politics as usual
As Trump confirmed rumored plans to draw down American military personnel levels in Germany in the coming months, a bipartisan group of senators led by Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney proposed an amendment to the Senate’s version of the annual defense policy bill that would freeze troop numbers in Germany. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith, D-Wash., said separately Tuesday that the plan seemed strategically unsound and that Congress should block the administration until it makes its case. Legislative action is likely in the House on Wednesday when Smith’s panel marks up the HASC version of the bill.
How do our German colleagues feel about this?
Happy, sad, indifferent?
I remember a British colonel responding to a German complaint about British and American troops in his homeland:
"The Army of Occupation arrived in 1945. We are not sure that it's safe to leave yet."
(This was in the mid 1990's).
Maybe it is 'safe to leave' now?
I'd still recommend keeping the air bases open/present, but that's a personal bias and I've no influence in DC.