Posted on Jun 4, 2015
US to Form Permanent Military Base in Spain for African Missions
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Recent geo-political events have caused many nations to re-evaluate their security needs and once again request the protective umbrella of the United States. From the Phillipines who kicked us off their Islands in the early 90s, our western European friends who feel safer with American boots on their soil as a bulwark against Russian aggression, and much of China's little neighbors. As much as our global requirements may seem unending and often times unappreciated, God bless the world in which America chose to be isolationist. What say you RallyPoint, is the world better off having us as the nominal "Police Man" or should we start to look more inward.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2015/05/mil-150529-sputnik01.htm?_m=3n%2e002a%2e1430%2esv0ao0107l%2e1b9z
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2015/05/mil-150529-sputnik01.htm?_m=3n%2e002a%2e1430%2esv0ao0107l%2e1b9z
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Me expressing an opinion on this issue conjures in my mind an image of a 6 year-old child attempting to instruct his parents on how to file their tax deductions properly. But hell, I'll give it a shot, sir.
It's hard to see what the US does in bolstering the defense of other as imperialistic, as others here may have implied. We by no means own the government, the land, or the people of places like Spain, Germany, or South Korea. Our presence certainly serves our interests, and though more popular in some circles than others, the host countries definitely benefit ($75 million!?!). I don't understand why our assets in Germany are insufficient, or why Spain is a better candidate.
I will say that I like the idea that wherever America puts troops, our allies always seem to mostly support the activity.
World-Police sounds better than Declining-State, which I seem to hear more and more, actually.
It's hard to see what the US does in bolstering the defense of other as imperialistic, as others here may have implied. We by no means own the government, the land, or the people of places like Spain, Germany, or South Korea. Our presence certainly serves our interests, and though more popular in some circles than others, the host countries definitely benefit ($75 million!?!). I don't understand why our assets in Germany are insufficient, or why Spain is a better candidate.
I will say that I like the idea that wherever America puts troops, our allies always seem to mostly support the activity.
World-Police sounds better than Declining-State, which I seem to hear more and more, actually.
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SPC (Join to see)
CPT Ahmed Faried Exactly. We're not going to show up and claim that the Spanish now work for us. Their lands aren't ours. We just want to play on a little bit of it.
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I would first ask, why are we paying Spain to have a base in their country. Why are they not paying us? Western Europe has lived under our umbrella of protection since World War II, at OUR expense. Our presence, our men and women, our equipment, our technology, our missiles on the soils of Europe, Japan, South Korea, and a great many other places have allowed these countries to spend LESS on their military, less on R&D, less on military personnel and equipment, and more on their infrastructure and other improvements largely at our expense.
I also wonder why so many in the media call keeping our military out of other people's business "isolationism"? If we keep the bulk of our military at home, and ready to strike when the need arises, but otherwise engage with other countries peacefully, in trade, are we being isolationist? A number of statements by Bastiat distill down to this. "When goods stop crossing borders, armies soon start."
I am often baffled when I hear politicians, and those in the media who make statements like "These countries aren't afraid of us." Is that our goal? Fear? I would suggest it is important that other nations recognize and respect our powers, and the limits of our patience, but positive, or improving relationships are not built on fear.
Still others call for tariffs against places like China, to make their products more expensive here. To what end? Economically speaking this means higher prices for Americans, and politically, this scenario often ends, with tariff wars, trade restrictions, and increased tensions between the countries involved, and their respective allies alike.
So, I would argue that our military is not our only means of interacting with the world. We should use it when appropriate, but I believe it's time that many of these countries should step up, and start paying their own way. If they don't want to do so, then perhaps they should start paying us to occupy bases in their countries, and to provide that umbrella for which the American people are now, and have been paying for.
My opinion respectfully and solicitously stated.
I also wonder why so many in the media call keeping our military out of other people's business "isolationism"? If we keep the bulk of our military at home, and ready to strike when the need arises, but otherwise engage with other countries peacefully, in trade, are we being isolationist? A number of statements by Bastiat distill down to this. "When goods stop crossing borders, armies soon start."
