No more tuition assistance

[quasarvs]

I guess I could have been clearer. The countries that are generally safe for Americans are not safe because the bases are there. These are U.S. allies, industrialized nations, and they also don't have many problems with terrorism. That is why people are upset that we still have military bases there. We haven't warred with Germany and Japan in decades.

Okay thank you for further explanation.
I get what your saying, I think. I read a little of what Jonathan Whatley referenced in wikipedia, and I assume you mean that little incidents of crime committed by our troops as well as environment/noise pollution and things that are probably never used like agent orange make the U.S. bases not "safe" over in other countries.
Is that right?
I do get also what you mean by referencing Japan and Germany. I think I would agree that we no longer need bases there. I don't know when our first base was established in Germany, but I think because of the cold war in the 80's it was helpful and a good idea to have one there at least shortly after East and West Germany were reunited. For current times however, I personally think it wouldn't be necessary, unless our ally wanted us there. The wikipedia article on Japan seemed to indicate that regardless of some of the populace's opinion Japan's government wants our base there.
For all the troops reading this, I don't think that we should necessarily reduce the amount of armed forces we have, if we reduced our bases internationally. I think that it would be very helpful to have extra troops on the southern national border to prevent illegal immigration.

At this point my general opinion is that if the country does not want us there we shouldn't be there, unless of course we are at war with them. However, I know its more complicated because the article also mentioned how the U.S. was concerned with communist China and possible aggression from there; therefore that became a motivating factor in our desire to have a base in Japan. I can see that as an example of many other similar cases; however I think we should still respect the countries' wishes and not have a base there if unwanted. However, with our allies we maybe able to negotiate something with diplomacy.

I'm thinking Ron Paul would be proud of someone having this discussion; however the presentation of his ideas seem to be so isolationist, which I do not agree with. America being the bountiful, etc. country that it is, I think has obligations, particularly to its allies. Our allies deserve our protection and engagement in world affairs.