Kerry: Redeployment Could Impair ...
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| Wed, 08-18-2004 - 8:03am |
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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."
Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board
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Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board
Visit My Website!
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Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board
Hi Miffy,
Thank you!
Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board
Venus
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.
By military, do you mean the Army?
Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board
Guess I should learn a bit more of the other branches.
Venus
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HA!
Miffy - Co-CL For The Politics Today Board