US Worldwide Troop Deployment

[Stunt]

Here are a list of countries who had >1000 US troops in their country in 2005. I was surprised to see the number of troops in some of the countries; is there any reason for this? What are your views on these deployment numbers and locations?

Total Worldwide: 1,426,836
Offshore: 287,802
Continental US: 894,430
Foreign: 383,437

Alaska: 18,169
Guam: 3,018
Hawaii: 32,629
Japan: 35,571
Korea: 30,983
Belgium: 1,366
Germany: 66,418
Iceland: 1,270
Italy: 11,841
Serbia: 1,801
Spain: 1,660
UK: 10,752
Afghanistan: 19,500
Bahrain: 1,641
Iraq: 150,000
Kuwait: 42,600
Turkey: 1,780

Source

 

[Jaskalas]

I?ve traditionally been against all of our bases in other countries. Then I heard about something called global reach and it makes a compelling argument that we have our military positioned to respond anywhere in the world where we may need to be.

*shrug

If you think our days of using our military for any legitimate purpose are over, you would be sorely mistaken.

 

[Lemon law]

TO Shunt,

1. I was unaware that Alaska and Hawaii are foreign countries.

2. Where is South Korea in this list?

3. In terms of serving in Iraq---are we rotating troops from foreign bases and replacing them with reservists so everyone gets their fair turn in the barrel. Or are we just using our reserves and national guard to continually rotate in and out of Iraq without giving them a chance to serve in less risky locations?

 

[GrGr]

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
I?ve traditionally been against all of our bases in other countries. Then I heard about something called global reach and it makes a compelling argument that we have our military positioned to respond anywhere in the world where we may need to be.

*shrug

If you think our days of using our military for any legitimate purpose are over, you would be sorely mistaken.

What about when the use of the US military is illegitimate? When "global reach" is "global grab"?

 

[jrenz]

Is that list double counting soldiers in places such as Germany and Italy who are serving in Iraq?

 

[Stunt]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
TO Shunt,

1. I was unaware that Alaska and Hawaii are foreign countries.

2. Where is South Korea in this list?

3. In terms of serving in Iraq---are we rotating troops from foreign bases and replacing them with reservists so everyone gets their fair turn in the barrel. Or are we just using our reserves and national guard to continually rotate in and out of Iraq without giving them a chance to serve in less risky locations?

1) They were listed as outside "continental US" (I didn't make the data)
2) South Korea = Korea...North Korea doesn't have US Troops
3) I have no idea; I imagine they would come home after their tour of duty in Iraq.

 

[blackangst1]

*shrug* Always been this way. Being an isolationist I would love to see this number cut by 80% (not including Iraq/Afg), but that will never happen.

 

[Stunt]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
*shrug* Always been this way. Being an isolationist I would love to see this number cut by 80% (not including Iraq/Afg), but that will never happen.

An isolationist who supports the Iraq war? :laugh:

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: blackangst1
*shrug* Always been this way. Being an isolationist I would love to see this number cut by 80% (not including Iraq/Afg), but that will never happen.

An isolationist who supports the Iraq war? :laugh:

Yup.

 

[zuljinAF]

Keep in mine that is not an all inclusive list, I know of at lest one other country not listed.

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: GrGr

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
I?ve traditionally been against all of our bases in other countries. Then I heard about something called global reach and it makes a compelling argument that we have our military positioned to respond anywhere in the world where we may need to be.

*shrug

If you think our days of using our military for any legitimate purpose are over, you would be sorely mistaken.

What about when the use of the US military is illegitimate? When "global reach" is "global grab"?

Yeah, cause we so totally own South Korea, Japan, Germany, and all the other countries through our military bases. At the end of WW2 we had rolled through half the world with our military and we didn?t keep possession of it. That wasn?t the purpose then, it isn?t the purpose you claim it is today.

As for another legitimate purpose, it gives us a quicker base of operations to distribute aid wherever it might be needed. Or to deploy missile defense and other measures. Special Ops can also operate more quickly around the world with friendly bases to be stationed out of.

 

[ntdz]

Originally posted by: zuljinAF
Keep in mine that is not an all inclusive list, I know of at lest one other country not listed.

Don't we have a lot of troops in Saudi Arabia?

 

[Stunt]

Originally posted by: ntdz

Originally posted by: zuljinAF
Keep in mine that is not an all inclusive list, I know of at lest one other country not listed.

Don't we have a lot of troops in Saudi Arabia?

I only posted countries >1000.
The site says Saudi Arabia is at 258 troops.
Iran has 1 troop :laugh:

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
TO Shunt,

1. I was unaware that Alaska and Hawaii are foreign countries.

2. Where is South Korea in this list?

3. In terms of serving in Iraq---are we rotating troops from foreign bases and replacing them with reservists so everyone gets their fair turn in the barrel. Or are we just using our reserves and national guard to continually rotate in and out of Iraq without giving them a chance to serve in less risky locations?

Qatar and Saudi are missing as well.

Ahh, we left saudi:

"AMERICANS OFFICIALLY END ERA AT PSAB

8/27/2003 - PRINCE SULTAN AIR BASE, Saudi Arabia (AFPN) -- U.S. officials transferred control of portions of Prince Sultan Air Base to Saudi officials at a ceremony Aug. 26. The ceremony also marked the inactivation of the 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing."

