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

To: Elsewhere who wrote (97039)	5/1/2003 7:48:31 AM
From: unclewest	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

JJ, It was an educated guess as I had received notification last week that all the AFRC (Armed Forces Recreation Areas) in Germany except for the General Patton Hotel in Bertchesgaden are closing this year. I just read this on LB's new thread to confirm my thought. But I agree with you in part, we may not pullout completely. Germany will, however, no longer be considered a great tour if the troops are all going to Graf. And if we no longer have a tank division or a huge Cav unit guarding the Fulda Gap, we will not need a tank training area. I think we will see this play out fairly quickly. Do not be surprised if plans change and that $600 million and the US Troops go elsewhere. uw LA Times report today. clip... May 1, 2003 WASHINGTON -- Fueled by resentment over the opposition of "Old Europe" to the war in Iraq, the Pentagon is accelerating plans to move tens of thousands of U.S. troops out of Germany and to establish new bases in the former East Bloc countries of Hungary, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria. The first concrete evidence of the shift is the movement of the Army's 17,000-strong 1st Armored Division, which deployed to Iraq mostly from bases in Germany but will not return there, senior military officials said.

To: Elsewhere who wrote (97039)	5/2/2003 6:47:54 AM
From: unclewest	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

From my e-mail... Subject: Ramstein Chaplain's Thought For The Day (Thursday 10 April 03) If you have worn the uniform this one will get you!!! A little background - The German Army is at Gates of all military installations in Germany providing entry control on a 24 X 7 basis to relieve US Forces that are in middle east.. A different perspective on our German allies. Our governments may be at odds over Iraq Policy - but Military understands Military Here are our Allies! Sunday, 30 March 2003 As usual I was running late. So, you can imagine my frustration level as I approached the main gate of Ramstein Air Base only to find traffic backed up! Nearing the checkpoint I realized that not only was there a long line of cars, but traffic had come to a complete stop as a result of all entrance gates being closed. Over the past 18-months, there have been many opportunities to practice our patience as we have had to "hurry up and wait" as a result of heightened security. While we realize the necessity, it's still frustrating at times for even the most easy-going folks. This was one of those times for me! I needed to be where I was going, and I needed to be there NOW! The German soldiers, the ones manning the entrances of American military installations here in Germany, were just milling around, chatting as if those of us in line had all the time in the world. Things seemed to go from bad to worse! The German gate guards began walking among the stopped cars, asking us to turn off our engines and headlights. I realized that no traffic was exiting or entering the Air Base. My feelings of frustration began to turn to ones of concern. Just what was going on? A few minutes later I noticed blue lights approaching from the direction of the air terminal. Close behind were two military medical buses with their RED CROSS . Lights were on in the buses, and I.V. bags could be seen hanging. It was then that I realized that these were more of our wounded warriors being transported from the battlefields to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for treatment. I certainly wasn't prepared for what happened next. All of the German soldiers, our gate guards, began walking toward the concrete barriers that divide the inbound and outbound lanes of traffic. As the blue lights neared, more German soldiers seemed to appear from nowhere, lining the road, shoulder to shoulder. Right on cue, without a word being spoken, these soldiers snapped a sharp salute as the buses drove pass, rendering arms until well after the last bus had passed. Needless to say, I was speechless and deeply moved. What a show of respect for fellow soldiers! (name deleted) --- Soldier to Soldier, rendering honor and respect! Our allies, our comrades, those who know the price that some have to pay for freedom did not have to be asked or prompted, it came from their character and soldiering heart! May God bless and watch over all soldiers and their loved ones as they stand in harm's way for us! Blessings and Peace, CH (COL) DAVID E.MCLEAN CHIEF, PASTORAL SERVICES ERMC/LRMC