The Hindu : International : U.S. to prune overseas troop size?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Aug 15, 2004

International

International

U.S. to prune overseas troop size?

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, AUG. 14. The U.S. is planning to withdraw between 70,000 and 100,000 troops from Europe and Asia. The expectation is about

two-thirds of the cuts will be made in Europe.

The U.S. President, George W Bush, outlines the policy when he addresses the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Cincinnati, Ohio on Monday. The restructuring has to with the end of the Cold War and the beginning of the war on terrorism, it is maintained.

An official said the move did not mean "diminished commitment" to allies or American responsibilities.

There are more than 100,000 troops in Europe including some 70,000 in Germany and another 100,000 in the Asia Pacific.

There are about 150,000 in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Washington Post has quoted a "senior aide" as saying that the reduction will come from Europe — most of them army soldiers from Germany — who will be reassigned to bases in the U.S.

Those moved out of Europe and South Korea will be sent to the Eastern European members of NATO. The U.S., according to one version, wants to move 60,000 troops out of Europe and about 30,000 from the Asia Pacific, particularly from Japan and South Korea. Sophisticated weaponry will be sent to overseas bases to make up for the reduced troop presence.

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