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U.S. Troops in Europe: Needed More Than Ever
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12508 |
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Section : |
CURRENT ISSUES
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Date : |
7 / 1987 |
2,024 Words |
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Jacquelyn K. Davis
Jacquelyn K. Davis is executive vice president of the
Institute for Foreign Policy Analysis. |
Over the last decade, but particularly since the debates in Western Europe over deploying intermediate-range nuclear missiles, American dissatisfaction with its NATO allies over a range of policy issues has prompted renewed discussion of the possible withdrawal of U.S. forces from the European theater.
In recent months, we have read about "how NATO weakens the West" and have been privy to proposals from prominent policy analysts and congressional representatives that take as a given the benefits that would rebound to the United States and the West if U.S. forces were withdrawn from their forward-deployed positions in Europe. We have been promised immediate and long-term economic benefits from the action and have, at the same time, been asked to consider the potential political opportunities that such action will yield to the United States.
In a bizarre coincidence of views, neoconservatives have joined forces with isolationists of the Left in supporting the redeployment option, which, it is alleged, will ultimately strengthen the United States' hand in meeting its global responsibilities and commitments. Indeed, some pundits would have us believe that the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Europe will allow greater flexibility of options in dealing with threats arising in "out-of-area" contingencies. They argue that without the constraints of its NATO commitment, the United States could command the wherewithal to intervene wherever its vital interests were threatened.
Intangible benefits
In response, it needs to be stated clearly that the United
... (1997 of 13050 Characters)
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