what would happen if we closed down most of our overseas bases?

[TrophyHusband 0]

overseas military bases must be enormously expensive to keep open. i don't know how many bases we have in other countries, but its a lot. i'm wondering if we could close all but one or two and still maintain the security of our country. i think we could. we need to cut spending, and this is one way to do it.

"Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama
www.kjandmegan.com

[Lucky... 0]

Quote

overseas military bases must be enormously expensive to keep open. i don't know how many bases we have in other countries, but its a lot. i'm wondering if we could close all but one or two and still maintain the security of our country. i think we could. we need to cut spending, and this is one way to do it.

Agreed, and with missle technology even the B-2 is obsolete.

[JohnRich 4]

Oh, nothing much.

North Korea would invade South Korea.
China would invade Taiwan.
Muslim countries would attack Israel.
Russia would rattle sabers in eastern Europe, and take over Georgia.
India and Pakistan might hurl nukes at each other over disputed territory.
Kosovo would degenerate into ethnic genocide again.

No big deal.

The problem is, such a move would signal tyrants around the world that the U.S. is no longer interested in preventing conflicts from happening in the first place by providing a protective force. The tyrants would no longer be deterred by a direct and immediate military response from the U.S. Instead, the best the U.S. could do, would be to send in forces after-the-fact. And preventing conflict in the first place, is far cheaper than stopping it after it has started.

Furthermore, are you willing to abandon all our allies like that? If you think America's reputation is mud now, what's it going to be like when we walk away from all our friends in the world and let them be attacked and destroyed?

[Andrewwhyte 1]

You could protect the physical security with all of them closed. The South Koreans, Japanese, Saudis et. cetera would have to spend more on defense but the US would be fine.
US based multi-nationals might suffer, but the idea that the strongest country in the world cannot protect its borders except from without is poppycock.

[billvon 2,435]

I'll agree with you there. Maintain our presence in other countries via diplomacy and trade, not via military installations.

[kallend 1,649]

Quote

Oh, nothing much.

North Korea would invade South Korea.
China would invade Taiwan.

blah blah blah

?

So you like the US being a nanny state. Curious, I never thought of you being like that.

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[billvon 2,435]

> The tyrants would no longer be deterred by a direct and
>immediate military response from the U.S.

And other tyrants would no longer be reassured that the US would protect them should the people they are crushing rise up against them. They might even consider changing their policies. In some cases they might even (horrors!) see a revolution that ousts them from power and allows a government of the people to be installed.

All in all, it is better to support no one than to support some tyrants and destroy others. IMO of course.

[rickjump1 0]

It is 2008 and we still have troops in Korea and Europe. Time to come home. We will not only be missed by the prostitutes and small businesses, but landlords too. ROK forces trained and fought during the Korean War and even during the Vietnam War. They are a modern armed force. Besides, the civil population will riot over good old American beef. Europe and Korea: make them fuel stops as long as we don't make them mad.

Do your part for global warming: ban beans and hold all popcorn farts.

[TrophyHusband 0]

at some point other countries need to protect themselves. why is it our resposibility to protect the rest of the world? maybe we have a tiger by the tail here, be we can't afford to be everybody's big brother forever. if our reputation is mud even with all of the foreign aid and military protection we provide, why do we continue to do it? for a fraction of the money spent on overseas bases, we could greatly omprove our border security and our intelligence agencies. with the proper intel and black ops, we could likely stop most problems before they become big. we can't spread ourselves too thin finacially our militarily.

"Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama
www.kjandmegan.com

[Skyrad 0]

Q. What would happen?

A. Unemployment would rise as the servicemen and women are cut loose by civillians in charge.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[Skyrad 0]

Quote

India and Pakistan might hurl nukes at each other over disputed territory.

I doubt it. Pakistan and India today started trade again across the Kashmir border. First time in 60 years and it had bugger all to do with the US.

As for the slight on Muslim countries and Israel you forget that Israel has its own Nukes and peace deals with Eygpt and Jordan and tensions between them and syria are currently pretty low.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[shropshire 0]

And India are busy taking pictures of the moon.... trying to see if the yanks really did get there


Actually, the biggest losers, if the bases were closed, would be the local populations as trade would reduce (big time). Not sure about the cost of the bases them selves, as they don't pay rent anyway.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[mircan 0]

I`m with you 100%.
Lots of people have bad attitude towards USA because of it`s "world nanny/world cop" policy.

dudeist skydiver #42

[mnealtx 0]

Quote

I`m with you 100%.
Lots of people have bad attitude towards USA because of it`s "world nanny/world cop" policy.

Remind me again of WHO is asking why the USA isn't doing anything in Sudan and other places? Isnt' it.... the REST of the world?

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[feuergnom 22]

Quote

Quote

I`m with you 100%.
Lots of people have bad attitude towards USA because of it`s "world nanny/world cop" policy.

Remind me again of WHO is asking why the USA isn't doing anything in Sudan and other places? Isnt' it.... the REST of the world?

the rest of the world would have no problem whatsoever, with the U.S. showing presence in other countries, were it not only based on hegemonic reasons.
remember: sadam hussien was a s.o.b., but he was your s.o.b. once he stopped walking the line the u.s. drew, he was the devil himself and a leader to get rid of....

The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle

dudeist skydiver # 666

[tkhayes 140]

Ah, fear and intimidation, the battle cry of the right wing......

If all these countries need our military might as their police force, then they can foot the bill.

And if they can afford the bill, then they can do it themselves. - they would not need us.

Shut 'em down The cold war is over

[klingeme 0]

Quote

Oh, nothing much.

