George Bush's stance on Troop Redeployment

Troop Redeployment: It is a plan to call for the withdrawal of American troops from other countries. Bush announces plans to bring the US troops home from Europe and Asia. It does not include the troops in Iraq.

George W. Bush:

Description of candidate's position: Bush wants to call for the withdrawal of between 60,000 and 70,000 American troops in Western Europe, South Korea and other long-standing overseas garrisons are part of a plan to extend US military facilities into whole new regions of the world, particularly Central Asia. Because world circumstances have changed, the U.S. needs a different strategy of forces. Secretary Rumsfeld and the Joint Chiefs have been working for the last couple of years on plans for the redeployment of forces worldwide. The troops will come home and work in the United States.

Quotation from the candidate: Bush said, "[the new plan will help] fight and win the wars of the 21st century." "Although we'll still have a significant presence overseas, under the plan I'm announcing today, over the next ten years we will bring home about 60,000 to 70,000 personnel and about a hundred thousand family members and civilian employees." "Our service members will have more time on the home front and more predictability and fewer moves over a career. August 16, 2003

Assessment of the proposal:

Positive: US troop redeployment is a rational adjustment to an altered threat Environment. The configuration of troop redeployment reveals how the Bush security team understands the vital interests of the United States.

Negative: Troop Redeployment hits Germany hard

The plan takes into consideration South Korean concerns "on the weakening of war deterrence capability against North Korea and the security vacuum" stemming from the U.S. redeployment, the ministry said.

Comparison:

Kerry thinks Bush's plan will not make America safer and it will not relieve the current burden on US troops. He said, "Given today's threats, we should be reaching out to the world, rebuilding our alliances and finding real solutions to relieve the strain on our overstretched military. John Kerry will keep faith with our troops and their families who are overburdened by the extended deployments of their loved ones"

Major general Boyd Cook: John Kerry's desire to continue the status quo ignores reality. Major general Evan Hultman: Troop deployments should not be geared towards "enemies who vanished 15 years ago."

Link to Kerry's troop redeployment issue page.