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2026-05-02 Europe
Reuters: The Pentagon will withdraw 5,000 US troops from Germany within a year
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Posted by badanov 2026-05-02 00:00|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [1824 views ]  Top

1 Trump pulls 5,000 US troops out of Germany in stunning rebuke to Europe amid clash with Chancellor Merz
Posted by Skidmark 2026-05-02 00:28||   2026-05-02 00:28|| Front Page Top

2 I got a better idea, withdraw some 30 thousand troops from Germany within a year/

Withdraw the remaining troops in the year or so after that!

Withdraw all troops from Spain and Italy

Make sure all equipment are brought back, leave nothing behind!
Posted by Seeking Cure For Ignorance 2026-05-02 02:21||   2026-05-02 02:21|| Front Page Top

3 What do you think these troops do in Ramstein, Landstuhl, Grafenwöhr and Stuttgart? Drinking German beer and that's that?

There are no other places in the world where US troops are better liked and better integrated than in Germany, no matter who is in government.

Now consider relocation costs, building up new infrastructure, no more German subsidies for those bases.

Your choice.
Posted by European Conservative 2026-05-02 08:20||   2026-05-02 08:20|| Front Page Top

4 Why should we have to pay for German defense when they won't pay their way?
Posted by Seeking Cure For Ignorance 2026-05-02 08:22||   2026-05-02 08:22|| Front Page Top

5 As a matter of fact Germans pay more and more for defense. US bases in Germany contribute to security in Europe, but the U.S. benefits at least as much from them as we do. Probably more in these days.

As a matter of fact, the reduction of 5,000 troops (to pre 2022 level) will put a dent in some local economies, but that's about it. My own quick and dirty calculation is 350 million euros per year (direct and indirect benefit).
Posted by European Conservative 2026-05-02 08:32||   2026-05-02 08:32|| Front Page Top

6 Germany urges stronger European defence after US announces troop drawdown
Posted by Skidmark 2026-05-02 08:49||   2026-05-02 08:49|| Front Page Top

7 Excellent accommodations and service. Walking distance to shopping, eateries, and Der Bahnhof. Secure parking in the rear courtyard.

Posted by Besoeker 2026-05-02 10:16||   2026-05-02 10:16|| Front Page Top

8 News flash EC, more and more Americans are tired of subsidizing the defense of most of the countries in the EU. Not a fan of Putin or the current version of Russia, but at least they won't roll over and surrender to the Islamic fundamentalists migrants.
Posted by Chantry 2026-05-02 10:20||   2026-05-02 10:20|| Front Page Top

9 "Not a fan of Putin or the current version of Russia, but at least they won't roll over and surrender to the Islamic fundamentalists migrants."

You seem to have no problem with the fact that Putin is helping Iran to target U.S. bases in the Middle East.

And here's a good article about the hidden benefits of NATO (for the U.S.).

Things are way more complicated than you might think.
Posted by European Conservative 2026-05-02 10:51||   2026-05-02 10:51|| Front Page Top

10 
The only advantage Germany USE TO BE were a couple of hidden Nuke missile sites, Bitburg, Rhein-Main, Spangdahlem and etc. all for a quick response to the USSR and Est Germany.

Given the fall of USSR and East Germany and the Iron curtain over 30+ years ago.

Plus given all the technology advances in nuke warfare.

Why are we still there?
Posted by NN2N1 2026-05-02 11:23||   2026-05-02 11:23|| Front Page Top

11 BTW: We did Germany during the Cold War 1964-68.
Hillden (US/UK), Hubberath (US/UK), Prum (US), & PHV (US) - Swatzegen (sp).
It was fun, when it was 4 marks to the 1$ and the Germans actual wanted us there.
Posted by NN2N1 2026-05-02 11:28||   2026-05-02 11:28|| Front Page Top

12 It’s very useful to have trauma hospitals and refurbishing available halfway between home and the Middle East, so we don’t have to travel the entire distance when the need is urgent.

