The House Armed Services Committee is working up next year’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the huge military spending bill. As always they’ll spend more than they can really afford, but also on the table are ways to keep the US from doing any meaningful troop cuts.
Reports that Defense Secretary Mark Esper wants to cut troops in Africa to shift them to China were already being questioned by Congress, which has been sold the idea of troops in Africa being vital. Trump is also mulling troop cuts in South Korea.
The NDAA notably doesn’t mention recently announced cuts in Germany, but is demanding Pentagon reports on the cost and implication of troop drawdowns well in advance, presumably so Congress can block the cuts.
This is probably going to follow the path with South Korea, where Congress already prohibits funding to cut the number of troops in South Korea. As the Trump Administration pushes more South Korea funding, the threat of cuts is likely to remain a big part of Congress ensuring that the president doesn’t do anything unilaterally.
While I dislike the particulars — I wish Congress was working to mandate rather than forbid global military draw-downs — I’m glad to see Congress at least trying to reclaim some of the power over military matters that it’s been ceding to the executive over the last several decades.
We need to get the h*ll out of the many countries we have bases in. We are on the ramp leading to a quick ending of the America experiment. The Roman Empire serves as an example of how empires die. Financialization with lack of manufacture at home, ignore the needs of the citizens, plutocracy, constant wars and military that bleed resources.
Close 80% of the bases over the world. Reduce military budget by 50%. End special ops and dirty work by mercenaries.