Democratic Veteran :: Neocon Fever

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August 16, 2004

Neocon Fever

Just when you thought that they might have learned their lessons, and quit fucking around with things that they don't understand, the Neocons do it again...this time with the "redeployment" of troops back to the US. The 1600 Crew is saying that this will give the troops more time at home...sure, between deployments back to where they were stationed overseas. It's a serious Catch-22 being sold by a bunch of guys whose closest association with military service was watching Bill Murray in "Stripes".

President Bush's plan to restructure U.S. military forces abroad includes bringing two Army divisions home from Cold War-era bases in Germany, and increasing the U.S. presence at bases in countries like Poland, Romania and Uzbekistan, Pentagon officials said Monday.
...
The moves are meant to give the military greater flexibility and a quicker reaction time to deal with the smaller military engagements that Pentagon planners foresee during the war on terrorism and beyond.
...
"Our service members will have more time on the home front, and more predictability and fewer moves over a career," Bush said.

However, stepped-up use of training bases overseas could mean more short-term rotations for troops as their families remain in the United States. And some U.S. civilian and contract workers at shuttered European bases would lose their jobs, the Pentagon officials said.

Clark said increased overseas training would put further strain on a military already stretched thin by Iraq and Afghanistan.

Exactly the strategery we have come to expect from these assholes. They'll make America safer by .... well, it won't be safer at all. Remember that as much as the republicans like to think that they are the party of "national security", the whole BRAC (Base Realignment and Closures), downsizing of the military and a few other "initiatives" like cutting benefits for veterans have all been instigated by guys like Dick Cheney whose military career was not having one...five deferments, right?

I guess being a deserter and coward means never having to say you're sorry.

posted by Jo Fish on 08.16.04 at 09:46 PM

Comments:

On the other hand, basing troops inside CONUS will make declaration of martial law and revocation of civil liberties a lot easier in case of "civil unrest."

Posse Comitatus, please pick up a white courtesy phone. Your office is asking you to call.

posted by: Lurch on 08.16.04 at 11:36 PM [permalink]

He obviously doesn't read the Euro Stars and Stripes or he wouldn't want the wives of the guys pulled out of Germany for Iraq back in the US.

Great, they are going to run everything as unaccompanied 12 and 18 month tours, that will really make families happy. Stuck in the same crappy base housing unit for 20 years ought to do wonders for retention.

posted by: Bryan on 08.17.04 at 12:35 AM [permalink]

What will this plan accomplish in the short term? The troops are spread too thin right now, yet these asshats make sweeping plans to cover the next ten years. Don't they realize that no matter what they plan it will never materilize. They are not going to be in power for the next ten years and more sober minds will change this ignorant agenda quickly.

The present administration doesn't seem to realize that Germany and Korea pay us a great deal towards maintaining our troops in their country. We could not afford this number of soldiers without their help. Besides Korea and Germany are well established bases from which we can reach European and Asian hot spots quickly.

The Korean pennisula is the most dangerous piece of real estate in the world. To withdraw our troops from there is to invite disaster. I spent three years patrolling the Korean DMZ and trust me, we are needed there. For Commander Cod Piece and his Neo-Fascist militia to pull us from there is the stupidest idea to come from this bunch of boneheads yet. North Korea is the greatest threat to peace and security in the world. Unlike Iraq, North Korea has weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them.

We need to get Gomer Pyle and his crew out of the WH before they do any more damage.

posted by: Lowell on 08.17.04 at 09:55 AM [permalink]

All the comments above re: this insanity are corrct. The problem is we're looking at the issue from the substantive policy point of view -- what will the long - term effects be in Europe, Korea, etc.

However, substance and policy are the furtherest things from Karl and Dear Leader's minds -- this is all about the election and cadging votes from military folks and the voters in the districts where the returning units would go.

Karl and Dear Leader don't know and don't care about what effect this latest announcement will have on our force structure -- this is on a par with the "C'mon kids, let's all go to Mars!!" announcement a couple of months ago, and will have just about as much substantive policy impact.

Will there be some sort of force realignment at some point in the future? Probably. Will it be this one? Who knows; Bush hasn't bothered to fill in any of the details. Smart money says he won't unless he's forced to by the media (fat chance) or during a debate with Kerry.

posted by: fbg46 on 08.17.04 at 12:57 PM [permalink]

All the comments above re: this insanity are correct. The problem is we're looking at the issue from the substantive policy point of view -- what will the long - term effects be in Europe, Korea, etc.

posted by: fbg46 on 08.17.04 at 12:57 PM [permalink]

Bush Jr.'s National Security Strategy (2002) states that the US will take all necessary steps to maintain its position as the #1 military power and the #1 economic power in the world. This gave rise to a pre-emptive war. Now, is this a sort of pre-emptive withdrawal? Is Bush Jr., the then King of the Hill, now settling for a molehill? Come to think of it, a molehill would look like a mountain in Crawford, Texas.

posted by: Shag from Brookline on 08.18.04 at 06:21 AM [permalink]

As quoted from Atrios:

Commander CandyAss & his Vice Pussy.

My how that fits the bill, don't you think?

Semper FI

posted by: Barndog on 08.18.04 at 06:42 AM [permalink]

Well this facilitates more privatization.

Halliburton bids for new bases in Rumania, Pakistan, Iraq (especially the Kurd regions).

Risk game. Asia-big continent,nine armies per turn extra... Bush wants to win the game and that is what it is to him...

posted by: Mr.Murder on 08.24.04 at 11:48 PM [permalink]