Our old friend Mitt Romney, a “Republican” who is as reflexively opposed to anything Trump says or does as any liberal or Bill Kristol (but I repeat myself), is having a conniption because of an announced draw-down of U.S. troops from Germany.
According to our local news, the plan includes withdrawing 12,000 troops. Almost half will stay in Europe.
Defense officials say the U.S. will pull 12,000 troops from Germany, bringing 6,400 home and shifting 5,600 to other countries in Europe, including Italy and Belgium. The plan will cost billions of dollars and take years to complete. It’s been spurred on by President Donald Trump’s demand to withdraw troops from Germany, at least in part due to its failure to spend enough on defense. Defense Secretary Mark Esper says the moves promote larger strategic goals to deter Russia, reassure European allies and shift forces further east. The plan leaves 24,000 troops in Germany.
So to recap. Of the 12,000 troops, 5,600 will stay in Europe. This will leave only 24,000 American troops, paid for by the tax-payers of the United States, to defend Germany against those wiley Russians.
The replies to Romney are full of screeching liberals who are against this move because it was ordered by Orange Man Bad.
I am old enough to remember when liberals were anti-war, thought the threat of Russia was overblown and were suspicious of the military-industrial complex. That also means I am old enough to remember that these same liberals hated Mitt Romney when he ran again Obama and thought he was a Nazi or something.
Apparently Germany is too poor to pay for her own defense. Let’s take a look….
Oh, Germany has the fourth highest GDP in the world. What about per person?
Oh again. Maybe the Germans can afford to pay something for their own defense, seeing as how our troops have been there since 1945 and the Berlin Wall fell almost 30 years ago.
But come on, they might have money but what the heck do the Germans know about war?
Never mind.
Once again, thanks to the people of Utah for electing that turncoat imbecile Romney to the U.S. Senate.
So … shuffling 12,000 soldiers costs "billions" of dollars? Let's see: $1B /12 K soldiers would be $83,333 a head. And they said "billions," plural. If it's $3B, we're talking a quarter of a million dollars per man, woman, soyboy, and tranny to move them from point A to point B on planet Earth.
Bet I could bring them home for way, way, WAY less than that. Sell their tanks, trucks, artillery, and PX inventories to the Krauts at bargain prices. Or just abandon the stuff. Who cares?
And since when has anyone in the government worried about a few measly billion dollars?
Why are we protecting Europe? Last I checked (looks at calendar) it's not 1990 anymore.
Are we protecting the European socialists from the Russian Right?
If Trump announced an increase in troops, Romney would complain. If he announces a decrease, Romney complains. If he announced the chow hall was switching from Coke to Pepsi, Romney would complain.
Can you imagine trying to explain today's liberals to your younger self back in the 80s?
Occupation troops aren't there to directly protect the occupied, but to maintain the empire.
True but how many Americans even understand that the troops have been there as occupiers since 1945?