Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: KonKilo who wrote (76715)	2/23/2003 11:25:21 AM
From: Nadine Carroll	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Ever hear of rotation? And what of the soldiers stationed fulltime at our hundreds of other overseas bases ? We don't have anything like a 200,000 strong standing army stationed overseas now. While it is something that the US could do if it decided it was essential, the costs would be very very high. Not only would we need a huge increase in military expendenture and personnel (a lot of the guys out there now are reserves, you understand. Permanent soldiers obviously must be full-time military) to support the rotation, the amount of diplomatic bullying we would need to do to get bases would also be immense. And against what? It was one thing to station defensive troops in West Germany against a Soviet invasion. The Soviets outnumbered the West Germans & the US forces 5 to 1 in conventional arms. Against the forces of Saddam Hussein, it would look ridiculous, weak. A "disarm or else" threat where the "or else" never arrives. It would magnify Saddam in the eyes of everybody for standing up the the threat, while making the US look cowardly and weak. In short, our policy of the last twelve years, on steroids. We're trying to project strength here, not weakness. If you remember the Civil War (as your handle implies), why do you advise the Americans to all become modern-day McClellans, building a great army to just have it sit? and far from home too - while our enemies take heart from our inertia.

To: KonKilo who wrote (76715)	2/23/2003 12:36:21 PM
From: greenspirit	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

res- Ever hear of rotation? Hear of it? I've lived it for most of my adult life. res- And what of the soldiers stationed fulltime at our hundreds of other overseas bases? As I said in my previous post, they have infrastructure support for their families, they have recreational opportunities, they have places to get away from the grind of it all. Given that, our military still has a very difficult time filling overseas billets voluntarily. Why do you think the army disproportionately places people in Germany on their first tour of service? And no one wants to live in the desert.