70,000 U.S. troops from Europe and Asia during the next decade in the most comprehensive repositioning of American forces in nearly half a
century.
"The world has changed a great deal and our posture must change with
it," Mr. Bush said at the annual convention of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars. "We'll deploy a more agile and more flexible force, which means
that more of our troops will be stationed and deployed from here at home." The plan calls for the closing of hundreds of U.S. bases in
Europe and
Asia, the redeployment of between 60,000 and 70,000 uniformed military
members, and the withdrawal of 100,000 family members and civilian
employees.
Although there will be no immediate impact on American forces in Iraq
and Afghanistan, the repositioning will eventually allow easier troop
deployment to the Middle East, which has become the focus of the
president's national security strategy since September 11, 2001. "We'll move some of our troops and capabilities to new locations so they
can surge quickly to deal with unexpected threats," Mr. Bush said.
"We'll take advantage of 21st-century military technologies to rapidly
deploy increased combat power."
The plan was quickly denounced by Sen. John Kerry's presidential
campaign, which dispatched retired Army Gen. Wesley Clark to say it
"will significantly undermine U.S. national security."
"This is an ill-conceived move, and its timing seems politically
motivated rather than designed to strengthen our national security,"
Gen. Clark told reporters on a conference call. "And, frankly, this
redeployment will do nothing to ease the strain on our overstretched
military forces."
Mr. Bush disagreed.
"Our service members will have more time on the home front and more
predictability and fewer moves over a career," he said. "Our military
spouses will have fewer job changes, greater stability, more time for
their kids and to spend time with their families at home."
The president said the positioning of U.S. forces across the globe
reflects an outdated national security strategy.
"For decades, America's armed forces abroad have essentially remained
where the wars of the last century ended in Europe and in Asia," he
said. "America's current force posture was designed, for example, to
protect us and our allies from Soviet aggression. The threat no longer
exists."
The United States has about 100,000 troops in East Asia and another
100,000 in Europe, including about 70,000 in Germany. White House
officials declined to say how many troops would be withdrawn from each
nation.
"Those are conversations that we'll continue to have with our allies as
we move forward," White House press secretary Scott McClellan told
reporters aboard Air Force One.
Pentagon officials said the 1st Infantry Division and 1st Armored
Division might begin leaving their bases in Germany by 2006. They would
be replaced by a smaller, more lightly armed brigade.
Kerry surrogate Ashton Carter, who was assistant secretary of defense
for President Clinton, said withdrawing troops from the Korean Peninsula
would send "the wrong signal, both to North Korea and to South Korea, at
a critical time: a message of lessened American commitment, lessened
resolve."
He added: "This weakens deterrence on the Korean Peninsula at the very
moment when North Korea is plunging forward unchecked with its nuclear
program, and at the time when our alliance with South Korea is already
frayed."
But a White House official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said
Asia would be less affected than Europe by the
repositioning. "I would anticipate that, as the threat has changed most in Europe, that
would be more affected over time," said the official, who added the
repositioning might take as few as seven years.
Kerry adviser Richard Holbrooke, who was U.S. ambassador to the United
Nations under Mr. Clinton, said Mr. Bush's plan would harm U.S.
relations with Europe.
"A withdrawal weakens the NATO alliance and will inevitably lead to less
cooperation with our closest allies — just when we need more in the war
on terrorism and Iraq," he said.
The Bush official insisted the administration is being diplomatic with
allies.
"They are transforming their own forces, so we're doing this in a way
that's complementary with them," the official said.
Yesterday's announcement by the president came just days after Mr. Kerry
promised to significantly reduce U.S. forces in Iraq within six months
of taking office as president. There are about 140,000 American troops
in Iraq.
Mr. Bush called that promise irresponsible.
"It sends the wrong signal to the enemy, who could easily wait six
months and one day," he told the veterans.
"It sends the wrong message to our troops, that completing the mission
may not be necessary. It sends the wrong message to the Iraqi people,
who wonder whether or not America means what it says."
