Should U.S. troops remain in Germany??


  • @F_alk:

    @Ozone27:

    As a matter of fact I have been to Germany, twice. The consensus of the people I spoke to around the Hamburg area (including my close friends) was that they don’t want the US bases closed because they mean a great deal of money & jobs to German people & contractors. I’m not talking about nickel-and-dime stuff like souvenirs the individual soldiers buy etc, we’re talking building contracts, civilian labor & experts & so on. Maybe “mega-$$$” is a subjective term, but in any case if these US bases go, a lot of Germans will lose their jobs.

    Ok, I am sure that the people in the Hamburg area do not know that much about american soldiers. Hamburg was UK occupied territory, plus the closest Uk base is in Lower Saxony. For the “nickel and dime” stuff: Usually, the US bases are more in the countryside, so for those living there, the bases are important: As well with the “every day retail” of, say clothes or whatever, as with the building contracts and civilian labor. Experts? What kind of experts? I don’t think that you talk about any high tech equipment …. what would you need these experts for, especially people who do not have an US passport?
    So, yes: mega-$$$ is subjective, as is “a lot of Germans” losing their jobs. How many would that be? 50,000? 100,000? more or less? I would think it is more towards the 50,000s

    As far as kids throwing rocks off overpasses–that’s pretty annoying, but kids get into trouble like that everywhere & the world goes on. I’m sure plenty of Germans would like the US troop presence curtailed or even eliminated, but certainly not over silly stuff like that…

    ANNOYING? It is dangerous! Remember, there are cars going 130 km/h down there, and suddenly something crashes through the windscreen…. Had they been grown ups, that would have been an attempted murder!
    Sure, it happens “everywhere”, but the only other doing this stuff in Germany have been mentally disturbed people, or radical anti-democrats…

    I think the US troops are still welcome (as they bring money in), but: it would be nice if the US (administration mainly) would treat us with respect and not as if you would still be occupying us.

    Niedersachsen is the area I’m talking about. We used to get peanut butter from a US base near Luneburg, so I know there is one :) . US military personnel: help me out! what am I talking about here?

    As for your other comments, fair enough. Maybe German kids don’t do that kind of thing (Germans ARE more polite). But here in the US, thats pretty common…

    I can’t argue w/ opinion, & you are a pretty reasonable person. Since neither of us know the exact economic impact, I guess we’ll have to leave it at that. But I fail to see what the qualitative difference is between the feelings of “the people in the countryside” and others…they are still people, whose opinions matter…

    As for your last statement, I think that’s only fair. Total agreement.

    Ozone27

    P.S.–it’s a tad insulting that you would say people from Hamburg don’t know much about American soldiers. A.) It implies American soldiers are somehow not as good as UK soldiers. B.) It also rather denigrates the insight of people from Hamburg, many of whom I happen to like a great deal… :wink:

    JMO


  • Well, if North Korea got the jump on us, like in the Korean war, they might be able to break through into South Korea and maybe occupy it. Thats a big maybe, but it would make the war a lot harder. And, North Korea (China too perhaps) could possibly threaten Japan with Nukes if they let us use their air bases. That would be a scary situation.

    True.

    But the NKs would have to kill a LOT of Americans along the DMZ–a lot of dead heroes killed in a sneak attack. That’s happened before (twice, not counting the sinking of the USS Maine, which has recently been proven to have been an accident), and the results are–as they say–history. The NKs drove us right off the peninsula (except for a small enclave) & we fought our way back again all across their country to total victory (till MacArthur went ahead & forced the ChiComs to come in in force). Think that couldn’t happen again? The NKs are stupider than I think they are if they think so…

    Would the Chinese intervene again? That is the big question. I, of course, can’t say, but it is a distinct possibility. The NK’s (if they are planning a conventional war–which I doubt. I doubt they are planning ANY war) are certainly banking on it…

    You are absolutely right about the threat to Japan. That is a scary prospect we cannot allow to happen…

    Ozone27


  • @Ozone27:

    Niedersachsen is the area I’m talking about. We used to get peanut butter from a US base near Luneburg, so I know there is one :) . US military personnel: help me out! what am I talking about here?

