Army brigades to leave Europe

[ingac70]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/army-brigades-to-leave-europe/2012/01/12/gIQArZqluP_story.html?tid=sm_twitter_washingtonpost

FORT BLISS, Texas – The Obama administration has decided to remove two of the four U.S. Army brigades remaining in Europe as part of a broader cost-saving effort to cut $487 billion from the Pentagon’s budget over the next decade, said senior U.S. officials.

The reductions in U.S. Army forces, which have not been formally announced, are likely to concern European officials, who worry that the smaller American presence reflects a lessening of interest in the decades-long U.S. partnership with NATO allies in Europe.

Top Pentagon officials have sought to allay those concerns by telling their NATO allies in private meetings that the U.S. will continue to rotate Army units through Europe on training missions to augment the presence provided by the remaining two brigades.

“In the briefing we’ve been giving the Europeans, we have made clear that there is going to be this rotational presence there that will be conducting exercises,” Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said in an interview.

[malthaussen]

1. Wow, you mean sixty years after WW2

We're finally gonna cut back the Army of Occupation?

-- Mal

[lovuian]

10. The British Empire and now the American Empire

60 years of Europe Occupation

[Renew Deal]

15. Which countries is the US Army occupying?

[frylock]

2. excellent decision

[msongs]

3. great! put em to work rebuilding infrastructure in the USA - unless they are no longer being paid nt

[MADem]

19. There will likely be a drawdown absent billets for those people. They won't be put on "make work"

tasks -- the unions might have a problem if that was even attempted.

[PavePusher]

4. "...likely to concern European officials..."

So defend your damn selves, or pay all our costs, you free-loading hypocrites.

[harmonicon]

7. Don't believe what the US media is telling you.

The Europeans won't mind US forces leaving their countries in the slightest. Defend themselves? From what?

[stillwaiting]

34. +1 nt

[DJ13]

9. "...likely to concern European officials..."

Probably afraid of the lost local business.

[ingac70]

11. That is it, actually...

they want those posts for the same reason towns and cities here want 'em. Local economies.

[Major Hogwash]

18. Especially now.

The European economy is on the rim of the toilet and they are deathly afraid that this withdrawal will cause them economic harm.

[DURHAM D]

5. Big deal

Currently we have 80K in Europe. We will reduce the force to 70K or 65K. Why not more out? I doubt the NATO allies really care.

[Deep13]

6. And putting them where?

Closer to China?

[ingac70]

8. Actually, it is to save money.

You know, so we don't have to cut important stuff like Repukes want?

[Deep13]

12. Well, that's good. nt

[MADem]

20. After they're demobbed, the unemployment line--unless the economy perks up. nt

[jpak]

28. Maybe Fort Bliss? Where those soldiers and their families could support jobs in Texas?

[Deep13]

31. Maybe, but the trend is to shift resources to contain China. nt

[jpak]

33. You contain China by staying out of Walmart and buying American

yup

[Deep13]

35. Yes, but the US government does it with soldiers and aircraft carriers. nt

[babylonsister]

13. Wow. Very cool. RIF in Europe? Yay! nt

[stufl]

14. We have 18 bases and 50,000 troops in Germany

Given that we defeated them 67 years ago, I think the reduction in forces can be justified.

Good GO, Obama. Why did it take 4 years?

[Historic NY]

16. Freeper heads explode what about the "communists" ?

[NBachers]

17. Yeah, how many European military bases are there in the USA?

Unfortunately, I'm afraid they're working on nefarious "repurposing" policies for the troops here in the good ol' USA.

[MADem]

21. The Germans have one out at Dulles Airport. nt

[ingac70]

24. If you read the article.....

you will see there is a plan for an actual reduction of numbers of troops in the military all together.

No, they aren't coming to get you.

[DCBob]

22. A move in the right direction..

Hopefully we see more of this.

[jwirr]

25. About time.

[Lost-in-FL]

26. Am I reading this right??

[Blue_Tires]

27. The Soviet Union will have expanded to Iceland by midnight

all because we weren't guarding the wall anymore

[jpak]

29. They are swarming through the Fulda Gap as I type this

Belgium will fall by tonight

Oh noes!

[The Northerner]

30. Unfortunately, they're being shifted from Europe to the Asia-Pacific & Middle East region

The reductions are part of a Pentagon plan to shrink the Army from its current 560,000 soldiers to about 490,000, defense officials said. The cuts are being driven by a new defense strategy that calls for smaller, faster and more agile forces and a shift in focus toward the Asia-Pacific region, where China has been investing in submarines, fighter jets and precision-guided missiles.

[Kellerfeller]

32. It's about time

There is little threat in Europe.