German mayors "push" (BEG) to keep U.S. bases: (75% of troops to Leave!)

Stars and Stripes, European Edition ^ | Friday, June 13, 2003 | Patrick J. Dickson

[HatSteel]

By Patrick J. Dickson, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Friday, June 13, 2003

Joe Gromelski / S&S
Bernhard Deubig of Kaiserslautern speaks to the media as his fellow German mayors listen Thursday at the National Press Club in Washington.


Joe Gromelski / S&S
Mayor Richard Schlicht of Vilseck and County Commissioner Rolf Künne of Kaiserslautern listen to the news conference.


Joe Gromelski / S&S
Mayors Anton Jung of Weilerbach, left, and Klaus Grumer of Landstuhl at the news conference.


Joe Gromelski / S&S
Left to right, Mayors Helmut Waechter of Grafenwohr, Volkmar Pees of Baumholder and Bernhard Deubig of Kaiserslautern.

WASHINGTON — Thirteen mayors of German cities came to Washington to plead their case: American troops are welcome, indeed necessary, in their communities.

But the mayors may not be flying home feeling all that good. The lord mayor of Kaiserslautern, Bernhard Deubig, told reporters that he asked members of Congress about a report in the Wall Street Journal that said some 75 percent of American forces in Germany could be withdrawn.

“We were talking about this 75 percent figure,” he said through his interpreter. “We did not get confirmation of this number, but it will be very high.”

Deubig spoke for the other 12 mayors at a news conference. He praised U.S. servicemembers and their families for being wonderful guests, and talked of the importance of the troops stationed there.

“We came to tell the people of Washington this,” Deubig said. “And we are in a position where we can guarantee a good future for troops there.”

Deubig stressed that the delegation, the first of local officials to visit Washington on such matters, was not there to discuss foreign policy, and that its members represented the people of their cities only.

But it was clear that differences between the U.S. and German governments over the Iraq campaign weighed heavily on everyone’s minds. Deubig said that the members of Congress with whom the delegation met told him that the only considerations on which basing would be decided are strategic.

“In all meetings we heard, ‘If there are points where countries don’t reach the same conclusions, this will have no bearing on decisions.’ [Whether] that was said out of politeness, I cannot say.”

The Germans met with several members of Congress, including House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and a team from the Pentagon, including Air Force Gen. Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Secretary of the Air Force James Roche and acting Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee.

The Department of Defense is considering a complete realignment of forces overseas and at home to develop a military that is lighter, faster and more lethal. Bases set up in the Cold War era to counter a massive ground invasion from the Soviet Union may not fare well in any cuts.

Countries such as Hungary, Poland and Romania are thought to be prime areas for the U.S. military to move in and set up posts without so much infrastructure.

Deubig said having basic services in place favors existing U.S. bases in Germany.

“I believe it is important that these factors are present in Germany, but need to be created in other countries. Heat, energy, fresh water need to be supplied. You cannot build that out of nothing.”

Deubig was asked if such spartan bases, without schools and families, would be acceptable to his community.

“The answer is clear. We find it necessary that the families are included. An example: Fifty-one percent of Americans in these communities are family members. Fourteen percent are business people, and 35 percent are soldiers. I find this ration very positive.

“A base with only soldiers? That is comparable to a base in the desert, and that is exactly what we do not want.”

[Poohbah]

Damn. Some people never do figure out why the axe falls on them, do they?

[HatSteel]

I actually feel sorry for the mayors of these German communities. They have always worked hard with our military leaders to include our folks and take care of them. It was good for the troops and economically beneficial to the German communities.

They should be hopping mad, tremendously PO'd at their national government leaders....especially Schroeder.

[Semper Paratus]

Tell the burgomeisters to take it up with the socialists in Berlin.

[Coop]

I actually feel sorry for the mayors of these German communities. They have always worked hard with our military leaders to include our folks and take care of them. It was good for the troops and economically beneficial to the German communities. They should be hopping mad, tremendously PO'd at their national government leaders....especially Schroeder.