I am often baffled when I hear politicians, and those in the media who make statements like "These countries aren't afraid of us." Is that our goal? Fear? I would suggest it is important that other nations recognize and respect our powers, and the limits of our patience, but positive, or improving relationships are not built on fear.
Still others call for tariffs against places like China, to make their products more expensive here. To what end? Economically speaking this means higher prices for Americans, and politically, this scenario often ends, with tariff wars, trade restrictions, and increased tensions between the countries involved, and their respective allies alike.
So, I would argue that our military is not our only means of interacting with the world. We should use it when appropriate, but I believe it's time that many of these countries should step up, and start paying their own way. If they don't want to do so, then perhaps they should start paying us to occupy bases in their countries, and to provide that umbrella for which the American people are now, and have been paying for.
My opinion respectfully and solicitously stated.
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This seems like a good thing, strategy-wise. With the issues that they had w/ Turkey during the past several years, lets form a new base to use. One that is friendly & actually wants us there.
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CPT Ahmed Faried
The Turks, sometimes they can't make up their minds if they want us or prefer us gone.
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Sgt Mark Ramos
It seems that many countries see the USA as teenagers view parents. They like to think of themselves as grown up and able to take care of themselves, until they run into trouble or need more money.
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CPT Ahmed Faried
yep. I once thought our commitment wouldn't be as heavy in Europe because at the very least the Germans would be able to fend off Russia till we arrived in case of a war. But even the once vaunted German military machine is a shell of itself. We are needed everywhere and nowhere it seems.
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SSG Gerhard S.
We are so needed in Germany for a number of reasons. First, we have restricted their capabilities since WW II, and second, they have become so accustomed to having the US military machine, all our wonderful weapons and technology, and our treasure of people providing the bulk of their defense, that they have become dependent both psychologically and monetarily. They have been told for so long that they shouldn't be powerful, that they have bought into it. They have been able to spend less on their military because of our presence, and more on social programs and infrastructure that reallocating would surely result in some serious protests. I think they need some tough love though... Time for them to fend for themselves. They can afford it, they just have to set their priorities and make it happen.
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My husband and I were both stationed in NS Rota back around the late seventies/early eighties. As we were told in "Indoc", it is (was?) a A Spanish base and we were there with their permission. The Spanish Admiral's house was very close to my apartment. (not much barracks space)
While there, the Iranian hostage crisis happened & all the sudden priorities changed. Our bomb loaders were in high demand which hadn't been the case earlier. Rota was important to our mission.
I left in 81 and heard that it was changed to a NATO base. Never heard if that was true or not. My husband served in the reserves in the 90's and his unit was called up for Desert Shield through Desert Storm. He was there 7 months working on electronic equipment that went down in the warzone. Rota is situated down close to the bottom on the Atlantic side. So this served our purpose well. I believe there were some other missions that were launched from there also because it has a longer runway than many. Or it did. The AFB in Terahone(sp) probably did also if it's still there.
It seems like we got a decent exchange for the use of a Spanish base. The telephone exchange waaay down in a deserted corner stunk though! Times have changed for the better there!
While there, the Iranian hostage crisis happened & all the sudden priorities changed. Our bomb loaders were in high demand which hadn't been the case earlier. Rota was important to our mission.
I left in 81 and heard that it was changed to a NATO base. Never heard if that was true or not. My husband served in the reserves in the 90's and his unit was called up for Desert Shield through Desert Storm. He was there 7 months working on electronic equipment that went down in the warzone. Rota is situated down close to the bottom on the Atlantic side. So this served our purpose well. I believe there were some other missions that were launched from there also because it has a longer runway than many. Or it did. The AFB in Terahone(sp) probably did also if it's still there.
It seems like we got a decent exchange for the use of a Spanish base. The telephone exchange waaay down in a deserted corner stunk though! Times have changed for the better there!
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