R MacDonald
08-16-2004, 11:54 PM
U.S. to Close a Third of Military Installations in Europe & Asia
Aug. 16, 2004
http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?nid=8&sid=113429
President Bush announced today a major worldwide redeployment of American troops.
It means many of the troops currently deployed in Europe and Asia will be coming home to America.
NBC's Steve Handlesman has the details.
PRESIDENT BUSH WENT BEFORE VETERANS IN A BATTLEGROUND STATE, OHIO, TO MAKE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT THAT'S SURE TO BE POPULAR WITH VOTERS: THE BIGGEST U-S TROOP PULLBACK SINCE THE COLD WAR.
" for the sake of our military families, for the sake of our taxpayers and so we can be more effective at projecting our strength and spreading freedom and peace."
60 YEARS AFTER WW2...100 THOUSAND US FORCES ARE STILL IN EUROPE...MOST IN GERMANY THE SAME NUMBER IN ASIA, MOST IN KOREA, AND CRITICS WONDERED WHY.
Ted Galen Carpenter / Defense Policy Analyst / Cato Institute :" these countries are capable of defending themselves. they've been capable for a very long time. this is a step that should have been taken at least a decade ago."
THE BUSH PLAN IS TO TAKE ANOTHER DECADE TO BRING A THIRD OF THE AMERICANS HOME: 70 THOUSAND UNIFORMED PERSONNEL, PLUS 100 THOUSAND FAMILY AND CIVILIAN STAFF. THEY'D BE MOVED BACK TO BASES IN THE U-S, WHERE THE PRESIDENT CLAIMS THEY'D BE BETTER POSITIONED TO FIGHT THE WAR ON TERROR.
DEFENSE SECRETARY RUMSFELD INFORMED THE RUSSIANS... THEY'RE NO LONGER SEEN AS A THREAT BUT, NORTH KOREA REMAINS A MENACE...AND FORMER NATO COMMANDER WES CLARK, NOW A DEMOCRATIC ALLY OF JOHN KERRY, SAYS THE BUSH PLAN IS DANGEROUS.
Wesley Clark, former NATO Commander, working for the Kerry Campaign : "this is not a move that is cost effective, this is not a move which enhances our security. it's simply george bush playing politics with national security at election time."
THE BUSH RE-DEPLOYMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE IRAQ, WHERE 130+ THOUSAND U-S FORCES REMAIN IN HARMS WAY.
AND PRESIDENT BUSH SAYS JOHN KERRY'S PROMISE ... TO START A U-S WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ WITHIN SIX MONTHS ... SENDS A BAD MESSAGE: THAT AMERICA MIGHT NOT FINISH THAT MISSION.
Aug. 16, 2004
http://tv.ksl.com/index.php?nid=8&sid=113429
President Bush announced today a major worldwide redeployment of American troops.
It means many of the troops currently deployed in Europe and Asia will be coming home to America.
NBC's Steve Handlesman has the details.
PRESIDENT BUSH WENT BEFORE VETERANS IN A BATTLEGROUND STATE, OHIO, TO MAKE HIS ANNOUNCEMENT THAT'S SURE TO BE POPULAR WITH VOTERS: THE BIGGEST U-S TROOP PULLBACK SINCE THE COLD WAR.
" for the sake of our military families, for the sake of our taxpayers and so we can be more effective at projecting our strength and spreading freedom and peace."
60 YEARS AFTER WW2...100 THOUSAND US FORCES ARE STILL IN EUROPE...MOST IN GERMANY THE SAME NUMBER IN ASIA, MOST IN KOREA, AND CRITICS WONDERED WHY.
Ted Galen Carpenter / Defense Policy Analyst / Cato Institute :" these countries are capable of defending themselves. they've been capable for a very long time. this is a step that should have been taken at least a decade ago."
THE BUSH PLAN IS TO TAKE ANOTHER DECADE TO BRING A THIRD OF THE AMERICANS HOME: 70 THOUSAND UNIFORMED PERSONNEL, PLUS 100 THOUSAND FAMILY AND CIVILIAN STAFF. THEY'D BE MOVED BACK TO BASES IN THE U-S, WHERE THE PRESIDENT CLAIMS THEY'D BE BETTER POSITIONED TO FIGHT THE WAR ON TERROR.
DEFENSE SECRETARY RUMSFELD INFORMED THE RUSSIANS... THEY'RE NO LONGER SEEN AS A THREAT BUT, NORTH KOREA REMAINS A MENACE...AND FORMER NATO COMMANDER WES CLARK, NOW A DEMOCRATIC ALLY OF JOHN KERRY, SAYS THE BUSH PLAN IS DANGEROUS.
Wesley Clark, former NATO Commander, working for the Kerry Campaign : "this is not a move that is cost effective, this is not a move which enhances our security. it's simply george bush playing politics with national security at election time."
THE BUSH RE-DEPLOYMENT DOES NOT INCLUDE IRAQ, WHERE 130+ THOUSAND U-S FORCES REMAIN IN HARMS WAY.
AND PRESIDENT BUSH SAYS JOHN KERRY'S PROMISE ... TO START A U-S WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ WITHIN SIX MONTHS ... SENDS A BAD MESSAGE: THAT AMERICA MIGHT NOT FINISH THAT MISSION.