2004-8-20
This is Steve Ember with In the News in VOA Special English.
President Bush this week announced
a major redeployment of American military forces around the world.
Mister Bush said the plan would take place over the next ten years.
He said sixty thousand to seventy thousand soldiers will return to
the United States. About one hundred thousand family members and
civilian employees would also return home.
Currently, about two hundred thirty thousand troops are stationed
outside the United States, in countries other than Iraq and
Afghanistan. Most are in Germany, Japan and South Korea. The United
States has about ninety thousand troops in Asia and the Pacific.
The president said the redeployment would create a military that
is better prepared to fight terrorism. More troops would be
stationed in the United States and could be deployed from there as
needed. Mister Bush says base closures as a result of the
redeployment would also reduce costs. And he says the plan would
improve life for military families.
The United States has kept a strong military presence in Europe
and Asia since World War Two ended in nineteen forty-five. Troops
were stationed in Europe to contain the threat of communism.
American officials say the end of the Soviet Union means that large
numbers of troops are no longer needed.
Under the new plan, officials say about thirty thousand troops in
Germany would be replaced by a smaller force that could be deployed
more quickly. The first troops from Germany are not expected to be
brought home before late next year. Germany has expressed concern
about the effect that the reduction would have on its economy.
American officials say some troops could be moved to eastern
European nations. That would put them closer to areas like the
Balkans and the Middle East. Many experts say they do not believe
American forces in Asia will be greatly reduced, and may even be
increased. But officials say the plan is not designed to provide
more troops for Iraq. Defense officials say they will talk about the
plan with American allies.
Mister Bush announced his plan Monday at the Veterans of Foreign
Wars convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. Democratic presidential
candidate John Kerry criticized the plan when he spoke at the
convention on Wednesday. He said the plan would not increase
America's ability to combat terrorism. And he said it would not ease
the stress on American troops. Senator Kerry stated, "Nobody wants
to bring troops home more than those of us who have fought in
foreign wars." But he added that this is not the right time or the
sensible way to do it.
National security is an important issue in this year's
presidential election. A new public opinion study was released this
week. The Americans questioned in the study said that national
security and foreign policy issues were more important than economic
issues.
In the News, in VOA Special English, was written by Cynthia Kirk.
This is Steve Ember.