In order to put our forces close to every hot spot or danger area in this newly discovered arc of instability, the Pentagon has been proposing -- this is usually called "repositioning" -- many new bases, including at least four and perhaps as many as six permanent ones in Iraq. A number of these are already under construction -- at Baghdad International Airport, Tallil air base near Nasariyah, in the western desert near the Syrian border, and at Bashur air field in the Kurdish region of the north. (This does not count the previously mentioned Anaconda, which is currently being called an "operating base," though it may very well become permanent over time.) In addition, we plan to keep under our control the whole northern quarter of Kuwait -- 1,600 square miles out of Kuwait's 6,900 square miles -- that we now use to resupply our Iraq legions and as a place for Green Zone bureaucrats to relax. Other countries mentioned as sites for what Colin Powell calls our new "family of bases" include: In the impoverished areas of the "new" Europe -- Romania, Poland, and Bulgaria; in Asia -- Pakistan (where we already have four bases), India, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and even, unbelievably, Vietnam; in North Africa -- Morocco, Tunisia, and especially Algeria (scene of the slaughter of some 100,00 civilians since 1992, when, to quash an election, the military took over, backed by our country and France); and in West Africa -- Senegal, Ghana, Mali, and Sierra Leone (even though it has been torn by civil war since 1991). The models for all these new installations, according to Pentagon sources, are the string of bases we have built around the Persian Gulf in the last two decades in such anti-democratic autocracies as Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates. http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0115-08.htm So whats with the base philosophy?
The base philosophy? The American family is generally nuclear with less involvement from the extended family. All they're trying to do is make everyone a part of the American family! On a more serious note, I think building and maintaining military bases is contradictory to the idea that we are getting rid of a totalitarian regime. Hm. The base philosophy. Not the basic philosophy. Certainly seems as if they intended on making their involvement in these areas a long-term interest. I didn't read the article. Just the excerpt.
Sam, I haven't answered because I don't think this is worth my time. I doubt you can assess American strategy accurately or objectively, so what's the point engaging with you on this topic? I'm sure plenty of other fodder will fall into your sandtrap, though...
So you think building military bases around the world at the cost of the economy bodes well for the future of Americans?
Ah so you see the investment in military bases and war (they just passed another bill for funding the war, anyone keeping track of the money?) as unrelated to the depreciation of the dollar by 40% against the euro?
The disproportionate increase in military spending compared to other budget items is a concern. While it wasn't a large issue in that article, they did mention it would cost over a half trillion dollars in a roundabout way.
Does anyone know the ratio of US military bases to US civilian embassies, worldwide or by region ? Seems like our basic foreign policy is becoming clear. It does sound kind of expensive, for the US taxpayer.
I'm pretty sure that there are more embassies and consulates over seas (that's an opinion, I don't know the exact numbers). Here's a good resource for the bas info: Military Installations Guide ~String Note: I'm all for closing the vast majority of US bases overseas: start with Japan, Europe and most of S.Korea.
For some reason all I can think of at the moment is how conservatives complain about the price of liberal domestic policy. I wonder what the tax bill is going to be for the operation of these new bases over time, even if, as with the Cold War, we somehow "never" have to use them?
According to the article there are at least a 1000 US bases overseas, not counting the ones present in the US itself. How many civilian embassies?
