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Return to Article: Overseas panel, Pentagon fail to resolve cost differences over moving personnel

• 11086
  

  This entire issue represents the very basics of how to lie with statistics! There does not have to be any added costs for the movement of 60,000 troops out of Europe. DoD and the services simply should stop sending new troops to replace those being rotated back to the USA. Over time the troop strength in Europe will fall by the required 60,000 and there is no added cost of such a move. In fact we would save the money used to send the new troops to Europe in the first place.

  next we have to look at the increase in the number of troops in the USA because they are no longer going to Europe. Very little. They all get housing allowances that fund housing either here or "over there". They all get the same pay but do not suffer from exchange rate risk. They all get the same health benefits as if they were "over there".

  The new song should be they are over there but they are coming here.

  taxpayer Posted July 20, 2005 7:24 AM
• 11085
  

  Rummy will tell a couple lies, hide information, cut some corners and maybe even stretch the truth, but he will get what he wants.

  Only Bush can stop him and that won't happen. the president has confindence in Rummy. If that doesn't make you sick nothing will.

  GovExec.com reader Posted July 20, 2005 7:23 AM
• 11076
  

  Ok, everything centers on the costs of these moves, but what about the benefits? Military constuction hasn't stopped overseas. Long term construction projects could be better put into military infrastructure in the US vs. other countries. Also, much of pay and housing benefits going to the servicepersonnel abroad is spent in local economies. How much would be gained for local economies in the US instead of in Korea or Germany?

  Scott Posted July 20, 2005 5:14 AM