    Oh, that first one is new to me. I knwo that there is a large military training ground used by the NATO forces (been there and told a US truck driver which way to go :) ). For the second: Ohm, how should i know :)

    P.S.–it’s a tad insulting that you would say people from Hamburg don’t know much about American soldiers. A.) It implies American soldiers are somehow not as good as UK soldiers. B.) It also rather denigrates the insight of people from Hamburg, many of whom I happen to like a great deal… :wink:

    Nah…. i am from Hamburg, so i think it’s not too insulting. And the first implication was not intended… and i can’t see that it is in there somewhere, i just wanted to say that the people can tell more about the troops stationed at their places, and that stationing depends mainly on whose occupation zone it was.

    Is it really common in the states that kids do that kind opf nonsense? … I suppose the answer is yes. Another scary thign about the US, next to everyone having the right to own a gun. Just think of when “one leads to the other”, these kids get their first guns, will they necessarily become more sensible about endangering other people?


  • With all due respect F_alk the scary thing about europe is that people there live under a big government system, that promotes the idea of women not having children, no gun rights, high taxes, and a very one-sided political system!!! Now that is scary!! The people don’t realize how they are screwing themselves. In a 60 Minutes show they said in a few generations Italians could become a minorty in their own country, because of low birth rates and mass Non-Italian Immagration. When I lived in what was known as WEST GERMANY at the time i rarely meet a german women who had 2 or more kids. Not only that some had no kids and didn’t plan to have any!!! And if i brought it up they say that women having kids is so right wing???!!??? NOW THAT IS SCARY WOMEN OF EUROPE THINKING THAT HAVING KIDS IS SO RIGHT WING!! And now I have learned this problem is in Japan!!

    Not trying to start a war with you F_alk but please don’t disrespect my country by saying that gun rights are scary!! The big mistake of the British was allowing the 13 colonies to have their guns. Do you know what happens when you give up your guns rights you are asking for a police state!!! I hope this doesn’t start any bad blood between us F_alk I do respect your replies here on the forum I just think that you wouldn’t want anybody saying anything bad about Germany( I wouldn’t either my family on my mothers side is from the bavaria area in Germany)so please don’t say anything bad about my country. I hope this isn’t taken as a flame of anykind. Please excuse the saying


  • @waraxis:

    Do you know what happens when you give up your guns rights you are asking for a police state!!!

    AH HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA

    ahhh
    that was great.
    thanks for the laugh.
    How many gunless countries are police states now?? And iºm not talking about the little banana republics, but rather civilized countries.
    I mean, Canada is not gunless, but it does not have the same gun-culture as the U.S., and my rights are not often trampled by “the man”.


  • As for the original thread, I think the troops should leave Germany, what are they defending against? Besides, the Germans are really being un-cooperative on the Iraq thing. They are within their right to sit by while the world goes to hell, but don’t stop others from putting out the fire.

    As for guns being required to prevent a police state…… There are few guns in the EU and none are police states to my knowledge. I think having more guns in a nation then citizens is scarely, the US gun culture is scarey. I can say that and NOT disrespect the US. Not all disagreements imply disrespect… My sister thinks the US gun culture is scarey, she has lived there for nearly 20 years, has a US citizen for a child and a US citizen for her husband and I am fairly sure she respects them… :-)


  • I did not mean you have no gun rights you then get a police state what I meant was that if the government gets out of control then what do you do?? A disarmed people have no way to resist a government that decides what rights a people can have. And the high taxes that hard working Candians pay everyday is outragous. There is a reason why when ever you ask a Canadian why he moved to America its almost always the same thing TAXES!!!

    You don’t consider the one-sided democracy that Europe has being a non-free democracy?? The parties are all left wing for the most part!! I don’t call that a free society, I know that will hurt some feelings on this forum but it has to be said. Europe is NOT a police state. But don’t say its free either, I have been there and talked to the people. And where I live we are getting all sorts of European immegrants. They say almost the samething: that Eroupean governments have gone to far to the left so they left NO PUN INTENDED!!!

    Please tell me how a left only democracy is a good thing??

    Before you bring up my democracy that I will submit MINE SUCKS AS WELL!!! THE DEMOCRAT PARTY AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTRY ARE RUINING MY COUNTRY!! THAT I WILL ADMIT!!!


  • The parties reflect the people…… It’s not like there are only 5 left wing parties and nobody has a choice… The majority votes left and the parties reflect that. There are some extremely right wing parties as well, facist really. Europe is left wing and anti-war because they have had some really major wars there in the last 200 years.

    If you don’t like the government I guess you could go shoot some policemen or blow up some government buildings or you could… gasp vote the bastards out of office.

    As for choice… Europe has way more choice, the USA has either democrat or republican. Most in Europe have 3-4 major parties.

