) can't maintain their own bases with their own militaries paid for by their own tapayer's money.

Yes, if the US pulled out, whole towns in Germany might cease to exist but that's not our problem.

So what if China doesn't feel comfortable with a resurgent Japan or if Germanies neighbors feel uncomfortable as well? J & G have been model countries for half a century and can be trusted with larger militaries, IMO.

Germany just decided to reduce its military manpower by from 250,000 to 180,000 and abolished the mandatory military service which was introduced in 1956.

So now what do I do? Go down to the pub and kick a German? He is sitting there drinking German beer and my dollar will hardly buy a water because i am covering his defense budget. ................ 10 minutes later........... I went down to the pub and he was bigger than me. So now what?

Mark:

They are simply hiding behind their constitution and NATO. They have made a career out of this.

The constitution says they must make love, not war.

I'd define it as the start of another US bashing thread - tiresome - irrelevant- not fit for OTB.

Yes, I have to agree with you Endure and since the top two topics are specifically designed for US bashing, I'll close this one and the posters who wish to bash can limit themselves to one of the other ones, at least for a while.

Talk about topics that Inside the Box.

//Closed//