Or maybe it was Shelly More Capitoe's vote or maybe Nick-Joe Randall's, or others from the anthracite mining districts of this country, but one way or another it was an offer to buy hard coal for heating American bases abroad for congressional vote(s).

Anthracite (hard coal) comes from northeastern Pa. So it's pork for one or more of their reps.

I did not realize that all of the real anthracite deposits in the country were in PA, but I do now. I was thinking of the massive coal fields in south western WV, down there in Boon and Mingo counties.

whether our military forces are needed in Germany at all. Or, for that matter, anywhere in Europe. I think they are not, and that all US bases in Europe should be closed down forthwith. All easily transported materiel should be returned to the US, along with all personnel. The remainder of the materiel and all capital improvements would be transferred to the country in which it is located, free of charge, and written off as sunk costs. Said closings should be completed within six months.

Now, there are some serious budgetary savings.

Oddly, I never see this proposal raised by anybody.

It's nothing but a cash cow for politicians. We need to make drastic cuts but even with all the budgetary fear mongering we can't recognize the end of WWII and the cold war.

of Congressional members. It's how they get elected. Just build another military-related industry in your district and get re-elected.

That is one of the largest issues we have not yet faced in the US, and it is the source of more waste than almost anything else.

I don't think we need any military bases in any other country, period. (Back to your previous post).

The thing about building military related industries is a real problem. Companies that make these "products" spread the industrial sites around the US for that very reason. When one company builds planes in one state, and ships in another, and missiles in another, etc etc etc. The reps from that state are then beholden to that companies interests. Raytheon and GE come to mind. But there are others. "Jobs are on the line" and so "we have to support that issue". Such BS.

$85 billion from the military/intelligence community would be a spit in the ocean. Scaling back even further and bringing military personnel home to work in industries that make a product that produces for us instead of destroying things elsewhere would be progress. Of course there would be the needed education and retraining, but that would put people to work also.

These must have been strategic high-tech materials at one time. I'm sure there is some US anchor chain maker that relys on this mandate now.

There are actually a number of 'buy American' provisions in the bill, which is good. But why do they apply to the MIC and not to US industry generally?

We can't impose such conditions outside of those in that agreement.

Again, those bases should be closed. It's long past time for that.

I agree that there is no reason to keep a US base anywhere in the EU. If we need to have access to a military hospital or airbase, such as Ramstein, then we should use them through a treaty arrangement with Germany.

A good first step would be to close all the small bases abroad and consolidate to a small set of larger, more important bases.

My preference would be an announcement that all bases would be closed and turned over to the governments of the countries in six months. That would be an announcement by our President that would make history. We are not at war with anyone in Europe, nor are any of the countries in that area any sort of enemy any longer.

It is time to leave. It is long past time to leave.

I would give our Asian bases a little more time, but would phase them out as well, except perhaps for South Korea, where we are party to a war that is still not over in a legal sense.

E.g. "The Crown Jewel of US Army Europe"

http://www.garmisch.army.mil/default.asp

so I don't have any direct experience with any of them. I did meet a number of people who were, though, and they all seem to have enjoyed their tours there.

I don't see any foreign military bases closing, so it can't be that bad.

....during BRAC.

Sequestration will primarily affect military programs (cutting, trimming back, and delaying), along with military and civilian personnel.

Will you furnish a link? I'm not doubting your sincerity, I just want some help in educating myself.

Need some pain killer for that wound? Here's an aspirin.