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Trump Signs Off on Pentagon Strategy to Withdraw 9,500 Troops from Germany | Military.com

  
Via:  Ender  •  4 years ago  •  41 comments

By:   Richard Sisk (Military. com)

Trump Signs Off on Pentagon Strategy to Withdraw 9,500 Troops from Germany | Military.com
The DoD said that Trump approved the withdrawal proposals presented at a White House briefing by Defense Secretary Esper.

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President Donald Trump has signed off on the Pentagon's plan to implement his controversial order to withdraw 9,500 U.S. troops from Germany -- an order that has rattled the NATO alliance and prompted moves in the Senate to block funding for the effort.

In a statement Tuesday, the Defense Department said that Trump approved the withdrawal proposals presented at a White House briefing by Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley.

Critics of the withdrawal have labeled it a gift to Russian President Vladimir Putin, but the Pentagon statement said that reducing the number of U.S. troops in Germany to about 25,000 would be done in a way designed to strengthen NATO's ability to deter Russia.

Without giving details, Pentagon chief spokesman Jonathan Hoffman said in the statement that "the proposal that was approved not only meets the President's directive, it will also enhance Russian deterrence, strengthen NATO, reassure allies, improve U.S. strategic flexibility and U.S. European Command's operational flexibility."

In addition, DoD pledged to provide "timely updates to potentially affected personnel, their families and communities as planning progresses," Hoffman said.

Hoffman gave no initial indication of the cost of the withdrawal plan that is facing bipartisan pushback in the House and Senate.

This week, Republican Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Marco Rubio of Florida, joined Democratic Sens. Chris Coons of Delaware, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire in introducing an amendment to the 2021 defense policy act that would block funding for the move.

"In addition to undermining our NATO alliance, a withdrawal would present serious logistical challenges and prevent our military from performing routine military readiness exercises," Romney said. "We cannot abandon our commitment to our allies, and instead must strengthen our alliances in order to reign in the world's bad actors."

The amendment would require Defense Secretary Mark Esper to submit a report to Congress showing that moving troops out of Germany is in the national security interest of the U.S., doesn't undermine the security of European allies and won't negatively affect military families.

On the House side, 22 Republican lawmakers earlier this month sent a letter to Trump expressing their alarm over the plan. Rep. Mac Thornberry of Texas, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, and 21 other HASC Republicans signed the letter.

"We strongly believe that NATO allies, such as Germany, should do more to contribute to our joint defense efforts," it states. "At the same time, we also know that the forward stationing of American troops since the end of World War II has helped to prevent another world war and, most importantly, has helped make America safer."

-- Gina Harkins contributed to this report.


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Ender
Professor Principal
1  seeder  Ender    4 years ago

So what is suppose to happen to close to 10k troops...

Sit at home stateside? 

 
 
 
Dean Moriarty
Professor Quiet
1.1  Dean Moriarty  replied to  Ender @1    4 years ago

That would be better for our economy than having them throwing their money away over there for the benefit of the German economy. 

 
 
 
pat wilson
Professor Participates
1.1.1  pat wilson  replied to  Dean Moriarty @1.1    4 years ago

Putin loves ya, Dean.

 
 
 
It Is ME
Masters Guide
1.2  It Is ME  replied to  Ender @1    4 years ago
 
 
 
Paula Bartholomew
Professor Participates
1.3  Paula Bartholomew  replied to  Ender @1    4 years ago

No. Trump most likely will use them in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act to dispel protesters, both peaceful and unpeaceful.  Hey, more photo ops for him.

 
 
 
evilone
Professor Guide
1.5  evilone  replied to  Ender @1    4 years ago
So what is suppose to happen to close to 10k troops...

I'm not sure of the number, but many of them will be moved to Poland.

 
 
 
zuksam
Junior Silent
1.6  zuksam  replied to  Ender @1    4 years ago

We can put them on our border where we need them. The EU is big enough and wealthy enough to protect themselves. If it's so important that our soldiers need to be there then they should supply some of their soldiers to be used to secure our borders.

