The American Empire

During the Clinton administration, America deployed more U.S. forces to more foreign countries than ever before.

Incredibly, at the same time, the Clinton White House oversaw U.S. military forces cut by 40 percent.

You might think, with a new administration in place, there would be wide debate about such policies. Yet, the Bush administration has said and done little to suggest a radical change in policy will be forthcoming.

In fact, the Bush administration has already renewed bombing attacks on Iraq -- a nasty regime to be sure, but the continuation of a misguided, unconstitutional and un-American foreign and military policy to say the least.

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It's time someone put the question to Bush: We have 211,000 American service personnel stationed in 139 countries around the world. We have another 26,000 serving on naval vessels in foreign waters. Why? And when are we going to start bringing them home in droves?

Think about it. The U.S. still has 70,000 soldiers serving in Germany today. Germany! Those troops were deployed there during the Cold war, when the U.S. and western Europe feared a Soviet invasion was imminent. What is the rationale for keeping them there today?

The U.S. still has 40,570 troops in Japan. Are we worried the emperor is going to make a comeback and bomb Pearl Harbor? Are we worried China is about to invade Japan? If so, why do we extend to China most favored nation trading status?

The U.S. still has 36,263 troops in South Korea. Now, this is one place where there is a constant threat of war. North Korea is still technically in a state of war with the South, and the U.S. may be able to justify the continued presence. But why isn't there any debate about it? Why aren't long-term alternatives to this policy being discussed? Are we going to defend South Korea forever? Wouldn't we be better off helping the South Koreans to defend themselves against potential aggression?

The U.S. still has 11,564 troops occupying Italy. Why? Do we fear the reincarnation of Benito Mussolini? From whom are we protecting Italians? Themselves?

The U.S. even has 11,274 troops in Great Britain. Great Britain has a pretty good military force of its own. Don't we trust them to defend themselves?

The U.S. has a force of 7,169 in Bosnia-Herzegovina. What vital interests does the U.S. have there?

The U.S. maintains a force of 5,469 in Kuwait. Is Kuwait paying us for this protection? I don't think so. And the U.S. should not be in the mercenary business anyway. It's not in our Constitution.

The U.S. has 5,423 troops in Serbia, including Kosovo. Hey, Slobodan Milosevic is gone. He was arrested by his own countrymen. Enough is enough, already.

The U.S. has a force of 5,397 troops in Saudi Arabia defending the wealthy tyrants in that desert country. Why should ordinary Americans pay with blood and hard-earned money to protect Saudi Arabia?

The U.S. has 2,123 troops in Spain, 2,105 in Turkey, 1,677 in Iceland, 1,598 in Belgium, 1,112 in Bahrain, 997 in Portugal, 774 in the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 670 in the Netherlands, 627 in Diego Garcia and 517 in Greece.

There are smaller U.S. troop commitments in Kenya, Ethiopia, Yemen, Uganda, Russia and 12 other countries that formerly comprised the Soviet Union.

Why aren't we talking about bringing any of these troops home?

This would be a sensible way to cut military spending. This would be a sensible way to get back to our constitutional republic. This would be a sensible way to stop being the policeman of the world.

But no … there is no end in sight to this madness. We have not learned the lessons of every other empire in the history of the world that spread itself too thin, that over-committed its resources, that didn't understand that every fight is not its fight.

Are there serious threats to American security in the world? You bet there are. But we can never be prepared for them with our military forces spread far and wide across the globe. In fact, this is insurance that we won't be ready for the next war, the next flashpoint, when it inevitably comes.

I say bring the troops home now.