    Taxes in Canada are comparable to the States, toss in free health care and it’s about the same. The reason most Canadians leave is to advance, since the US has 10 times the size there is more room to advance. If you are the big fish in a little pond you can’t grow… It’s only natural that the best and brightest want to go where they can grow :-)


  • BigBlocky there is book you need to read its called “The war on the Family” in one section they having polling data. It shows majority of Canadians supporting one thing and their governmet doing another.

    And with this Eroupean union thing I don’t recall a vote being taken for it. You may be right though most Europeans would vote for it. I’ll never understand the average Europeans love for their cradle to grave society??

    Just wondering why do some Canadians come here to pay for healthcare when they can get it for free in their home country?? I’m not picking on them I love Canada and their culture but I dont like their governmet system. I dont like mine either!! Two party government system isn’t all that great as well. I don’t understand why the Green Party or the Libertian Party can’t get more votes?? Alot of people like their platform but in the end don’t vote for them??!!?? Why??


    1. Canadians do not “leave to pay for healthcare” in the States.
    2. BB is right. Taxes are similar, however we perceive a better standard of living in the States. We are typically educated quite well and therefore competed for. Many American industries through economies of scale offer jobs with better pay and a healthcare package. Doctors go there for better pay/fewer hours.

  • No they come down here cause our system is better, and they pay for the better care. Most Canadians I have meet in person or chatted with online say 2 things, come to U.S. for better health care even if they have to pay, or stay here and pay less taxes. They don’t come down here for simple medical stuff.

    I’m not picking on Canadians just their system that alot of them don’t like. Tell me why in the 60’s Their dollar was equal to ours, Now its not. Most say its cause of the high taxes. Im no expert but I have never been given another theory. I’m opened to new ideas on it.


  • No they come down here cause our system is better, and they pay for the better care. Most Canadians I have meet in person or chatted with online say 2 things, come to U.S. for better health care even if they have to pay, or stay here and pay less taxes. They don’t come down here for simple medical stuff.

    Only the Canadians who can pay the bill come, and they only come for major operations ect. It is cheaper to stay in Canada for primary care, prescription medication, and minor operations. Why do Canadians come to the US? Because they are a small country of 40 million. We have more people, so we have more doctors, and more good doctors.


  • @TG:

    But does S. Korea want our troops there? A lot of them would say, “no.”

    *T_VI (& D_S_), you are mistaken! I spent time in S. Korea when done in Nam. Still stay in touch with some SKs I met. The US media covers the vocal minority liberal ‘I’ve had it all handed to me so I don’t value it’ college students as if they were the majority. I’ve been there in the last 3 years and seen it myself.

    *Y_y, how about … when it comes time to improve the facilities we move 3/4s of the troops to 2 E Eur. countries. Shrink, but improve the hospital facilities, build excellent emergency treatment facilties in the 2 new locations (great opportunity to improve troops’ language skills.) This would show commitment to the new democracies.

    NOTE: Wasn’t there a situation in Viet Nam about 5-8 years ago where a US kid was beaten with a bamboo pole for punishment? I think kids need to know they will answer to other countries laws. It’s not a " You can’t do that to me! I’m a US citizen," world! I always got a kick out of idiots with that mentality.
    *Right, F_k!

    @F_k:

    …and told a US truck driver which way to go. :)

    I hope you meant that in a nice way!

    POLITICS - Two parties isn’t too bad … Except when one party gains majority control for most of 60 years (see Dems 1932-1994.) At least we have a liberal and conservative choice. Most European countries have a few very liberal and extremely liberal choices. I find it interesting that they have found giving everything away free is economically unsound and have become minutely more conservative with their money. We could try Italy’s example of about 50 parties, averaging about one year in power before troubles collapse the government. :lol: My favourite is Japan, where fights break out in their political houses. Nothing like a good fight to get the blood flowing and the brain working! 8)

    *war__, review what you write. I usually do and it seems to help reduce arguments and distractions. Except when I’m asleep on the 'net! :P :wink:


  • Waraxis: It’s true that often governments do things their citizens don’t like, but they never do anything really radical. I wouldn’t want a government based on polls. Question, are you in favour of eliminating all tax? I bet more than 50% would say yes. Is that a good idea, nope…. I’m not sure a majority of Canadians were in favour of declaring war on Germany (2 years before the USA i might add :-) ), can anybody argue it was wrong to stop Hitler?

