Thread: Bring the Boys (and Girls) Back Home!

Well it is about time somebody says it. The time for the Marshall plan and related treaties is passed! Other then a token bases on the shores of the UK, Italy, Diego Garcia and Cuba, it is time to pull our troops out of every foreign country. Except, where there are still open hostilities such as Korea, Afghanistan and Iraq.

This would allow US bases to remain open/ re-open and would lower our overall military costs without jeopardizing our borders.

Further, this would lower anxiety around the world and foster either national pride or capitulation among nations that do not want to provide for their own defense.

in the era of an ever spiraling out of control budget we must make cuts where possible. End our NATO and UN contributions and allow others the freedom to assume their place in history.

Due to the nature of their surrender, Japan is the only foriegn nation we are obliged to. Lets get the boys home(other than Iraq/Afghanistan) we the people can save a whole lotta dough, and the boys can help revive our economy due to reopening/expansion of bases here at home. Amen.

Except this is not really desirable, because a large standing army on home soil would make a lot of people very antsy. I don't know the specifics surrounding this issue, but isn't this even illegal?

Also, it is not a matter of protection, it is also a matter of strategic importance.
In the event of SHTF, foreign bases are of crucial importance because they allow armies to deploy rapidly.
So unless you propose never to involve yourself again with the rest of the world in a military fashion, 'bringing the boys home' is not an option.

Having foreign military bases is to control global politics and economies in the long run. It is NOT for our protection. Contrary to what you imply, we do not rely on US bases for our protection.

The US military is meant for foreign actions ONLY. That's the whole point of foreign bases. There is no point in deploying them at home. They wouldn't have anything to do. So they'd have to be fired en masse. Not sure that would do the economy a whole lot of good.

Originally Posted by Bruno

Except this is not really desirable, because a large standing army on home soil would make a lot of people very antsy. I don't know the specifics surrounding this issue, but isn't this even illegal?

Also, it is not a matter of protection, it is also a matter of strategic importance.
In the event of SHTF, foreign bases are of crucial importance because they allow armies to deploy rapidly.
So unless you propose never to involve yourself again with the rest of the world in a military fashion, 'bringing the boys home' is not an option.

Having foreign military bases is to control global politics and economies in the long run. It is NOT for our protection. Contrary to what you imply, we do not rely on US bases for our protection.

The US military is meant for foreign actions ONLY. That's the whole point of foreign bases. There is no point in deploying them at home. They wouldn't have anything to do. So they'd have to be fired en masse. Not sure that would do the economy a whole lot of good.

Forgive me Bruno but I think this is the sort of posts Jim was fishing for! Tells us a lot!!

Originally Posted by syslight

allow others the freedom to assume their place in history.

I like that. Very eloquently put.

Just out of interest, no offence is meant, do many Americans realise that there are other countries such as the UK fighting in places like Afganistan?
The reason I say this is because my family members in Canada often send 'pass it on ' emails in support of Canadian & American troops with no mention of the UK contribution.The UK death toll in Afganistan passed the 150 mark a while ago. I know it is small in comparison with the USA but we are a very small country.
I'd like to see the American troops remain here in the UK and Europe. On a lighter note perhaps you could repatriate some of your less honest bankers and a few of ours as well.

Originally Posted by JMS

Forgive me Bruno but I think this is the sort of posts Jim was fishing for! Tells us a lot!!

I think I must have missed something (either your or jim's intention) because I have no clue what you mean.
EDIT: could I perhaps interest you in taking back a couple of US CEOs and board members?
They could really boost the US economy, based on the fact that they are so good that they needed huge reward bonuses recently.
We'd even pay for shipping. (in a freight container)

Originally Posted by Bruno

I think I must have missed something (either your or jim's intention) because I have no clue what you mean.
EDIT: could I perhaps interest you in taking back a couple of US CEOs and board members?
They could really boost the US economy, based on the fact that they are so good that they needed huge reward bonuses recently.
We'd even pay for shipping. (in a freight container)

No. We're almost even for you guys allowing Stella Artois to be sold to the rest of the world as "Belgian" beer. You're getting AIG's management team in a large fedex envelope next week.

Originally Posted by Bruno

The US military is meant for foreign actions ONLY. That's the whole point of foreign bases. There is no point in deploying them at home. They wouldn't have anything to do. So they'd have to be fired en masse. Not sure that would do the economy a whole lot of good.

It would be nice the US military could help enforce the US borders

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

It would be nice the US military could help enforce the US borders

iirc, deploying the military inside of our borders, short of martial law or a national emergency being declared, is completely illegal.

in other news, i'm in favor of keeping our troops deployed, and spending as much as possible on defense gotta work hard and stay on that bleeding edge