Rationale – For over half a century the U.S. has provided troops and armaments for the defense of Europe and Southeast Asia. In 2011, 160,000 U.S. service personnel are stationed in Europe, Japan and Korea. Congressional estimates are that the manpower cost alone is over $12B per year. If the cost for armaments, housing, etc. are included, the burden for U.S. defense of Europe and Southeast Asia is over $65B per year. The practice has been going on for over 60 years with an accumulated impact on U.S. taxpayers of $5.1 Trillion (1/3 of current U.S. debt). We can no longer afford this largesse.
Petition – By end of 2012, the United States shall remove all U.S. troops and armaments in Europe and Southeast Asia and stop providing armaments to those countries at less than actual cost.