Kerry: Redeployment Could Impair ...

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Registered: 04-18-2004
Kerry: Redeployment Could Impair ...
8
Wed, 08-18-2004 - 8:03am

...Security


What do you all think?  Do you think Kerry has a point by saying the withdrawal of troops from Germany could impair our national security and further strain relations with Germany?  I can see where he is coming from because Germany is a strategic and rather safe location for our soldiers to be at if called upon in the MidEast and Europe.  But the Germany economy is super compared to countries like Poland or Czech, so perhaps we could open bases there and help them out, as well as us? We would still have strategic locations if we did that.  Also, talks of closing Wiesbaden Army Airfield have been going on at least since we got here in June of 2001, so this comes as no surprise to us.  So, I do not feel it is to punish or tick off the German Government for not helping us in Iraq. 


http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040818/D84HG59O0.html



CINCINNATI (AP) - John Kerry says President Bush's plans to recall as many as 70,000 troops from Cold War-era bases in Europe and Asia could impair the nation's security, particularly in the war against terror.

In a speech to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Kerry was arguing Wednesday that Bush's policy would undermine relations with U.S. allies and dangerously reduce forces at a time when the nation is fighting the al-Qaida terrorist network in 60 countries across the globe, according to a senior campaign official familiar with discussions about the speech.

Bush announced his redeployment plan Monday before an earlier session of the same convention of the VFW, a conservative group meeting in a GOP-leaning city. Bush also used his appearance before the veterans to criticize Kerry for saying he plans to reduce the number of U.S. troops in Iraq during his first six months in office.

With voters focused on the war on terror, the VFW convention was the perfect backdrop for both candidates to tout their war plans. The convention was set in Ohio, one of the most hotly contested battleground states, with a live audience being targeted by both campaigns.


Although veterans lean Republican, Kerry also is seeking their support in this election. Kerry touts his own service in the Vietnam War as a mutual connection and is even bucking the tradition of suspending campaigning during the opposing party's national convention to speak to the American Legion.


Kerry plans to speak to the group at their convention in Nashville on Sept. 1, in the middle of the Republican National Convention. Kerry spokeswoman Allison Dobson said it's the only event he has scheduled during the GOP gathering in New York City.

"Obviously, veterans' issues are a huge priority, so he's honored to be speaking there," Dobson said.

Kerry's appearance before the VFW was to be the first time he responded to Bush's redeployment plan, but others speaking on behalf of the campaign have criticized it along the same lines.

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark said Bush's plan "will significantly undermine U.S. national security." Richard Holbrooke, former ambassador to the United Nations, accused Bush of playing politics with the issue and trying to distract from the strain on the military by prolonged deployments in Iraq.


Kerry's criticism of Bush comes as the Democratic challenger tries to cut the president's advantage on terrorism and national security. Bush is often seen as the stronger leader on those issues in public opinion polls, but Kerry's aides say the president is vulnerable especially as voters learn more about Kerry's record of service.


The Vietnam-era military records of both candidates remain an issue in the race, with former sailors accusing Kerry of exaggerating his war record and Democrats questioning whether Bush showed up for duty in the Texas Air National Guard.

Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona, a decorated Vietnam veteran who campaigns with Bush but has worked closely with Kerry in the Senate, has called for a cease fire.

"I wish we would stop opening wounds from a war of more than 30 years ago and talk about the war we're fighting now," McCain told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "I believe they both served honorably."

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Registered: 04-18-2004
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 1:11pm
Bumping thread.... would love to hear your input....

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Avatar for tmcgoughy
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Registered: 04-08-2003
Mon, 08-23-2004 - 2:01pm

Hi Miffy,


Thank you!

The first key to wisdom is constant and frequent questioning, for by doubting we are led to question and by questioning we arrive at the truth.  -
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Registered: 04-18-2004
Wed, 08-25-2004 - 8:58am
SUPER LINK, Tracey!

Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board

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Registered: 05-24-2004
Wed, 08-25-2004 - 11:11pm
I guess it's mostly my own selfishness. I would prefer to leave the soldiers in Germany, but just because I feel like we need to leave at least one European country as a main overseas base for the US and so far as I know Germany is our main European base. Just seems ideal to me. Maybe I'm a little off my rocker, but I feel like we would be more vulnerable if we pulled our troops from there.

Venus

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Registered: 11-11-1999
Wed, 08-25-2004 - 11:59pm
Actually I both agree and disagree with Kerry on this one.

The original purpose of our bases in Germany was to protect Europe from the Soviet Union, not necessarily militarily in the sense that our troops in Germany could defeat the Soviet Union, but rather, had the Russians invaded, they would have by neccessity inflicted such heavy losses on our troops there that we would have no choice but to fight.

With the end of the cold war it does make sense to move them further east, as a way of "warning" the Russians that the days of the old Soviet Empire are over. Our troops in Poland or Bulgaria would be a warning to the Russians that any thoughts of reestablishing their empire through force would draw us into war the same as a European invasion would have in the 50s or 60s. So I disagree with Kerry.

Given the rise of China and the instability of North Korea I am really surprised that they would talk of withdrawing troops from Asia. The only reason I can see for this is that they are desperate for troops to fix their mistakes in Iraq. I don't think that withdrawing from Asia is very smart, I agree with Kerry there.

dablacksox


Cynic: a blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be.---Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary.

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Registered: 04-18-2004
Thu, 08-26-2004 - 3:22am

By military, do you mean the Army?

Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board

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Registered: 05-24-2004
Fri, 08-27-2004 - 3:20pm
Yeah I was refering to the Army. I have to admit I am a little ignorant about the wearabouts of the other branches. I just know while I was in the Army almost anyone I knew going to Europe would be stationed in, or ask to be stationed in Germany as there wasn't much else available for us in the other European countries. We were also trying to keep our buts out of Korea, most of us had already spent a year there.

Guess I should learn a bit more of the other branches.

Venus

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Registered: 04-18-2004
Fri, 08-27-2004 - 3:58pm

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HA!

Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board