Redeploy U.S. troops

Rep. Barney Frank and Sen. Ron Paul are pursuing U.S. budget cuts calling for bringing our troops home, not only from Iraq and Afghanistan, but from other countries where our troops are stationed. What a refreshing idea. For a change they are thinking outside the box.

Can you imagine what a positive effect our troops coming home would have? How about 100,000 of those troops being put to work on our borders?

That would stop the flow of illegal immigrants and drug smuggling.

How about 100,000 of those troops moving into the Gulf and taking over the oil spill cleanup and inspecting the many oil rigs, which seem to have so many problems? Do you think that wouldn’t help?

For a change, we would be using our troops and our money to help solve our own problems instead of the world’s.

There probably isn’t much of a chance Frank and Paul will succeed, but it is something for all of us to consider. If you agree, let your congressman know you would welcome a troop pullout and using those troops to focus on our problems.

Charles N. Bono

Overland Park

Comments

[rtaylortitle]

Our once great republic has become a Warfare/Welfare state thanks to the Military/Industrial/Security/Media complex. We should give notice to each of the over 100 countries that we now have troops and/or bases that they need to, if need be, beef up and bolster their own defenses because we are marching our men and women "out" and "onto" our borders. Our Constitution makes NO allowance for this nation being an empire nor a nanny state.

[T. Hanson]

There is a lot of people that still need the US's protection. No matter how you think we have a lot of interest outside our borders and if we ignore them then bad things happen.

I respect your Gondi philosophy of non-violence, but the fact is that there are bad people out there that do want to kill us. No matter their reasons I thank those in uniform for what they do what they have to do (I have a feeling that you do thank them too, that is not the question).

Realistically though do you see us pulling out of those countries? Don't quote me that there is a big conspiracy to keep us there but tell me the best case what would happen if we decided to leave on August 1st, 2010?

Would North Korea just stay in it's borders? With a country that is starving and all the prime resources just south of them?

Would Israel be able to defend herself when every country next to them would rather see them die in the ocean?

What would happen to Iraq and Afghanistan? Do you think that everyone there would be better off without the US there, or just the taliban that helped a terrorist plan the worst attack on us in history?

[Moje]

Hey T., I think I heard the 'Battle Hymn of the Republic' while reading your blog. CHILL!
There may be newer paths to take without doing ALL the things you put in your 'reflection'.

[T. Hanson]

Yeap.. Lets screw our allies. Hey South Korea, good luck it was nice knowing you, before a crazy mad man reverted your country back to pre 1920. Oh yea forget that most of our goods come from Taiwan and S. Korea, that should not effect our price market here. Israel what the hell, why do we need them. bye bye. I am sure that Palestine will treat you like a great neighbor. All those that helped us in Iraq and Afghanistan, well I am sure you will enjoy watching your families getting tortured for helping us.

That feels better. I am glad that we don't have to worry what happens outside our borders. Oh yea, that oil thing, nah we don't need oil anymore. Lets melt down all our guns and tanks and make a nice chain link fence with a sign saying "please don't attack us".

[Moje]

You are right Mr. Bono. The American economy and lives would be saved at the expense of our national ego. However, politicians will not favor the agenda this election year. While there will be no 'sabre rattling', these politicians, most of whom have no military background, cannot appear to be weak. In this election year they must pump up their chests and look 'tough' to the new conservative leaning 'voting' populace. A call for any withdrawal would smack of liberal pacifism.