The United States controls well over 700 bases and other installations around the world (and an additional 4000+ within the US). One could successfully argue that they are all worthless and a waste of money. Here are five of the most worthless foreign bases.
Kaiserslautern Military Community
An American city within Germany that houses over 50,000 servicemembers plus another 100,000 dependents and contractors. Includes the Ramstein Air Force base (above) and the Landstuhl Army Hospital.
The original usage as a defense against a Soviet invasion of Western Europe is long ended. It is now used as a staging area for America's Asian wars and a way station for dead and wounded soldiers from those wars.
Guantanamo Bay Naval Station
America's Devil's Island Prison. Originally a prize from the Spanish-American War used as a coaling station. It has no strategic or military value except as a petty insult to Fidel Castro. In 2002 the Bush Administration created there the most notorious penal colony since
Île du Diable.
Diego Garcia
The only base on this list which actually has some strategic value. In 1971 the United States and United Kingdom expelled the people living on this little atoll in the middle of the Indian Ocean to convert it into Naval and Air Force bases. Its major purpose is to house B-2 bombers.
The highest point on the atoll is only 22 feet. Meaning this multi-billion dollar base will soon be flooded by rising sea waters.
Italy
There are over 100 Army, Navy, and Air Force bases in Italy. In the 1950's they were key to making the Mediterranean Sea into an American lake. They were also important in preventing free elections in Italy and Greece that might have elected Communists to power.
They now serve no function.
Okinawa
Originally a victory prize after World War II, US bases occupy 18% of the island. Now mostly used by the Marines for
recreational rape. The Japanese on the island hate the American presence for its arrogance, and did I mention the
frequent rapes.
The Okinawa bases serve no useful function.
2 comments:
Thanks.
This is a great list and a wonderful idea.
Leave Okinawa NOW.
us military bases are in different part of the countries. But now they are in the South America for a certain purpose. They provide their best effort in the name of their country.
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