Why does the US have so many international military bases?

[smahala1991]

You don't see British, German, Japanese, or even Russian military bases in the US. Why do we have so many international bases instead of staying in our homeland?

[RebelinSteel]

A lot are either from lend lease, from WW2 occupation of Germany and requirements for the Cold War. There is no real point in European countries having airbases in the US, there are bases such as Creech and F35 training bases used by various nations. Air bases are required for power projection and rapid reinforcement, this means they tend to be in locations where they can be used. Carriers are used for the same reason, if you do not have an airbase handy, pop a carrier near a coast, gunboat diplomacy. The UK tends not to use carriers in Med as we have Gib and Cyprus, we also make use of Aussie bases such as Butterworth.

[Soteris]

Because that is how USA maintains its super power status, by projecting soft power around the world through the proxy of military bases. Of course there is more to it than that, but without those military bases USA would not be half the super power it is today.

Being a super power is not about being powerful or rich, its about the influence you have over others around the world. Sitting by yourself on your own little continent half a world away from everyone else is not going to make you particularly influential which is why USA absolutely requires these military bases.

[DubiousIntentions]

Insurance for the countries we are in. They get our protection. We should be charging them in my opinion. Some are from WWII Lend Lease agreements, and some, because the people would rather have our bases there instead of Alien bases.

One of the planes on our base.

[milyjohn]

I think it made sense back in the day, but now I'm not so sure. I think we're close to WWIII, and if that happens, I don't see what all of those bases will do for us. I'm for closing all the bases and bringing the troops home.

[DubiousIntentions]

The way things work is that when something happens we send troops. It is easier and faster to send them when they are already close to the trouble spot then to send them all the way from the US. That is the same reason the Navy has ships stationed in most oceans, for fast action. That could also be a deterrent to anyone trying to pull a surprise attack because they know reprisals would be swift.

[milyjohn]

@DubiousIntentions

We send troops? Would you want to go and fight? People on this site mock America and Americans for our presence around the world. They want us gone. But when Russia invades a European country, who do they all want to fix it? The ships are a deterrent, but I never want to see American boots on the ground anywhere other than America. Close all American bases, stop the fake wars, and spend all of our money on America.

Right now on this site the Europeans are laughing at our healthcare system. We need to stop being the police of the world, and use that money for Americans. This is why liberals hate Trump. He believes in America first, and the rest of the world wants us last.

[DubiousIntentions]

@milyjohn I totally agree with you but you know that with the administration we have, that will never happen. It hasn't in the last 100 years so I'm pretty sure it will never happen. The rich companies in America make too much money out of wars. Not many make money for peace. That is like Big Pharma. They don't make money off of healthy people. Most drugs have worst side effects than the disease they want to cure.

[milyjohn]

@DubiousIntentions

And this is why the liberals hate Trump. It started on day ONE when Trump said he wanted to make America Great Again. Liberals HATE the idea of America being great. To this day they mock the notion of America being great. Democrat voters love Biden's open borders, but they blame it on
Trump.

[DubiousIntentions]

Biden doesn't even know which shoe goes on what foot. Someone else is pulling the strings.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I guess the U. S. is protecting our Country?

[AviatorTom]

Since the Monroe Doctrine and the control of the Barbary Coast Pirates in the early 1800s, the United States has viewed itself as a global police force. Not just to protect other countries, but because, by doing that, it increases security at home.

[MysticDevice]

Cause we're the World Police.

Trust me, the taxpayers are not happy. But it's the US's responsibility to police the world. We're the best equipped and the best financed to do it. Whether we're actually good at it is another matter entirely but there simply is no other single nation that can do it.

If you want the full story on it there's tons of historical youtube videos on it.

[MackBoy]

The truth about is that USA is having so many bases at many countries, so that they can control and destroy which is possible what they don't want others to progress. From the war between israeli and palestinian they showed their true image and they are no longer a super power for their corruptive acts in middle east, africa and some countries.

[DryGermanGuy]

The good old Pax Americana.

By the way, Germany has a small Luftwaffe base in the United States (for flight training).

[smahala1991]

In Texas near El Paso

[exitseven]

Because politicians would rather get involved in other countries rather than fix problems in their own backyard. I suspect defense contractors donate to most of them.

[NathanDavis]

but there is... and so are their armed forces

they're on Mexico as well not just the USA, British, French and Israeli the most

[jarkitor20]

There are German and British bases in the US. Not many but there are some

[smahala1991]

Really?

[jarkitor20]

Ye but I think they're all training bases
Think the USA has a rule they don't want any others there

[smahala1991]

I read Germany has a base in Ft Bliss near El Paso, and the British have a base in SC and CA and the Royal Navy has submarines near Savannah GA

[milyjohn]

Heck, there are Chinese police stations in America. lol

[Staximus]

Do we can regulate

https://youtu.be/1plPyJdXKIY?feature=shared

[Staximus]

So we can regulate

[OddBeMe]

Because we’re the world’s police and it’s a good thing.

Otherwise we’d have massive arms race, which is kinda happening now. How’d it go in 1914 and 1939?

[AngryCarl]

Could it be because

oil
/ɔɪl/
noun
noun: oil; plural noun: oils

1.
a viscous liquid derived from petroleum, especially for use as a fuel or lubricant.

[In_Trance]

Because without the military most of the country would be unemployed

[jmsinaz]

Because 'Merica! And we're ready to put our boot on your throat if need be.

[msc545]

Those exist to project power and that occurs because we want to rule the world.

[AngryCarl]

No, America wants to CONTROL the world. That's completely different. Ruling implies responsibility.

[RedInnocent68]

Because it’s a superpower.