US to Form Permanent Military Base in Spain for African Missions

Me expressing an opinion on this issue conjures in my mind an image of a 6 year-old child attempting to instruct his parents on how to file their tax deductions properly. But hell, I'll give it a shot, sir.

It's hard to see what the US does in bolstering the defense of other as imperialistic, as others here may have implied. We by no means own the government, the land, or the people of places like Spain, Germany, or South Korea. Our presence certainly serves our interests, and though more popular in some circles than others, the host countries definitely benefit ($75 million!?!). I don't understand why our assets in Germany are insufficient, or why Spain is a better candidate.

I will say that I like the idea that wherever America puts troops, our allies always seem to mostly support the activity.

World-Police sounds better than Declining-State, which I seem to hear more and more, actually.

They should pay us for the privilege.

I would first ask, why are we paying Spain to have a base in their country. Why are they not paying us? Western Europe has lived under our umbrella of protection since World War II, at OUR expense. Our presence, our men and women, our equipment, our technology, our missiles on the soils of Europe, Japan, South Korea, and a great many other places have allowed these countries to spend LESS on their military, less on R&D, less on military personnel and equipment, and more on their infrastructure and other improvements largely at our expense.

I also wonder why so many in the media call keeping our military out of other people's business "isolationism"? If we keep the bulk of our military at home, and ready to strike when the need arises, but otherwise engage with other countries peacefully, in trade, are we being isolationist? A number of statements by Bastiat distill down to this. "When goods stop crossing borders, armies soon start."

I am often baffled when I hear politicians, and those in the media who make statements like "These countries aren't afraid of us." Is that our goal? Fear? I would suggest it is important that other nations recognize and respect our powers, and the limits of our patience, but positive, or improving relationships are not built on fear.

Still others call for tariffs against places like China, to make their products more expensive here. To what end? Economically speaking this means higher prices for Americans, and politically, this scenario often ends, with tariff wars, trade restrictions, and increased tensions between the countries involved, and their respective allies alike.

So, I would argue that our military is not our only means of interacting with the world. We should use it when appropriate, but I believe it's time that many of these countries should step up, and start paying their own way. If they don't want to do so, then perhaps they should start paying us to occupy bases in their countries, and to provide that umbrella for which the American people are now, and have been paying for.

My opinion respectfully and solicitously stated.