American Military Bases overseas

[erpowers]

I know that America has about 700+ overseas military bases overseas. In addition, I know that the government is going through a realignment of overseas military bases. However, how likely is it that the government would close about 100 overseas military bases? What would be the cost savings of closing 100 overseas military bases? It seems to me that we could close a few bases is Germany, Japan, and Italy since it seems that nothing bad is happening in those countries and the countries around them do not have any real ability to cause any trouble for anyone. It seems that the only problems with moving troops out of Japan would come from North Korea and China. North Korea cannot afford to invade any other counry and China does not seems to want to invade any other country. As far as I know Germany and Italy are not having any problems other than internal problems and with the execption of Russia noone seems eager to attack them; even Russia does not seem eager to attack them. From other reading it seems that there are efforts to do some base realignments in the previously mentioned countries. So, besides the political pressure would it be possible to close about 100 overseas military bases.

[Hugabear]

1. I've long been in favor of closing ALL of our overseas military bases

These are an anachronism in today's world. We can easily deploy troops anywhere around the world if truly needed - the key phrase there is "truly needed". Our military bases are the last remnants of the American Empire, its part of our mechanism to maintain our control and influence throughout much of the world.

[Duckhunter935]

2. We have already closed many bases in Germany

[stillcool]

3. that would defeat the purpose...

Here's a good article on military bases..
http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/intervention/2007/0701worldwide.htm

and I love the way William Blum puts it...

The American Empire: 1992 to present
from the book
Killing Hope
by William Blum
2004 edition



Following its bombing of Iraq in 1991, the United States wound up with military bases in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
Following its bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, the United States wound up with military bases in Kosovo, Albania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Hungary, Bosnia and Croatia.
Following its bombing of Afghanistan in 2001-2, the United States wound up with military bases in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia, Yemen and Djibouti.
Following its bombing and invasion of Iraq in 2003, the United States wound up with Iraq.
This is not very subtle foreign policy. Certainly not covert. The men who run the American Empire are not easily embarrassed.
And that is the way the empire grows-a base in every neighborhood, ready to be mobilized to put down any threat to imperial rule, real or imagined. Fifty-eight years after world War II ended, the United States still has major bases in Germany and Japan; fifty ears after the end of the Korean War, tens of thousands of American armed forces continue to be stationed in South Korea.
"America will have a continuing interest and presence in Central Asia of a kind that we could not have dreamed of before," US Secretary of State Colin Powell declared in February 2002. Later that year, the US Defense Department announced: "The United States Military is currently deployed to more locations then it has been throughout history."