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Old 07-30-2020, 07:48 AM
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Thumbs down U.S. to Pull 12,000 Troops from Germany after Failure to Meet NATO Spending Target

U.S. to Pull 12,000 Troops from Germany after Failure to Meet NATO Spending Target
By: Mairead Mcardle - National Review News - 07-30-20
Re: https://www.nationalreview.com/news/...ending-target/

In a move that sparked bipartisan criticism, the Trump administration announced Wednesday that the U.S. will pull nearly 12,000 troops from Germany, a decision President Trump said is a response to Germany’s reluctance to spend a greater share of its gross domestic product on defense.

About a third, 11,800 Army and Air Force units, of the 36,000 American troops stationed in Germany will be withdrawn from the long-time NATO ally, an expensive process that will take years, U.S. defense officials said. Some will be re-stationed in other European NATO countries, while others will return to the U.S. although they may later be deployed in Europe again.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said at the Pentagon Wednesday that the changes “will achieve the core principles of enhancing U.S. and NATO deterrence of Russia, strengthening NATO, reassuring allies and improving U.S. strategic flexibility.”

“Our aim is to implement these moves as expeditiously as possible,” Esper said, adding that the plan “likely will change to some degree as it evolves over time.”

“We could see some moves begin within weeks. Others will take longer,” the Pentagon chief said.

Trump accused Germany of taking advantage of the U.S. on Wednesday, saying the U.S. is withdrawing the troops because Germany fails to spend 2 percent of its GDP on defense, the goal set by NATO.

“We spend a lot of money on Germany. They take advantage of us on trade, and they take advantage on the military, so we’re reducing the force,” the president said.

“They’re there to protect Europe, they’re there to protect Germany, and Germany is supposed to pay for it,” Trump said. “We don’t want to be responsible anymore.”

The decision attracted criticism from both sides of the aisle in Congress, including from Representative Mac Thornberry of Texas, the ranking Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, who called the decision “troubling.”

5
In a June letter, Thornberry along with other Republicans on the committee warned Trump about potential Russian aggression in the wake of proposed troop withdrawals.

“In Europe, the threats posed by Russia have not lessened, and we believe that signs of a weakened U.S. commitment to NATO will encourage further Russian aggression and opportunism,” the Republican lawmakers wrote.

About this writer: MAIREAD MCARDLE is a news writer for National Review Online and a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College.

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Personal note: I think this is a very bad decision. You just spent all that money to bring them there and set up camp and bring in heavy weapons only to bring them back at another loss! Just to prove your point!. The installation is a key outpost to keep both Germany and the US from Russian movements. Putin must be laughing his ass off knowing what we are doing. As for Germany I feel bad for them as well. This base is a critical one to me but not to Trump. To him its all about the money! So he can use it to work on his wall!! Give me a break. We've pissed away Billions of dollars on a wall and for a few bucks we loose Germany outpost. Boy I hope you can live with that!

Bad move Mr. President - Putin will surely be dancing in the streets because of your stupidity.

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O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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Old 07-30-2020, 07:53 AM
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Angry Wall Street Journal rips Trump for pulling troops from Germany

Wall Street Journal rips Trump for pulling troops from Germany
By: Justin Wise - The Hill News - 07-30-20
Re: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5...s-from-germany

The Wall Street Journal's editorial board is condemning President Trump's decision to pull nearly 12,000 troops from Germany, saying the move is "undermining" the president's case that he is tougher than Democrats on Russia.

Trump announced earlier this year that the U.S. would withdraw a substantial portion of troops based in Germany. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Wednesday that the Pentagon would begin shifting some 11,900 troops "within weeks," taking U.S. forces there from 36,000 to 24,000.

"Beneath the din of media condemnation, it can be hard to sort the good from the bad in President Trump’s unorthodox foreign policy," the editorial board wrote. "Some initiatives scorned by foreign-policy elites have been wise, like pulling out of failing arms accords. Yet the Pentagon’s plan. ... is far from a stroke of populist genius."

The board goes on to argue that the move hurts U.S. interests in Europe while also doing little to "fulfill the cost-saving objective" Trump says he's hoping to meet. The board points to souring relations between Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel for the decision, claiming that Trump appears to be "undermining America’s military position out of pique."

"Moving forces south or west in the Continent is a retreat that reduces U.S. ability to surge into the theater if Russia makes a military move," the editorial board argued, listing Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to invade Ukraine in 2014 after the Obama administration withdrew combat brigades in Germany as an example.

Trump has legitimate problems with Germany's NATO defense commitments and its support for a Russian gas pipeline, the board noted. But it describes the troop reduction decision as "erratic" and one that does little to support American foreign policy.

"Expect the Kremlin to get similar signals from President Trump’s move," the board added.

Trump in June cast his decision to withdraw troops as a response to Germany's failure to meet an agreement to spend at least 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense. However, NATO allies had agreed to reach that goal by 2024. Both Republicans and Democrats have criticized the move, with Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) calling it a "grave error."

Throughout his time in the White House, Trump has faced scrutiny from Democrats for being too soft on Putin. He faced criticism from both sides of the aisle in 2018 after doubting American intelligence on Russian election interference while appearing alongside the Russian president. The U.S. intelligence community has concluded Russia interfered in the 2016 election and that it is still engaged in "information warfare."

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Personal note: I guessed right I'm not the only one who feels pulling troops out of Germany was a damn stupid move. I guess his wall is more important than the security needed to keep Russia in check. Again I say Putin is laughing his ass off right now!

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O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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