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Members of Congress who have been hoping that a reduction in U.S. forces in Europe would help save their local military facilities from the 2005 base closure process might be disappointed, the second-ranking U.S. commander in Europe indicated today.

"Nothing has been decided," and the subject has been moved from public to private conversations, Air Force Gen. Charles Wald, deputy commander of the U.S. European Command, told a Defense Writers' breakfast session in Washington.

Although the subject of a cutback in U.S. forces from NATO and a closure of some bases in Europe has been discussed, "there are significant political issues involved," both domestically and within the alliance, Wald said.

Shortly after taking over at NATO headquarters in January, Marine Gen. James Jones, the commander of U.S. forces in Europe and of NATO troops, talked openly about the idea of reducing the U.S. permanent footprint in Western Europe and setting up some bare-bones forward operating bases in Eastern or Central Europe. That led to the Senate withholding military construction funds for Europe and calling for a formal report on the Pentagon's proposed global base structure.

Lawmakers worried about potentially vulnerable bases in their states have expressed hope that the relocation of one or more of the divisions in Europe could bolster the domestic facilities before the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure round.

"Gen. Jones has given his advice. ... It's all being discussed at the right levels" among the U.S. armed services, in the Defense secretary's office and NATO capitals, Wald said. But Wald expressed unhappiness with some "sensational" news stories indicating an imminent decision to bring forces back to the United States.

COMMENTS

• The General has spoken! The only problem is that he did not address military issues at all! Congress, please reduce the troop strength in Europe by at least half. European bases have provben themselves useless. Turkey would not support us on IRAQ, France nevewr lets us fly over their air space and Germany is no longer the center of the universe for a Russian attack that will not come. We are wasting billions to be in Europe - bring them home and let their money support our cities and states. The General is worried about political considerations;however, the General should be a military man and not a politian! Likewise, the State Dept should be in charge of rebuilding IRAQ not the Defense Dept. The Republicans have made the military the fourth branch of government and given them far too much authority over political matters and not military matters. Military people no longer want to fight - they want to run the country! Close half the bases in Germany, all the bases in Turkey, remove half the troops from the UK and reduce the numbers in Korea, Japan and the Pacific Islands. The Air Force General forgets that the B1's have to fly from Missouri to attack anywhere in the world - they do not come from forward bases! I am sick of supporting foreigners and foreign countries. Also, we don't even use the guys we have over there - the military calls up the guard and reserves for action. They do not send regular troops stationed in Europe! Tax Payer Posted September 3, 2003 6:10 AM