World News 17-08-2004 Bush Brings Them Home who: George W Bush what: Promises to redeploy 70,000 troops stationed in Europe and Asia where: Ohio when: Yesterday snippet: President George Bush has ordered "one of the largest troop redeployments since the end of the Second World War," reports this morning`s Independent, "that will mean the return home of tens of thousands of soldiers stationed in Western Europe and Asia and the closure of overseas military bases." Addressing the veterans of foreign wars in what The Scotsman calls the "political battleground state" of Ohio, Mr Bush said more troops would eventually be stationed in the US and those remaining overseas would have more combat power to "surge quickly to deal with unexpected threats". The president`s campaign rivals took little time to counter the announcement, with Kerry-adviser and retired general Wesley Clark calling the move "ill-conceived... and politically motivated". "As we face a global war on terror with al-Qaeda active in more than 60 countries, now is not the time to pull back our forces," said Mr Clark, a former supreme commander of all NATO forces in Europe. However, most other military experts are conceding that a more mobile US military precludes the need for so many troops stationed permanently overseas. Charles Heyman, senior defence analyst for Jane`s Consultancy Group, agrees but tells The Guardian that Europe must now be on its guard. "It does signify a change in the old order, particularly in Europe. It means Europeans are going to have to think very carefully about how Europe is defended in the years to come," he said. "There may not be any real threats at the moment, but there is still massive instability in the Balkans that could degenerate very quickly." [... more]

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