Quote:
Originally Posted by eine_frau
I would be interested in an answer to PRB's question as to how important troop concentrations in Europe are...
As a German local I have more selfish interests in the posts staying open.
American families make up a part of my business. My house would lose significant value if the Army suddenly threw all that living space on the market, etc...
From what I understand the military seriously looked into moving posts from Germany to Poland, Rumania, etc... when Schröder refused to get Germany involved in the war in Iraq. Havn't heard much about that lately
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The concerns (usually economic impact) are not unique to Europe but have been endured by many areas in the USA who've lost one or another iteration of BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure). A country has to do what it has to do.
Around here that F16 running low-level ingress routes, or the weekend music of 105's going off, is called "the sound of Freedom." Statewide, busine$$es call it something else, as they're already familiar with what's at stake. Most of the citizenry is supportive anyway because it's both in their makeup and it's
their son/daughter that is going through their 3rd deployment and we watched their baseball practices, went to their school recitals when they were growing up, etc.)
To stay in an environment that isn't supportive, absent the threat that previously justified the presence, isn't going to carry
economic water. I had this debate with the young "professionally-permanent" students at the Frei Universitat in the 60's. "Ami go home" ... fine. Let me know how that student mil-service deferment based on your pilgrimage to West Berlin works out for you.
Respectfully, it seems no one wants the Spartan on their fenceline until it cuts into their rice bowl.
Plus ca change...
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