What would happen if we withdrew all troops from foriegn soil ?

[steve2470]

I know, realistically, that this would not happen any time soon, but I"ve wondered what would happen. Of course, if the troops all came home, what would DOD do with them all ? TIA for your reply.

[Xenotime]

1. The world would be a better place...

The would see it as a gesture of peace at the very least.

[dkofos]

2. It would hurt the hookers most!!

[Robbien]

3. Well, we have 750 bases scattered throughout the world

With probably more than that many defense contractors supporting those bases. Cost-Plus Contractors skimming tons of taxpayer dollars off into offshore banks accounts.

I'd say we would be able to make a good start in beginning to reduce the deficit if these cost-plus defense contractors were off our back.

[conscious evolution]

4. The world would throw a giant party. nt

[Whoa_Nelly]

5. Something might actually get done on our Gulf Coast

and a lot of families would be very happy to be back together

[scarletwoman]

6. We could afford health care and college for all, for starters.

As for what to do with all the excess troops -- put them to work restoring our crumbling infrastructure. Build railroads, not bombs...

[Warren Stupidity]

7. Well lets see...

we could afford an excellent universal single payer health care system and universal public education though university level.

[Selatius]

8. You would be able to cut back most of the 600+ BILLION each year spent on national defense

Russia and China combined come nowhere close to 600,000,000,000, and any nation would be foolish to try to invade a sovereign US with thousands of nuclear warheads.

You could then use the freed up revenue for infrastructure repairs/upgrades, improving public education, improving health care, paying down the debt, etc.

[steve2470]

9. impact

Does anyone think that the world would become a much more dangerous place without our troops everywhere ? I'm only asking. I'm not pushing a RW meme here. From my limited knowledge of global affairs, I don't think so.

[Selatius]

12. But on the other hand, the Founders were clear about the role of government

They did not establish the US government to fight every tyranny in the world. It exists, in short, to serve the American people, not as a vehicle for military conquests against evil.

[rucky]

10. We'd be like every other country in the world. n/t

[entanglement]

11. "If they leave, the terrists will follow them here" says muh Teevee