Is it time for the US to pull its worldwide forces home and allow other nations to protect themselves?

We're not necessarily in those countries to protect them, except for South Korea. We're there to facilitate rapid deployments to trouble spots around the world should something suddenly arise. Mobility and rapid response are important to any well-trained military.

The US Military has bases in other countries for rapid deployment throught the world to defend the US and our Allies interests. While WWII ended ruffly 60 years ago, the Cold War soon followed. It was in the interest to the US and her allies that the USSR did not roll through Europe and turning it into several communist satalite states.

Japan and South Korea are linked in the interest of keeping the peace and stability in the Pacific. With China in this area of operations and if things were to ever escilate between our two countries, we would have forces ready to defend our allies. Also bases were kept for the same reasons as mentioned above in Europe for the Cold War.

Turky and Qatar are huge hubs for the ongoing War on Terrorism with hundreds of aircraft flying through those hubs allowing fresh soldiers and supplies into the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters.

While the cold war is over, there is always a need for a US presence in the world to ensure peace and deter aggression. If there had been a US Garrison in Kuwait in 1991, would Iraq have chargede south into Kuwait? We'll never know for sure, but would wage my chips that the conflict would have been avoided.

Also, understand we're in Europe for a reason. It actually goes back to the two World Wars. We keep forces there because, in short, because we were tired of having to grad ourself out there when a war broke out. So, by keeping bases there, we could help defend out Allies (Britain and France) and protect our half (at the time) of Germany.

We are in Japan as a result of World War II also. We don't allow them to have a standing Army (only a national defense force), so they rely on us for their protection. This is to stop them from attacking us again. Also, by us being there, it leaves Japan more money and resources to boost their economy They have one of the best economies in the world, and are ahead of almost every nation technology wise.

We are in South Korea because of the Korean War, which realistically, never even ended (we have a 50+ year cease fire with them.)

No. The U.S. is very dependent on a number of nations around the world. All the isolationist crap on this site is completely unrealistic. A war in Asia or Europe could have a devastating impact on our economy and our way of life. China owns trillions of dollars of our national debt. Our goods are sold all over the world. If those markets dry up, american factories close and Americans lose their jobs. We need to protect our interests around the world.

Nope keep them there. They are there for a reason we're only there for logistical purposes for conflicts such as the Kosovo/Bosnia and of course, the middle east. And as others have said, Rapid deployments to neighboring countries if they start their ****. Or to Give faster aid to other countires in times of crisis.

South Korea is the only protective role of all of those palces

Most should come home but for strategic locations keep some at Korea, Poland, Qatar. All German post are closing and moving to Poland thats why I said Poland.

1 hell yes 2 yes 3 yes 4 yes 5 yes 6 yes

1you know clinton sold N.korea nukes and associated equipment why if we should be protecting S.korea2we have control of their money3no russian threat anymore4they have better technology than us they keep it quiet better5have one of the biggest standing armies in the world6we have our own untapped oil resources here at home we are just greedy.

i cannot believe people think the welfare of the world is better(what romanticised crap) from what? dumping nano sized particles of uranium all over the mid east grow a brain idiot!! find out what "depleted uranium" really is, one thing it isn't is Depleted.

Yup, especially Germany when the leadership takes every opportunity to complain about Americans. Let's remove all Americans and their payrolls from Germany and hear them squeal.

if they are there...its for a reason.

i hate how civilians feel the need to say their 2 cents about the war..but have no idea whats its really like. if they are sending out soldiers there for a mission..then its FOR A MISSION..not just to let them die.

therefore..keep them there. if they are there..let them finish their job and do what they need to do and support them in it. fighting them being there isn't going to help them get out any faster.

A resounding YES. We're creating a welfare world.