Deputy sees only slow reduction of U.S. troops in Europe

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.