 

[Stunt]

Originally posted by: Acanthus

Originally posted by: Lemon law
TO Shunt,

1. I was unaware that Alaska and Hawaii are foreign countries.

2. Where is South Korea in this list?

3. In terms of serving in Iraq---are we rotating troops from foreign bases and replacing them with reservists so everyone gets their fair turn in the barrel. Or are we just using our reserves and national guard to continually rotate in and out of Iraq without giving them a chance to serve in less risky locations?

Qatar and Saudi are missing as well.

I clearly stated countries >1000.
It's like I'm talking to a brick wall in here

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: Acanthus

Originally posted by: Lemon law
TO Shunt,

1. I was unaware that Alaska and Hawaii are foreign countries.

2. Where is South Korea in this list?

3. In terms of serving in Iraq---are we rotating troops from foreign bases and replacing them with reservists so everyone gets their fair turn in the barrel. Or are we just using our reserves and national guard to continually rotate in and out of Iraq without giving them a chance to serve in less risky locations?

Qatar and Saudi are missing as well.

I clearly stated countries >1000.
It's like I'm talking to a brick wall in here

I knew we had air base in saudi, so it had to be substantially more, but we gave it to the saudis apparently.

I also know we are supposed to have a large base in Qatar currently.

 

[Stunt]

Originally posted by: Acanthus

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: Acanthus

Originally posted by: Lemon law
TO Shunt,

1. I was unaware that Alaska and Hawaii are foreign countries.

2. Where is South Korea in this list?

3. In terms of serving in Iraq---are we rotating troops from foreign bases and replacing them with reservists so everyone gets their fair turn in the barrel. Or are we just using our reserves and national guard to continually rotate in and out of Iraq without giving them a chance to serve in less risky locations?

Qatar and Saudi are missing as well.

I clearly stated countries >1000.
It's like I'm talking to a brick wall in here

I knew we had air base in saudi, so it had to be substantially more, but we gave it to the saudis apparently.

Saudi's had steady 400-600 in the 80's, peaked in 1990 with 31,000, then fell quickly to 900 in 1993. By 2000 it was up at 7,000 and dropped to 780 a couple years later; has been on the decline ever since.

 

[tomywishbone]

Pigs always love to hog the entire trough.



Edit: Germany: 66,418 :laugh: What a F-ing waste.

 

[Stunt]

Qatar had 3,000 in 2003, with almost nothing before that. Currently has less than 500.
They must have all been sent into Iraq.

 

[Stunt]

Originally posted by: tomywishbone
Pigs always love to hog the entire trough.

Edit: Germany: 66,418 :laugh: What a F-ing waste.

You never know when there's going to be a Nazi uprising...:roll:

 

[ntdz]

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: Acanthus

Originally posted by: Lemon law
TO Shunt,

1. I was unaware that Alaska and Hawaii are foreign countries.

2. Where is South Korea in this list?

3. In terms of serving in Iraq---are we rotating troops from foreign bases and replacing them with reservists so everyone gets their fair turn in the barrel. Or are we just using our reserves and national guard to continually rotate in and out of Iraq without giving them a chance to serve in less risky locations?

Qatar and Saudi are missing as well.

I clearly stated countries >1000.
It's like I'm talking to a brick wall in here

According to this, we have over 3,000 troops in Qatar. Wikipedia isn't always the most reliable source, however.

 

[tomywishbone]

What about our military forces in Nashville? They're Country.

 

[imported_Lothar]

Originally posted by: blackangst1

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: blackangst1
*shrug* Always been this way. Being an isolationist I would love to see this number cut by 80% (not including Iraq/Afg), but that will never happen.

An isolationist who supports the Iraq war? :laugh:

Yup.

Very interesting...

 

[Stunt]

Originally posted by: Lothar

Originally posted by: blackangst1

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: blackangst1
*shrug* Always been this way. Being an isolationist I would love to see this number cut by 80% (not including Iraq/Afg), but that will never happen.

An isolationist who supports the Iraq war? :laugh:

Yup.

Very interesting...

Interesting like a religious girl who screws around?

 

[GrGr]

Originally posted by: Jaskalas

Originally posted by: GrGr

Originally posted by: Jaskalas
I?ve traditionally been against all of our bases in other countries. Then I heard about something called global reach and it makes a compelling argument that we have our military positioned to respond anywhere in the world where we may need to be.

*shrug

If you think our days of using our military for any legitimate purpose are over, you would be sorely mistaken.

What about when the use of the US military is illegitimate? When "global reach" is "global grab"?

Yeah, cause we so totally own South Korea, Japan, Germany, and all the other countries through our military bases. At the end of WW2 we had rolled through half the world with our military and we didn?t keep possession of it. That wasn?t the purpose then, it isn?t the purpose you claim it is today.

As for another legitimate purpose, it gives us a quicker base of operations to distribute aid wherever it might be needed. Or to deploy missile defense and other measures. Special Ops can also operate more quickly around the world with friendly bases to be stationed out of.

Yes I understand all these bases are neat and handy to have if you need to project some power. My question is why do the US need to project so much power.

Why does the US have to be busy little bees all over the globe? Why does the US invest more into it's military than the rest of the world combined? Sacrificing enormous amounts of wealth that could be used to build schools and improve medicare for all it's citizens just for starters.

What is the geopolitical reason for all those bases overseas? You explained the tactical reason, which is obvious. What is the strategic reason?