 
 
 
Account Deleted
Freshman Silent
1.6.1  Account Deleted  replied to  zuksam @1.6    4 years ago
We can put them on our border where we need them.

Well, I suppose you can never be too careful about those Canadian s.

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
2  Trout Giggles    4 years ago

I can see both sides to this. NATO countries should be spending more to defend their own turfs. However, I think an American presence is a deterrent to any country that may take it upon themselves to start empire building.***

***I'm looking at you, Russia jrSmiley_32_smiley_image.gif

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
2.1  seeder  Ender  replied to  Trout Giggles @2    4 years ago

I just feel that if we pull out a presence, someone else would fill the void.

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
2.1.1  Trout Giggles  replied to  Ender @2.1    4 years ago

Yeah, I know what you mean. I wonder if Hitler would have gone empire building if someone else had left some peacekeepers behind after WWI

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
2.1.3  seeder  Ender  replied to  XDm9mm @2.1.2    4 years ago

So this is a middle finger to Germany?

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
2.1.5  Kavika   replied to  XDm9mm @2.1.4    4 years ago

Actually China is the biggest buyer of Russian oil. The recently completed natural gas pipeline between Russia and China will make China one of the biggest, if not the biggest purchaser of Russian natural gas as well.

One of the more interesting things is that the US has increased it purchases of Russian oil over 2019 and 2020. In 2019 it was $2.2 billion. This increase of Russian oil is due to the sanctions on Iranian and Venezuela oil. 

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
2.2  Texan1211  replied to  Trout Giggles @2    4 years ago

Yeah, 25000 troops still left will barely be a presence, huh?

 
 
 
Dismayed Patriot
Professor Quiet
4  Dismayed Patriot    4 years ago

This is just another gift to Putin. I've no doubt he Putin wants to exert the old Russian influence across eastern Europe like they used to. Putin used to be stationed in East Germany when he was KGB, he likely thinks of it as his turf and is just itching to get the US out of the region so he can gain more power. Dishonest Donald is playing right into his hands, or, more likely, playing the hand Putin told him to play.

 
 
 
Paula Bartholomew
Professor Participates
5  Paula Bartholomew    4 years ago

Any of those military members who posed with a picture of Trump should be ashamed of themselves.

 
 
 
Account Deleted
Freshman Silent
6  Account Deleted    4 years ago

It's not all about Russia. There is another reason we invest heavily in the protection  Europe - especially Germany - to make it unnecessary for them to build up large military forces for self protection. 

Give a European country a big enough hammer and all the world is a nail.

 
 
 
Jeremy Retired in NC
Professor Expert
7  Jeremy Retired in NC    4 years ago

Everybody freaking out like this just come up in the last few years.  This was in the works when I was stationed in Germany 30 years ago.  

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
7.1  Texan1211  replied to  Jeremy Retired in NC @7    4 years ago
Everybody freaking out like this just come up in the last few years.  This was in the works when I was stationed in Germany 30 years ago.  

Lots of folks have suggested lowering the numbers overseas. I think because it is Trump, some freak out. Remember when Trump was going to have us in multiple wars?

Just like when we moved the embassy to Jerusalem. We had recognized Jerusalem as the capital for years and years (why wouldn't we???) and yet people freaked out over it.

 
 
 
Jeremy Retired in NC
Professor Expert
7.1.1  Jeremy Retired in NC  replied to  Texan1211 @7.1    4 years ago
Just like when we moved the embassy to Jerusalem. We had recognized Jerusalem as the capital for years and years (why wouldn't we???) and yet people freaked out over it.

I think the reason they are freaking out is because Trump is actually following through with what previous administrations only provided lip service on.

 
 
 
Texan1211
Professor Principal
7.1.2  Texan1211  replied to  Jeremy Retired in NC @7.1.1    4 years ago
I think the reason they are freaking out is because Trump is actually following through with what previous administrations only provided lip service on.

Exactly.

 
 

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