And if we believe Europe will one day be an outpost of the Ummah, very useful indeed to already be on site and with contacts ready to network for the unpleasant next stage of the War on Terror. One can hope it won’t be so, but the Moslems themselves believe it is just a matter of time before they reach out their hand to formalize what is already complete.
Posted by trailing wife 2026-05-02 11:48||   2026-05-02 11:48|| Front Page Top

13 A quick scan shows 63,000 in the Bundeswehr and 36,000 US troops (all branches) in Germany.
Posted by Clem+Elmish4239 2026-05-02 13:05||   2026-05-02 13:05|| Front Page Top

14 This amounts to a normal rotation, if that much.
Posted by ed in texas 2026-05-02 13:18||   2026-05-02 13:18|| Front Page Top

15 I don't mind keeping bases in Germany. I'm quite happy if Germans these days are more concerned with their economy than their military.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2026-05-02 13:26||   2026-05-02 13:26|| Front Page Top

16 @9 Read your history, not the first time the Russians or Chinese helped our enemies and not the last. Just like we've helped their enemies.

Whether it's complicated or not is subjective, but it's certainly time to uncomplicate things with countries who won't support us or at least keep their mouths shut.
Posted by Chantry 2026-05-02 13:27||   2026-05-02 13:27|| Front Page Top

17 ^So more of a statement, or negotiation, expression of frustration, middle finger....
Posted by Bobby 2026-05-02 13:32||   2026-05-02 13:32|| Front Page Top

18 With all the trouble Joe Biden and Baraq Obama have made for Russia, it's no surprise Russians are helping Iran just to make trouble for us. I seem to recall at the outset of hostilities in Ukraine the Iranians helped Russia by providing drones of which the Russians were in short supply. When you're an international outcast like Putin, you look for friends wherever you can find them.
Posted by Abu Uluque 2026-05-02 13:41||   2026-05-02 13:41|| Front Page Top

19 Personally, I view the current conflict between Trump admin and EUrope as the extension of the current American civil war.
Posted by Grom the Affective 2026-05-02 14:09||   2026-05-02 14:09|| Front Page Top

20 That sounds right, Grom.
Posted by trailing wife 2026-05-02 15:26||   2026-05-02 15:26|| Front Page Top

21 I believe Iran’s drones are a later development, which they continued supplying until recently. And then, last September, Iran agreed to pay Russia $25 billion to build eight nuclear power plants.

Nothing came of it in the end, clearly, but the intent was there.
Posted by trailing wife 2026-05-02 15:27||   2026-05-02 15:27|| Front Page Top

22 #20 Gracias
Posted by Grom the Affective 2026-05-02 16:06||   2026-05-02 16:06|| Front Page Top

23 /\ Personally, I view the current conflict between Trump admin and EUrope as the extension of the current American civil war.

April 9, 1865 and events at Appomattox Court House simply took it to another, more civil level.
Posted by Besoeker 2026-05-02 18:11||   2026-05-02 18:11|| Front Page Top

24 The only thing we should man in Europe is a Military Assistance Group to help with any American equipment they use or purchase.
Posted by Procopius2k 2026-05-02 20:01||   2026-05-02 20:01|| Front Page Top

25 Euro conservative! You act like you mf'ers are doing US a favor. German subsidies! YOU HAVE TO BE FUCKING KIDDING! you're a goddamn idiot and I for 1 would not give a shit if your pretentious ass was speaking russian soon. No one needs any of you, You're useless shit.
Posted by chris 2026-05-02 21:08||   2026-05-02 21:08|| Front Page Top

26 Ref # 25
You embarrass yourself with needless and abusive, insulting language. Try respectful disagreement with someone who is far more an ally than many in Europe, wht you said is childish and meaningless. Get a grip!
Posted by NoMoreBS 2026-05-02 22:48||   2026-05-02 22:48|| Front Page Top

27 GFYS!
Posted by chris 2026-05-02 23:21||   2026-05-02 23:21|| Front Page Top

28 
Posted by chris 2026-05-02 23:25||   2026-05-02 23:25|| Front Page Top

23:25 chris
23:21 chris
22:48 NoMoreBS
22:25 JohnQC
22:19 JohnQC
21:08 chris
20:59 Skidmark
20:50 Skidmark
20:01 Procopius2k
19:54 Procopius2k
19:44 Rambler
19:25 Knuckles Grundy
19:21 chris
19:18 Father Thyme
19:05 Procopius2k
19:01 Frank G
18:55 Knuckles Grundy
18:54 Procopius2k
18:45 Mullah Richard OTR
18:11 Frank G
18:11 Besoeker
18:08 swksvolFF
18:08 Frank G
18:03 Besoeker
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