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Post by ladylove on May 23, 2011 11:43:34 GMT -5
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Post by marshabar1 on May 23, 2011 12:41:37 GMT -5
Hear hear!!! Exactly so. Make them pay to keep the soldiers there.
In 2004 there were 116,400 American soldiers in the European theater. Nice industry.
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Deleted
Joined: May 2, 2024 19:13:31 GMT -5
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2011 14:07:36 GMT -5
Do we have to help them, even though they have better numbers than we do, because of their failed medical programs? Who will help us if we start the same thing? Answer-- no one.
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Mad Dawg Wiccan
Administrator
Rest in Peace 
Only Bites Whiners
Joined: Jan 12, 2011 20:40:24 GMT -5
Posts: 9,693
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Post by Mad Dawg Wiccan on May 23, 2011 14:39:57 GMT -5
Why are we acting as a middle man, they should just borrow it straight from China.
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Post by Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ on May 23, 2011 14:48:10 GMT -5
Why are we acting as a middle man, they should just borrow it straight from China. Likely because bonds issued by EU member countries are junk status. Read this morning that Greece's bonds carry an interest rate over 16%. Italy and Ireland are junk status. As bad as things are here in the US, we seem to be the only financially stable country on the planet. www.nytimes.com/2011/05/24/business/global/24iht-euro24.html
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cme1201
Junior Associate
Tennis Elbow, Jock Itch, and Athletes Foot, every man has a sports life!
Joined: Apr 6, 2011 13:55:07 GMT -5
Posts: 5,503
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Post by cme1201 on May 23, 2011 15:10:58 GMT -5
SF,
You have to admit it is bad (or a bad joke) when we (the USA0 are considered "stable"
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Post by Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ on May 23, 2011 15:14:52 GMT -5
You have to admit it is bad (or a bad joke) when we (the USA0 are considered "stable"
Yeah, with a $14+ trillion debt, $200+trillion in unfunded liabities, govt spending still growing at an alarming rate, and still borrowing $1.5 trillion each year to cover a budget gap.
US 10yr bonds yield roughly 3.15%...Greece's 10 years are just under 17%....can you believe it? 17%!!!!
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deziloooooo
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 16:22:04 GMT -5
Posts: 10,723
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Post by deziloooooo on May 23, 2011 16:20:50 GMT -5
I found this article referring to troop levels from 2007...that's four years ago, can't remember Kosovo reheating up then and Russia being back in the news , BUT it states that troops in Europe, 44,000, which when support and service troops are figured in to the total, plus necessary brass and medical, seems a reasonable figure and still be a effective force , being forward deployed , to be effective if needed. Where? Well the World isn't all nice and cozy yet and a presence , if not over done in Europe, seems reasonable. I can see asking countries who have bases , troops stationed on their soil, and want a presence there helping with the finances of keeping them stationed there. If not willing, well, possible we do cut back, even consider eliminate. They, those countries would lose th $ the forces generate for their communities , which is considerable, as well as have to consider, if feel their own forces are not adequate for defense, spending $ to increase size and equipping them and updating their own capabilities which would be a lot more then any help given us from these countries. Just a thought. www.stripes.com/news/comments-on-europe-troop-levels-raise-uncertainty-1.69887Here is a more up to date link, 2011, looks like they are losing 22,000 troops in Europe, a savings of $115 million, by 2015. Even Mannheim is closing, so possible we here are really not that updated/ informed about our current presence in Europe. Personally, to be completely out of Europe , thinking actual combat capability, troops on the ground, a forward base to trouble spots in the Balkans, Europe, the current one, middle East, IMHO and I agree , what do I really know what is needed, to me a presence is still needed with combat ready brigades, a few at least, and of course all the brass and command units that would always be there. I know we have a presence in Europe of th Air Force, planes, bombers possible , though it seems from the reported mission strikes that have been done, it seems those units are stationed states side. I am sure we have Naval personnel too, Mediterranean area I would think. www.stripes.com/news/europe/germany/closing-of-bases-in-mannheim-ends-special-relationship-between-germans-u-s-troops-1.144258Final Link , { I promise } also current..37,000 Army in Europe as of now but anticipating further cuts as Congress who would always win out here, they control the puse strings wades in with their ideas over the next two years. ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/E/EU_EUROPE_US_MILITARY?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-05-21-06-56-26 |
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