Quote Originally Posted by syslight View Post
I made no reference to deploying US troops within out borders as they are not allowed to engage the civilian population. But we most certainly may have bases here in the USA. In fact they are often used in times of natural disasters. Military personnel often sandbag levees and dikes but they do not perform "police type activities, that is reserved for the police and national guard.

The concept of having pre-deployed troops around the world may have been valid during the cold war years but now all we really need is a few bases like i mentioned... in the UK (north atlantic), Italy (Mediterranean), Diego Garcia (Indian ocean) and Cuba (just because )
Continuing deployment like we have is fine if we are expecting another large scale land war, but those do not happen anymore. Today's military engagements are smaller and rapidly moving. Think of the success we are having with drones ... they are flying in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq but are often controlled by crews located here in the USA.


Of course i would like to see them come home to new bases along the Mexiacan boarder so it is easier to quell the unrest brewing there but home to our soil would be fantastic.


To answer the concerns of a "large standing army" we are about to start downsizing that this year they are looking at a 10% budget cut.

The wave of the future in warfare is counter-terrorism, everybody else is too mature for open warfare.

For the record i know that many countries are involved in peacekeeping missions and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. IIRC, only soldiers form the UK, Australia, Canada and the US engage in fighting ... the rest mainly are support and logistic people which is useful.
I'm not disagreeing with you entirely, but this is what we thought in the late 80s, prior to the first gulf war. Then it took months to move heavy forces to the theatre....I think it's good to have a presence in hot spots. It is a psychological deterrent and physical trip-wire for those who might act against our interests.

Jordan