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0 pointsericmay2mo ago0 comments

We can remove them and do the isolationist thing as many have been clamoring for. Then we have no need for bases in Europe or the Middle East. Gulf States can figure out how to live with a nuclear armed Iran or one that has a repository of thousands of missiles to blow up gulf state infrastructure when they misbehave. We can remove the bases in Europe too, and when Russia invades Lithuania the Spanish and Germans can take care of it.

Or perhaps these bases aren’t just in allied countries “at their grace”. These alliance systems don’t just solely benefit America.

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4 comments · 1 top-level

protocolture2mo ago· 3 in thread

I mean, theres meant to be intangibles, and some financial support. Most of the financial support got cut by doge and the rest would go with leaving NATO. The intangibles literally never eventuate. Australia tried to invoke ANZUS with East Timor and got brushed off, despite the various US facilities in Aus being sold to the australian voter as insurance that the US would help if requested.

Honestly the US as a strategic partner is just a joke. its nothing but sigint.

Lets not even start on AUKUS.

ericmayOP2mo ago

I don't disagree with you, but just pushing back on this high-and-mighty "we let you be here" sensibility from the OP. For some reason folks seem to have become convinced the opposite way from MAGA that these bases only serve American interests which is certainly not the case. Likewise the bases also don't only serve the interest of others, they allow us to have more flexibility in our objectives and responses to issues that we see.

protocolture2mo ago

>we let you be here

Read

"Our government is so thoroughly rooted the US can just build whatever it pleases on our soil"

>these bases only serve American interests

Pine Gap does SFA for us. I don't think we have a need to let the US communicate with their subs through the WA antenna.

Like absolute best case we have painted a big "Nuke Here" target on the country, because we are actively a part of their nuclear communication protocols. Not to mention, this is a fact that our government intentionally hid from us for like a decade, when Pine gap was at its most contentious.

Can you quantify any benefit we have received, there's only been a single military invitation and they bailed on it.

fastasucan2mo ago

Its equally misleading to pretend like the bases have just a couple small benefits for the US. Come on, please. You dont believe it either. Ah yes, the post world war doctrine has been so that the us can have more flexibility. Sure thing. What a waste it has been for European Nations to have sacrificed lives for Americas wars the last decades.

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