Bush Urges New U.S. Basing Arrangements
Tuesday, November 25, 2003
WASHINGTON — The U.S. government is intensifying its talks with traditional allies and other security partners on a global realignment of American troops and bases, President Bush said Tuesday.
Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld began the discussions with Germany, Japan and South Korea this fall.
"Beginning today, the United States will intensify our consultations with the Congress and our friends and allies, and partners overseas," Bush said in a statement released by the White House.
"We will ensure that we place the right capabilities in the most appropriate locations to best address the new security environment" characterized by a heightened threat from terrorists, Bush said.
At a Pentagon news conference, Rumsfeld said the Bush statement marked the beginning of the State Department's full participation in consultations with allies "to hear their ideas and to engage our friends and allies so that we can figure out between us what makes the most sense."
Rumsfeld has commented extensively on the need to change the way U.S. forces are arrayed around the world. He has announced no decisions, but it appears likely that some U.S. troops will be withdrawn from Germany, where they stood in large numbers throughout the Cold War to deter a Soviet invasion, and from South Korea, where they have held static positions for 50 years.
Rumsfeld wants more flexibility in U.S. troop basing abroad, so they can be used for a wider variety of missions rather than being tied down to a single country. He also has said that new weapon technologies make it possible to reduce troop or weapon levels without giving up combat power.
Another aspect of the consultations with allies, Rumsfeld said, is encouraging them to work more closely with U.S. forces in exercises and training sessions so they can multiply their combat power.
Talk of reducing troops has caused some diplomatic discomfort abroad. Bush pledged "the full participation of our friends and allies" in decisions about changing troop levels or bases.
Bush said Rumsfeld will discuss the matter with his defense counterparts at a NATO (search) meeting early next week, and Secretary of State Colin Powell will take it up a few days later with NATO foreign ministers.
"High-level U.S. teams will begin consultations in foreign capitals in Europe, Asia and elsewhere following those meetings," Bush said.
The main U.S. military postings are in Germany, South Korea and Japan, although there still are about 10,000 in Afghanistan fighting remnants of the Taliban (search) regime, as well as about 130,000 in Iraq.
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