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Dreamer128 · 08-16-2004, 05:15 PM

Update:

Bush plans US troop moves

Agencies
Monday August 16, 2004

The US will bring up to 70,000 troops home from bases in Europe and Asia over the next few years, moving soldiers away from cold war positions, the US president, George Bush, said today.
Mr Bush also announced that another 100,000 family members and civilian support staff would return as overseas bases were closed and consolidated in areas where heavy troop presence was no longer deemed essential.

"For decades, American troops have remained largely where the wars of the last century ended," the president told members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars organisation in Ohio.

With the threat shifting from feared Soviet aggression to instability in the Middle East and terrorism, Mr Bush said he wanted to reposition troops to create a "more flexible and agile force".

He said more US troops would be stationed in the US rather than being moved around overseas bases, meaning "more predictability and fewer moves over a career".

That might win Mr Bush election year applause from military families - but it will not ease the strain on the 150,000 US soldiers battling violent factions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The world has changed a great deal, and our posture must change with it - for the sake of our military families, for the sake of our taxpayers, and so we can be more effective at projecting our strength and spreading freedom and peace," he said.

Mr Bush added that the repositioning of forces would help reduce the amount of taxpayers' money spent on maintaining bases overseas. A significant number of soldiers would be sent to bases in the US, although others could be shifted to posts in eastern Europe, White House officials said.

A US military official in Berlin today struck a note of caution as the president spoke, saying any shift of major US military units out of western Europe and Asia would take years and would require further negotiation.

Even with Mr Bush's endorsement, the plan would be likely to be put into practice only at some time between 2006 and 2011, the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said.

The official added that "pretty specific details" had been discussed with the affected countries, but that more talks would be needed to settle details on the "units, dates and specific numbers".

US armed forces stationed abroad in places other than Iraq and Afghanistan number around 200,000, with around half of those in Europe.

Earlier this year, the Pentagon advised German officials that it was considering removing two army divisions from Germany and replacing them with smaller, more mobile units.

(The Guardian)

08-16-2004, 05:15 PM	#11
Dreamer128 Dracolisk Join Date: March 21, 2001 Location: Europe Age: 40 Posts: 6,136	Update: Bush plans US troop moves Agencies Monday August 16, 2004 The US will bring up to 70,000 troops home from bases in Europe and Asia over the next few years, moving soldiers away from cold war positions, the US president, George Bush, said today. Mr Bush also announced that another 100,000 family members and civilian support staff would return as overseas bases were closed and consolidated in areas where heavy troop presence was no longer deemed essential. "For decades, American troops have remained largely where the wars of the last century ended," the president told members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars organisation in Ohio. With the threat shifting from feared Soviet aggression to instability in the Middle East and terrorism, Mr Bush said he wanted to reposition troops to create a "more flexible and agile force". He said more US troops would be stationed in the US rather than being moved around overseas bases, meaning "more predictability and fewer moves over a career". That might win Mr Bush election year applause from military families - but it will not ease the strain on the 150,000 US soldiers battling violent factions in Iraq and Afghanistan. "The world has changed a great deal, and our posture must change with it - for the sake of our military families, for the sake of our taxpayers, and so we can be more effective at projecting our strength and spreading freedom and peace," he said. Mr Bush added that the repositioning of forces would help reduce the amount of taxpayers' money spent on maintaining bases overseas. A significant number of soldiers would be sent to bases in the US, although others could be shifted to posts in eastern Europe, White House officials said. A US military official in Berlin today struck a note of caution as the president spoke, saying any shift of major US military units out of western Europe and Asia would take years and would require further negotiation. Even with Mr Bush's endorsement, the plan would be likely to be put into practice only at some time between 2006 and 2011, the official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said. The official added that "pretty specific details" had been discussed with the affected countries, but that more talks would be needed to settle details on the "units, dates and specific numbers". US armed forces stationed abroad in places other than Iraq and Afghanistan number around 200,000, with around half of those in Europe. Earlier this year, the Pentagon advised German officials that it was considering removing two army divisions from Germany and replacing them with smaller, more mobile units. (The Guardian)