Quote:
Originally Posted by Craig
So what's the correct number in europe, 10-20% of the current force?
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I don't know -- I'm not a defense analyst. However, I don't think 10-20% of the current force is nearly enough to support the eff and flow of Afghanistan and Iraq. Take a look at Ramstein AFB; it's the main route in and out of the ME. People (and cargo) pass through there each and every day. Supporting that kind of mission is a massive endeavor.
Europe has been scaled back immensely since the 80's. A bit more probably won't hurt, but it's important to understand the function of bases in Germany and England. They're not just cold war relics; they serve an important function to this day.
This is not to say that the defense budget can't be cut -- it's just an illustration of how much more complex the issue is than most people realize.