North Korea would invade South Korea.
China would invade Taiwan.
Muslim countries would attack Israel.
Russia would rattle sabers in eastern Europe, and take over Georgia.
India and Pakistan might hurl nukes at each other over disputed territory.
Kosovo would degenerate into ethnic genocide again.

No big deal.

The problem is, such a move would signal tyrants around the world that the U.S. is no longer interested in preventing conflicts from happening in the first place by providing a protective force. The tyrants would no longer be deterred by a direct and immediate military response from the U.S. Instead, the best the U.S. could do, would be to send in forces after-the-fact. And preventing conflict in the first place, is far cheaper than stopping it after it has started.

Furthermore, are you willing to abandon all our allies like that? If you think America's reputation is mud now, what's it going to be like when we walk away from all our friends in the world and let them be attacked and destroyed?

Or how about having the country we are "protecting" pick up the cost associated with maintaining the base? Kind of a "hired gun"

[shropshire 0]

You aint protecting us... you're squating

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[JackC 0]

Quote

Or how about having the country we are "protecting" pick up the cost associated with maintaining the base? Kind of a "hired gun"

You think the US should provide a mercenary army? To the highest bidder?

[alw 0]

Quote

Actually, the biggest losers, if the bases were closed, would be the local populations as trade would reduce (big time). Not sure about the cost of the bases them selves, as they don't pay rent anyway.

You're right there. Take a look at Holy Loch, Subic Bay, or Hamilton Air Force Base in CA. It took years to get to some semblance of normal when the base closed.

While we're at it let's pull all the government contracts from local contractors too. Let the military handle it and just hire all the out of work people directly into the military. Then they could get the medical care and educational benefits and housing assistance.

We could take a lesson from the Chinese and use our military as human traffic cones. What a great idea. How many soldiers can you hire if you just cancel one aircraft carrier? Yes I think we might be on to something here.

We could use the Corp of Engineers to build roads and pipelines and the Sea Bees to drill for oil and gas. SEALS could take over for Baywatch and Delta could take over for SWAT. The Marines could secure our borders.

Just pull the Reagan into Galveston Bay and let her generate electricity and desalinate water and house all the Hurrican refugees. Shut down the Red Cross and Salvation Army, let the Real Army do it. Kick those liberal bastards out of college administrations and make their campuses West Point, Annapolis, and Air Force Academy extensions.

Think of all the factories we could build just to replace the goods we get cheap from overseas. Sure our standard of living might take a hit initially but once the military has taken over everything we won't have to worry too much about variety. I happen to like olive drab.

This could be a great idea. Something Powell could really sink his teeth into.

---------------------------------------------
Every day is a bonus - every night is an adventure.

[klingeme 0]

Quote

Quote

Or how about having the country we are "protecting" pick up the cost associated with maintaining the base? Kind of a "hired gun"

You think the US should provide a mercenary army? To the highest bidder?

Not exactly, but for the countries the we have deemed "worthy" of our miltary defense, have them foot the bill.

[shropshire 0]

Actually we did foot the bill (Big time) for the assistance during WW2... I often wonder if any other other countries (especially the defeated ones!!) had to cough up like we did?

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[klingeme 0]

Quote

Quote

Actually, the biggest losers, if the bases were closed, would be the local populations as trade would reduce (big time). Not sure about the cost of the bases them selves, as they don't pay rent anyway.

You're right there. Take a look at Holy Loch, Subic Bay, or Hamilton Air Force Base in CA. It took years to get to some semblance of normal when the base closed.

While we're at it let's pull all the government contracts from local contractors too. Let the military handle it and just hire all the out of work people directly into the military. Then they could get the medical care and educational benefits and housing assistance.

We could take a lesson from the Chinese and use our military as human traffic cones. What a great idea. How many soldiers can you hire if you just cancel one aircraft carrier? Yes I think we might be on to something here.

We could use the Corp of Engineers to build roads and pipelines and the Sea Bees to drill for oil and gas. SEALS could take over for Baywatch and Delta could take over for SWAT. The Marines could secure our borders.

Just pull the Reagan into Galveston Bay and let her generate electricity and desalinate water and house all the Hurrican refugees. Shut down the Red Cross and Salvation Army, let the Real Army do it. Kick those liberal bastards out of college administrations and make their campuses West Point, Annapolis, and Air Force Academy extensions.

Think of all the factories we could build just to replace the goods we get cheap from overseas. Sure our standard of living might take a hit initially but once the military has taken over everything we won't have to worry too much about variety. I happen to like olive drab.

This could be a great idea. Something Powell could really sink his teeth into.

instead we should continue to spend the money on both simply because we always have.

It's kind of like saying we can now make a container with only 3 sewers, but we will continue to use 35 just because we would not want anyone to lose their job. Forget the fact that it costs 11.6 times as much to do this, at least people will keep their jobs.


edited to add
This is completely hypothetical.

[kallend 1,649]

Quote

Quote

Quote

Or how about having the country we are "protecting" pick up the cost associated with maintaining the base? Kind of a "hired gun"

You think the US should provide a mercenary army? To the highest bidder?

Not exactly, but for the countries the we have deemed "worthy" of our miltary defense, have them foot the bill.

I'm having a hard time seeing how that does not fit the definition of "mercenary".

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[JackC 0]

Quote

Quote

Quote

Or how about having the country we are "protecting" pick up the cost associated with maintaining the base? Kind of a "hired gun"

You think the US should provide a mercenary army? To the highest bidder?

Not exactly, but for the countries the we have deemed "worthy" of our miltary defense, have them foot the bill.

So that's a yes then. You would sell the services of the US military to whoever you deem "worthy". Presumably the ability to pay on one of the criterion for being considered "worthy".

OK, counterpoint, you want a base on our land, pay rent.