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Why should she? It´s not all about money. We simply accept the need for restructuring the US military. Now, we would wonder if your tried to leave NATO AB Ramstein, but that step would be unlikely. Why do you think we would only follow the money instead of honest motives? I mean, it´s like if I reproached Bush with starting the Iraq war for oil.

Two reasons...she's in a coalition...so she has a weak hand to play..similar to how Bush found himself after 2000..indeed, that's why I expect they will relate well to each other..and the bases that have been earmearked for losing inject well over one billion into the local economy..it's no different when we try to close surplus bases in our own states..local pols scream bloody murder..

The movement of these bases and US air wings to eastern Europe puts them closer to the southwest asia/Iran hot spot..and more importantly, the treasties being negotiated will not require the US to get permission every time we want to stage out of them..

Yu may be too young to remember the US raid on Libya..but France refused us overflight , so the F-111's from Britan had to take the long way around..necessetating an extra 12 hours and 3 mid air refuelings before the strike..the afteraction reports believe that the fatigue/stress of that mission way well have contributed to the loss of the US aircrews....so, never again..