The cold war is over, Germany is reunified...(maybe the soldiers like it there, who wouldn't like being paid to do practically nothing, but I dont think its the case)...
Except for ballistic missles, I think the German Defense Forces can handle themselves well if some rogue in eastern europe tries something.
So y are we still in germany?
2007-11-18 21:06:42 · 17 answers · asked by JN 3 in Politics & Government ➔ Military
By us in germany, i mean US armed forces...
2007-11-18 21:07:04 · update #1
We are still in Germany because the German Government has invited us, as allies, to keep our forces forward deployed to help protect not only Germany, but the rest of our NATO Partners against aggression.
We also have bases in other NATO countries as well, such as Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom.
The Soldiers there do NOT do "practically nothing" as you put it, they train hard and one of the world's premier training areas for Armor Forces. They also save our country a huge amount of time and money when we do need to deploy our forces by being forward stationed and ready to deploy! All of the Armor forces we sent to Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Shield came form Germany. The units stationed there today also deploy to Afghanistan and Iraq in those on-going operations. Forces in Germany are also the first-responders to any strategic military need in Africa as part of the new Africa Command (Africom).
In short, you sleep safely each night because our Country has forces forward stationed and forward deployed all over the globe. Citizens at home are the flock, and our military are the sheepdogs standing watch to keep the wolves at bay.
2007-11-18 21:27:42 · answer #1 · answered by Greenman 5 · 13⤊ 0⤋
You think they do absolutely NOTHING here?! Boy, it's obvious you've never been stationed overseas then. My husband is out in the field for half the year, and they've been pulling year-on/year-off tours in Iraq since the war began. So I don't want to hear this "they do nothing over there" crap.
Anyway, it's more to do with economics than anything. Most of the military bases are near smaller German towns. The only reason those towns still exist is because of us. I've been told this by the Germans themselves, by the way. They LIKE having us here. That's why we're still here.
2007-11-18 22:26:39 · answer #2 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The Germans still rely on Americans to be on their economy. Its not the fact that we are not sure if they can defend themselves, its the fact that we need a place in other parts of the world for Landstuhl Hospital (In Germany) as go-between from Iraq and the new Africom.
Germany is not so bad, we are already closing up a lot of bases, and in the next few years, only a few will be left. The German government has already taxed the hell out of its people, so its beneficial for us to be there.
2007-11-18 22:09:05 · answer #3 · answered by tiki_92090 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
its a staging area for us. if there is new brewing trouble in europe or the middle east we can be there much faster.
we cut down a lot already and lots of bases were shut down , but we will not totally leave in the foreseeable future.
Doin practiablly nothing, if you wanna do that go to "relaxin Jackson SC. the soldier in germany are either deployed or out in the field. Out of three years in germnay my husband was in Kosovo (the balkans ingeneral0 for 18month and spend many more month in the field.
2007-11-19 07:28:56 · answer #4 · answered by gonecrazy_fl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Soviet / Western Cold War 1, might be over and now the Russian / Western Cold War 2, is in place.
The main rouge in the East, is Russia under Generalissimo Putin.
Communism is finished, and the new disease is Putinism.
Far better to keep our American Allies in Germany (what few are left after the First Cold War ended).
2007-11-18 22:47:07 · answer #5 · answered by conranger1 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Because German woman are the best,just like their beer,and the autobahn has no speed limit on it! What a country! Great people everywhere you go!
2007-11-19 01:42:52 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gives us a presence in that area of the world. Also, it provides a boon for the economy of the areas the bases are located in. It also gives us a spot to evac wounded soldiers to without having to bring them all the way back to the US for full treatment and care.
2007-11-18 21:13:16 · answer #7 · answered by Nick H 2 · 12⤊ 0⤋
Drinking beer and hanging out, duh.
We aren't protecting Germany......we are advancing our own interests, Germany is a great location for several reasons...I'm guessing you don't read a whole lot?
2007-11-19 12:57:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Eating Bratwurst and Piltzner Beer
2007-11-18 23:27:25 · answer #9 · answered by bulletbob36 3 · 1⤊ 4⤋
Another question from someone who hasn't done their homework - actually a thinly veiled attempt at bashing the troops.
You've already gotten several great answers - thanks for the points.
2007-11-19 01:13:43 · answer #10 · answered by ArmyWifey 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