Why does the U.S. need military bases in Germany, S Korea, and Japan?

Question

Why does the U.S. need military bases in Germany, S Korea, Japan, and maybe Iraq?? Isn't that a waste of taxpayer money?

Do you think Obama, if he were elected president, close these military bases??

Answer 1

We still think we're a Super Power in the world, even though we are hated by just about every nation and we've lost our economic superiority, we keep up this charade of being the worlds referee. The only ones that are benefiting are the defense industries and contractors who are reaping in record profits. Obama or Macain and the legislature have to determine the viability of why we are...where we are.

Answer 2

We have bases in Germany to help protect Europe. We have bases in S Korea to protect Korea from the nuts up north. We have bases in Japan, because they are a savage race and not to be trusted.

Answer 3

We have bases in Germany to fulfill our NATO alliance obligations...We have bases in S Korea because we have made a commitment to help protect them from N. Korea and China...We have bases in Japan because after WWII we agreed to help defend Japan to keep them from re-arming.  

The bases are their to help extend our influence around the world to protect US interests across the globe. It is not a waste of taxpayer's money.

Answer 4

We have them there because we were asked to have them there. If they didn't have good reason to have us there then we would leave. We leave when we are asked to leave. Such as closing the bases in the Phillipines when they asked us to.

Answer 5

To suck up our tax money and redistribute it to global cronies.

Answer 6

The old addage, "keep your friends close, and keep your enemies closer" could be said to apply here.

Germany and Japan are vital allies now that were once enemies.  A US military presence in those regions gives stability to historically unstable regions.

As another poster said, a US presence in these regions pays back more than is lost... over time.  Iraq could be the exception to this rule, unless the US demands reparations in the form of reduced cost on exported oil from Iraq.

Just my two cents.

Answer 7

Because we're the GD US and that's how we spread our influence.  It's not a waste of money- it pays dividends in foreign relations.  North Korea's not going to listen to us about its nuclear program if we don't have a way to quickly deploy force to its border.

No, Obama isn't going to close our foreign military bases.  He's not an Imaginary Liberal.

Answer 8

They have agreements in those countries to speed the ability to have troops in any part of the world in a short period of time.

Most of these bases were eagerly agreed to by the host countries due to the very real threat of communism at the time.

A president does not have the authority to cancel a treaty or agreement. That takes congress.