Forces Article Index : Current 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
 Latest
 News 		  Most
 Read 		  Most
 Commented		  Hot
 Topics
U.S. Fades Away In Europe
   Next Article → ATTRITION: For Want Of A Geek

September 13, 2008:   After spending over half a century years in Europe, the headquarters of the U.S. 7th Army headquarters is reorganizing as a deployable unit (meaning it can be ordered to another part of the world to supervise major military operations.) The 7th Army headquarters ceased to be very mobile as it commanded a growing force of European based U.S. combat units in the 1950s. But this force went from two corps and over six divisions (18 combat brigades) during the Cold War, to the current four brigades (which are also subject to duty in distant combat zones, like Iraq or Afghanistan). During the Cold War, there were over 300,000 U.S. troops in Western Europe, now it's about 40,000, and headed for 33,000 in five years. And if there's a crises somewhere else on the planet, there won't even be an army headquarters there to command what's left of American forces.

 

Next Article → ATTRITION: For Want Of A Geek
  

Show Only Poster Name and Title     Newest to Oldest
Pages: 1 2
RockyMTNClimber    Western Europe doesn't need US   9/13/2008 10:59:25 AM
The day has long past when because of the ravages of WWII the USA had to carry the burden for Western Europe's defense. The NATO nations have for a long time had the economies and technologies to provide for their own common defense. Matched against their most likely enemy, Russia, they out number them in virtually all systems types and qualities, their military leadership is plently capable, and growing every day. Developments in missile ABM technologies (within Western Europe) will even be able to cut short Russia's biggest strength, ballistic missiles.
 
What Western Europe now needs desperately is the internal political will to resolve it's own internal crisis's like Bosnia, Kosovo etal.. and leave US out of it. We have enough to deal with here at home and with our strategic interests elsewhere. 
 
They needed our help in the last century yet it is really time to let them fend for themselves. They can certainly do it if they want to, if they decide not to, it probably doesn't make much sense for US to bail them out for a third time in a hundred years.
 
Check Six
 
Rocky
 
Quote    Reply

xylene       9/13/2008 3:46:27 PM
I agree with Rocky. While the bases retain value for the amount invested in them and the logistical value the era of the USA protecting Europe is long overdue.
 
Quote    Reply

newjarheadean    Turn out the lights   9/13/2008 3:54:11 PM
AHOY
 
Everything said makes sense so who dose that logic not transfer to the Korean peninsula? The US would counter the North's use of nukes. I'll answer my own question. IMO South Korea is the only location in the area that can't get rid of the large US presents. And with the cold war LOL heating up it may be that the Europeans wont US out.  

 
Quote    Reply

MisterClock       9/13/2008 11:56:01 PM

Cool.  It's about time the mainland Europeans start stepping up to protect themselves, whether they want to or not.  Probably now, some decent UN peacekeepers will come out of Europe.
 
Quote    Reply

RockyMTNClimber    Ahoy   9/14/2008 1:42:30 PM

AHOY

 Everything said makes sense so who dose that logic not transfer to the Korean peninsula? The US would counter the North's use of nukes. I'll answer my own question. IMO South Korea is the only location in the area that can't get rid of the large US presents. And with the cold war LOL heating up it may be that the Europeans wont US out.  


 

It is worth noting that on the Korean peninsula US forces have been reduced and pulled back to the rear echelon. South Korean troops now occupy the southern border of the DMZ. No more US trip-wire. That shows a growing reality that our Republic of Korea partner there is capable of handling the North all by themselves.
 
We could probably pull our Army and Marines out of Korea all together as well. Maybe we should.
 
Check Six
 
Rocky
 
Quote    Reply

pashley    the time for a defense   9/14/2008 2:29:30 PM
army in Europe makes even less sense than an South American army.   The only reason we are still in Western Europe is bureaucratic inertia and the existing billets.
 
Move NATO headquarters to Istanbul, for the same reason that the Romans moved to Constantinople.   Move the European troops back to US where they can be configured as a mobile fighting force, rather than occupation troops or paper pushers in some distant and unchallenged country.   Also, if the troops are in the US, the focus of procurement will be on the troops' mobility, our decisive advantage, rather than any of the other dozens of procurement objectives.  
 
Quote    Reply

SFC MAC       9/15/2008 8:36:31 AM

In 1976, I pulled my first of three tours of duty in Germany. There were thousands of U.S. troops, and lots of "little Americas".  (housing areas)  It's kind of sad to see this happen because I have so many menories.  But, it looks like its time for Europe to finally fend for itself.  One of the sticking points for me is the incessent, stupid criticism spewed by the European effetes, who think they are so much more 'culturally and morally superior' to the United States. Well, now that Dhimmification is rearing its ugly head in places like Britain, we'll see how that works out.  I've always said that anytime another country thinks its better suited to be the world cop and babysitter, step up to the plate. Funny how they always look to us for a bailout when things get tough.

 
Quote    Reply

Nasty German Idiot       9/15/2008 9:47:37 AM
The Poles, the Baltics (the Ukrainians ?!?) need you much more at the moment.  I guess the biggest Airbases and some Headquarters and Landstuhl Hospital will stay anyway because the German infrastructure is good and "safe", and on half the way to the Middle East.  The Brits are also  pulling their troops together in come central areas. (Gütersloh where I live for example is beeing enlarged at the moment)
 
 
Quote    Reply

longrifle       9/15/2008 11:25:55 PM
The 7th Army NCO Academy at Bad Tolz; rainy nights in the woods at Grafenwohr; wild boar on the rifle range; the jump onto Bunker Drop Zone - and narrowly missing the old bunker once; war memorials in small German villages with the Knight's Cross on the marble; schnitzel and hefeweizen; pretty frauleins.....memories.
 
Quote    Reply

newjarheadean    Vitty interresting!   9/17/2008 7:15:56 PM
AHOY,
I had no idea that was the case. Must of all been part of the package deals etc going on latly with the north. Maybe I'm not paying close enough attention or it was low key reporting.
That all being so IMO really brings up the question of why US troops are there at all. May be they well be in Afghanistan soon. There is the MTN warfare course school there. So they could take a refresher an be on the way.  
G-day. 

 
Quote    Reply
1 2