    I don’t think Canadians transplant to the US in order to pay for health care, rather it’s a side effect. We do need to change some things, the governement should continue to pay but we need private enterprise to deliver it. Just cause a hospital needs light bulbs does not imply the government should own a light bulb plant… Did you know the USA spends 11% of their GDP on health care and yet 20% of the US public has no health care at all. Canada only spends 9% and everybody has coverage. Mind you there are waiting lists and we don’t have some of the cutting edge tech, partly to a system that can be improved, partly we don’t have the economies of scale the US has. Call me crazy but it seems counter-productive to employ hundereds of thousands of people to deny health care (HMO functionaries, insurance company beuracracies etc.) A blend of the best of both systems would do both countries a world of good.

    Yanny: Canada is small country of 30 million not 40 :-)

    Xi, the US kid who was beat was in Singapore not Vietnam and it was with a cane and all for spray painting 40-50 high end luxury cars…


  • Gota love Britain’s system too. Seems like one giant party inside the House of Commons. And opposing parties are three swords lengths apart from each other for past reasons :)


  • Yanny… you think the British parliment is whacky, I’d suggest you watch my Canadian parliment in action but I’d fear you would lose respect for Canada, hell after 5 minutes of watching those clowns I lose respect for Canada. One thing I admire about the US political system is the 2 sides can sometimes work together. We have a ruling party and the opposition, it is the job of the opposition to oppose any and everything… When the opposition gets into power they maintaing the very things they promised to get rid off…

    BB


  • I see your point Yanny about the costs, but are those costs cheap cause Canadian companies don’t mind lesser profits or they cost less cause of government grants??

    I know where you are comming from BigBlocky but why do they complain then?? For example in Vermont where they have gay marriage even though most people in state are against it?? Maybe people need to study their canadites more carefully before voting for them!

    As for the British Yanny Its not just their parties you have to admire but the people! Every British person I have met is very smart and well spoken even If I don’t always agree with them. Not only that most of the of the old british empire is like that: Canada, India, Australia, Hong Kong, and others. Everybody I have meet in person from these countries is very well educated. Even if they havn’t gone to a major college.


  • Waraxis…… They complain because it’s the way to get into power. It get’s very personal and vicious and stupid… If you are in the minority party you want to be the majority, and you try to make them look bad… But the majority doesn’t need the minority unlike the US congress. So the opposition asks an embarressing question of one member on the majority side, they reply and try to make fun of the minority… It might be silly, but when the PM wants something done and has a >50% majority he lays down the law, the loyal butlickers goosestep in unison and thus a new Canadian law gets on the books… :-) It sometime’s amazes me that Canada is always either #1 or in the top 5 at the UN best countries list. Then again, free Canuck beer buys alot…

    BB


  • P.S.–it’s a tad insulting that you would say people from Hamburg don’t know much about American soldiers. A.) It implies American soldiers are somehow not as good as UK soldiers. B.) It also rather denigrates the insight of people from Hamburg, many of whom I happen to like a great deal… :wink:

    Nah…. i am from Hamburg, so i think it’s not too insulting. And the first implication was not intended… and i can’t see that it is in there somewhere, i just wanted to say that the people can tell more about the troops stationed at their places, and that stationing depends mainly on whose occupation zone it was.

    Is it really common in the states that kids do that kind opf nonsense? … I suppose the answer is yes. Another scary thign about the US, next to everyone having the right to own a gun. Just think of when “one leads to the other”, these kids get their first guns, will they necessarily become more sensible about endangering other people?

    OK…if you are from Hamburg, then you’re ok. :wink: I love that town…

    Yes it IS common in the states, although when I was thinking about it, I can see how it would be VERY shocking to a German. Of course, people should be on better behavior in other peoples’ countries. Here, though it is pretty normal (though of course, frowned upon).

    Interesting point about the gun issue. I wonder if there IS a connection to that “irresponsibility” represented in the kids behavior, & that of the grownups. I suspect you may be onto something, bro…

    Ozone27


  • Understood BigBlocky.

    I can see why they are in the top 5. I’m just puzzled on how their political system works. BigBlocky you said your parliment was crazy. Please tell more if you can, How many major parties do you have in Canada?

Suggested Topics

  • 22
  • 9
  • 37
  • 4
  • 14
  • 2
  • 16
  • 1
Axis & Allies Boardgaming Custom Painted Miniatures

21

Online

17.0k

Users

39.3k

Topics

1.7m

Posts