Trump orders massive cut to U.S. troop numbers in Germany

[BigOleDummy]

Source: Military Times

The U.S. military will reduce its footprint in Germany by nearly one-third after President Donald Trump ordered a dramatic drawdown in force levels from the key NATO ally, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

The newspaper cited White House officials who said the move was outlined in a memorandum signed White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien in recent days that has still not been made public yet.

Under the order, U.S. troop presence in Germany would drop by 9,500 servicemembers, from 34,500 today to about 25,000

Read more: https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/06/05/trump-orders-massive-cut-to-us-troop-numbers-in-germany-report/

---

Didn't take long for our chump in chief to get some revenge on Ms. Merkel for declining his G7 photo op. What a petulant little man he is.

I spent 3 years of my service in Germany and that experience helped shape my whole view of the world. Will be a shame many others like me may not get that opportunity.

[C_U_L8R]

1. Trump never hesitates to give Putin presents

He's a fucking traitor.

[soothsayer]

5. Yep

[bobbieinok]

2. Ominoue?? Move military from Germany to US cities?

[ZZenith]

3. Ayup.

Strap yourselves in.

[spudspud]

6. I hope most of our soldiers would be smart and brave enough to refuse to follow illegal orders

to brutalize their fellow Americans. Trump won't be in power for much longer (I think), and "I was just following orders" won't be a valid defense.

[dware]

26. Believe me when I say that is pounded into our heads from day one.

The vast majority of service personnel, from the Generals/Admirals to the lowest enlisted person is reminded that it is their duty to refuse an illegal order and most will abide by it.

[spudspud]

32. I can only hope and pray that most are like you and put honor and duty to our Constitution and

citizens, above blindly following orders.

[dware]

35. I was reminded often that my oath was to the Constitution of the United States,

not any individual, up to and including the Commander in Chief, no matter who it was.

Almost every Marine I knew while I was on active duty were of the same mind, it was understood that we had the right and duty to refuse any illegal orders.

[Renew Deal]

4. Vlad is pleased

[left-of-center2012]

7. From the linked article ...

Officials from the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Military Times.

Officials from U.S. European Command deferred comment to the Pentagon.

The Pentagon deferred questions to the National Security Council.

[BamaRefugee]

8. Putin's wet dream

[KT2000]

9. Putin is getting his race war

and now the troop cuts in Germany. Meanwhile the brainwashed are trapping a mixed race family in the forest and assaulting little girls, to say nothing of an elderly man in the hospital with a skull injury. Republicans have created this.

[roamer65]

10. The EU needs to create its own army, navy and air force anyway.

They need to get serious and start flexing their power.

[stillcool]

11. this is from CNN

It is possible that any troops removed from Germany could be repositioned in Poland as Warsaw has long sought an increase in the number of US personnel stationed there, with Poland's President offering to name a new US Base in Poland Ft. Trump.
Senior Trump administration officials have in the past suggested moving US troops from Germany to Poland due to Berlin's failure to meet the 2% target.
"Poland meets its 2% of GDP spending obligation towards NATO. Germany does not. We would welcome American troops in Germany to come to Poland," the US ambassador to Poland, Georgette Mosbacher, wrote on Twitter in August.
While the Pentagon has increased the number of US troops in Poland in recent years, the majority of those personnel are designated rotational forces.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/05/politics/white-house-germany-troop-reductions/index.html

[Turbineguy]

14. Fort Trump

I'm sure they'll keep some extra paint for when the change the name early next year.

[stillcool]

16. do you think Trump could possibly say no?

He'd probably want a tower, to go with.

[EX500rider]

15. Germany can afford it owns defense imo nt

[TeamPooka]

18. Yes they can afford their own defense but that misses the point

If you leave/let Germany defend itself that does not DETER Russia from invading them.
Only our presence, and the threat of global escalation from a far superior military force, deters Russia from starting a war in Europe.

[EX500rider]

19. Then move the troops further east to the countries more likely to be invaded 1st. nt

Last edited Fri Jun 5, 2020, 11:42 PM - Edit history (1)

[BigOleDummy]

20. Missing the whole point imo

The MAIN reason they are there is NOT to fight but to deter. Seems to have done a pretty good job so far too. Germany is a long time ally and a powerhouse both economically and militarily in Europe. We are there as a deterrence to aggressors AND as friends. As I mentioned in the original post, going to Germany opened my eyes to things I had never seen or experienced before. For a lot of poor kids like me that was the only route I could have to experience anything but "the American way". It made me grow as a person both emotionally and intellectually. Our forces there are a drop in the bucket to what would be needed in a wartime situation. We are there to project our commitment to Democratic ideals NOT to fight. We fight as a last resort.

[EX500rider]

22. yeah and as a tripwire we should be further east, Germany is not on the front line..

...might as well put the troops in France or UK....Poland and the baltic States need the protection more.

[paleotn]

31. That would be more than a little provocative.

The Russians seem to have this thing about foreign troops massing near their western border. Given 500 years of history, that's certainly understandable. So let's just stay where we are. A nice, middle ground to maintain the status quo. No misunderstandings and no misinterpretations of our intentions. I'd really rather we didn't get into a shooting war with a nuclear power by mistake.

[TeamPooka]

24. yes and thank you.

[EX500rider]

23. The point is Poland and the Baltic States need the protection, they border the threat..

...Germany is almost 800 miles west.

[TeamPooka]

17. Putin's puppet strikes again to make Europe less safe.

[BigOleDummy]

21. Agreed

And well said.

[olddad65]

27. Putin's puppet, plain as day.

[SeattleVet]

28. I also spent 3 years in Germany (1979-1981, Sembach/Site 1, near Mehlingen)

Our job was a remote deployable RADAR site controlling air traffic and keeping a close watch on the Fulda Gap.

Loved the area and the people, and made a lot of 'local' friends. I wasn't one of the ones that stayed in the dorm - we got out into the community every chance we got, and had a blast. The 'barracks rats' were the ones that hated the assignment, mainly because they never even tried to learn the local language, culture, or food.

My sister was also stationed there (Bitburg, as an F15 Avionics troop), overlapping my time, and my oldest nephew was born there. He's now a Sergeant in the Army and stationed about 40 miles from me at Joint Base Lewis/McChord.

We all loved our time over there - and, as you said, it made a huge difference in our world outlooks.

[paleotn]

29. Slooooooooow walk.

Sorry, Mr. President, but these things are complicated as hell. It will be late Jan. 2021 at the earliest before any implementation is possible......oooops.

[Cryptoad]

30. Guess they will be needed in Nov

to guard the Presidential Palace after he loses, and declares teh election null and void....!

[Steelrolled]

33. Good.

My biggest hope is that in a last minute attempt to win his failed election, he will get out of Afghanistan and Iraq. Save Biden the trouble.

[SunSeeker]

34. Vlad called in a favor.

[DallasNE]

37. Trump Cannot By Law Do This

The Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress sets force levels and provides the funding to support those force levels. It is the responsibility of Trump to abide by the law. But the law means nothing today because Republicans won't defend their own turf and hold Trump accountable. How much more proof do the American people need in order to see that the entire Republican structure must be voted out of office. But with MSM eager for a horserace they will do whatever they can to prop up Trump because it is not America but the bottom line that matters most.