You've got that right. But let's face facts. The German people went out of their way to elect an anti-American Chancellor and to publicly state their opposition (via polls and demonstrations) to our war in Iraq. So the fault doesn't just lie with Schroeder.

[cake_crumb]

LOL...what did they expect to happen when Gerhart made clear he doesn't want our troops there and promised EUrope that Germany and France would protect them?

[HatSteel]

These men are from significant cities and states in Germany. They will NOT forgive the socialists in Berlin. I suspect they will make them pay.

If they could overthrow that government quickly and show what side they're really on, I think it would have an impact on US redeployment plans.

[thoughtomator]

These mayors would have been better off going to Berlin in September rather than Washington today. Too little, too late now. Why should we care about their communities' economic difficulties when they were worse than indifferent to our communities' security? What goes around, comes around, maties... just be glad you're not French. At least the Germany-US spat will likely end with Schroeder gone, but France is on the shit list for good, until they supply a million soldiers for our defense somewhere.

[Tank-FL]

Bring our troops home or station them where they LAUNCH ATTACKS FROM!

Wake up Germany.

Hay ... maybe France will station some troops there and help your towns?

That would be a sight ? .. and go over like a ton of bricks.

[MEG33]

I do believe plans were in place before the Shroeder,Iraq thing.The cold war is over and we need to have our troops in different places.This may have been accelerated,however.

[cake_crumb]

"The German people went out of their way to elect an anti-American Chancellor and to publicly state their opposition (via polls and demonstrations) to our war in Iraq. So the fault doesn't just lie with Schroeder."

Nail on the head BUMP!! I still shake my head when I remember the 'outrage' expressed in Germany over the DoS travel advisory to cities where the demonstrations were being held.

[xJones]

I remember when the base closings started in the U.S. It was painful. Carswell, March......and those were just two of the big ones. It certainly hurt the local economy as we Americans found out at home much earlier than the Germans.

[HatSteel]

You are 100% correct! As in America, the socialists control the government and the media.

With their economy already in recession, the average German citizen in these cities that are gonna get hit even harder should start a whisper campaign that topples the Schroeder government. It could make a difference in how many cities lose US troops.

I think Baumholder, Vilsek, Hohenfels, Grafenwoehr, Ramstein, and Landstuhl could all survive if they struck now. (Ramstein and Landstuhl will survive in any case since they are THE major airbase and THE major advanced medical facility AND they are only 3 miles apart.)

[Tank-FL]

NO .! to many of my fathers generation died getting Germans out of France and the rest of Euro ..

YOu really don't think that would happen do you?

[PoorMuttly]

I love to see the Commerce Weapon work.

It's so....American.

[jriemer]

These mayors may not have been elected by the plurarity that elected Schroeder's government; however, they are responsible for enabling it. Since they did not see the train coming and trying to prevent it from affecting their communities during the elections, they have aided and abetted their own demise.

Unlike years past, the Bush administration will not roll over for socialist tomfolery in Europe if it undermines our national security. With the Warsaw Pact completely a thing of the past and former communist bloc countries begging for admission to NATO, putting up with Old Europe politics is no longer necessary.

Their plebicite stated they didn't to support us and by extension have us around, so we are fufilling their wish. Why should they act so surprised?

[1rudeboy]

The German people went out of their way to elect an anti-American Chancellor . . . .

What a childish opinion. Schroeder barely won. You might as well say that the American people went out of their way to elect Bill Clinton.

[mikenola]

"You know Wolfie, maybe that 'Bush is worse than Hitler' comment wasn't such a good idea after all"

[clamper1797]

What did you think we meant when we said "you're either with us or against us" Otto

[george wythe]

I actually feel sorry for the mayors of these German communities. They have always worked hard with our military leaders to include our folks and take care of them

Same feelings here; their federal government is screwing up the local folks.