The Pentagon

[WiseGuy]

This is where I will be posting policy recommendations to the President, and where I will hold press conferences at set times.  The First Press Conference begins at 1200 hours.

[WiseGuy]

I have sent the following policy suggestion to the President:

Resolution from the Secretary of Defense.

1. Effective immediately, withdraw all troops from Europe.
2. Place a twenty year cap on troop deployments to a region, unless that area is of strategic importance to the US Military.

[Platypus]

can we impeach the secretary?

Seriously....no. Especially part 2.

[Jake]

Hugh shows his lack of reasoning again.

[WiseGuy]

no. Especially part 2.

Why do you believe our troops should be in a country more the twenty years after the strategic advantage of having them there has expired.  The Atlasian Military are sworn to protect Atlasians, not Germans, not Italians, Not French.

[Platypus]

Because we have no idea when an area will be of strategic importance. For example, the embassy bombings in kenya.

[Jake]

The embassy bombings did not require two heavy divisions to respond to them.

[Joe Republic]

Atlasia no longer has any military interest in Europe.  The Cold War is long over, and any other conflicts can be dealt with by NATO, the UN, or even the EU if they want.

I firmly support this resolution, and I hope to see it reach the Senate in some shape or form very soon.

[Jake]

Why can you not just order the military to redeploy home in the interim? All the Senate will do is order the sale/closure of military bases and probably pass an omnibus bill covering the redeployment home.

[Joe Republic]

Believe me, I would.  However, if I did that and then the measures fail to pass the Senate, I'd have to send everybody and everything back there again.  That's a financial cost and an embarrassment that I'd rather not face.

[The Duke]

Atlasia no longer has any military interest in Europe.

We don't just have abses in areas where we have a vested interest.  We also have bases in areas that allow us to more quickly deploy to those areas where we have a vested interest.  For example, we have big airbases in Britain, Germany, and italy which help us more easily deploy our people to and get them our of the Middle East.  We have naval stations so ships in the Mediterrenean (which patrol near Libya, Lebanon, Israel, and Egypt) can easily re-supply.  If we withdraw all assets in Europe, then we won't be able to do things so simple as medical evacuations from Iraq to hospitals in Germany.

Oh, and I forgot: The Balkans!  Hello!

[True Democrat]

It is the Secretary of State's opinion (although who really cares about my opinion ), that all troops should remain in Europe for the need for a quick movement of troops for any future crisis in Europe, the Middle East, or Northern Africa.

[Jake]

Not smart either True Dem. We need only to maintain certain infrastructure (Aviano, Ramstein, etc.), not all of our troop bases. Naval facilities should, of course, be maintained, though naval committment can be lessened.

[True Democrat]

Not smart either True Dem. We need only to maintain certain infrastructure (Aviano, Ramstein, etc.), not all of our troop bases. Naval facilities should, of course, be maintained, though naval committment can be lessened.

I agree that the troop levels should be lessened, but not entirely pulled out.  I assumed that Dubya's plan called for dismantling all the bases, which would be a huge mistake.  I would support cutting the troop levels maybe 25-30%.

[Jake]

Which troops? I'm of the opinion that we should maintain our full forces in the Balkans, while withdrawing the combat units from elsewhere in Europe, save a few air units in the UK.

[True Democrat]

Which troops? I'm of the opinion that we should maintain our full forces in the Balkans, while withdrawing the combat units from elsewhere in Europe, save a few air units in the UK.

It is my recollection that there are troops stationed in Western Europe, are there not?  I think we should leave some combat troops in Western Europe.  Basically, I hold a similar opinion to you, not that my decision counts for anything.

[Jake]

All our heavy combat troops in Western Europe are doing now that they couldn't do in similar US bases is prop up the local economies near their bases. That's pretty much it. If you make the argument that we should maintain them for strategic deployments, why not just maintain the equiptment, meaning that they are only a six hour flight from Europe.

[True Democrat]

Well to change the subject, that was my 3000th post

[The Duke]

Somewhere in thea rchives is my old pentagon thread where I suggest doing essentially what Jake said.  Maintain troops in the Balkans, deployment related facilities in Europe, and bring the two heavy divisions in Germany home.

[WiseGuy]

I have a compromise in the works.  Stay tuned

[WiseGuy]

Here is my revised Resolution recomending reduction of military presence in Europe:

Resolution from the Secretary of Defense

(A) All military presence shall be withdrawn from the following Nations:

   1. Germany
   2. Italy
   3. Spain
   4. Iceland
   5. Belgium
   6. Portugal
   7. The Netherlands
   8. Greece
   9. Greenland

(B) The troops withdrawn from the Nations listed under section (A) will undergo Special Forces Anti-Terrorism Combat Training, and be reorganized into Special Forces Anti-Terrorism Units.

(C) Once the units have been reorganized, they shall be deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq.

[Jake]

WTF No

[Platypus]

WTF No

That's a COMPROMISE?

[Jake]

That's not exactly a compromise. It's more like saying we'll do what I want, but then do something different with the troops afterward.

[The Duke]

Given that Jake's central complaint was that you shouldn't close bases like Ramstein, I don't think closing bases like Ramstein can be considered a compromise from Jake's perspective.  I appreciate that my point about the Balkans was taken seriously, but its still a little worrisome that such an oversight was made.

Were there even any diplomatic feelers to see how crucial allies would react to this?  Hell, did True Dem even get notified before you issued the press release?