US MILITARY OVERSEAS BASES- HOW THEY BEGAN AND THE ENDURING NEED FOR FORWARD BASED UNITED STATES TROOPS
Abstract
Since the turn of the century the US has established military bases overseas as part of a commitment to alliances, for different reason like constabulary forces, stabilizing the region, aid in nation rebuilding, or show of force to contain and deter opponents. This paper will examine a historical thread of circumstances which led to a US presence overseas. It focuses on selected presidents, during a significant era, and their foreign policy, leading to an understanding on how and why overseas bases started, the utility of these bases, and the necessity for the new administration to continue maintaining some type of US military presence overseas. It leads off with a discussion on George Washington and other prominent statesmen's role in the birth of US foreign policy, isolationism. The paper goes on to discuss President Theodore Roosevelt and his policy of expansionism, evolving with the start of US military forces, primarily naval, overseas to protect US interest. The paper continues by discussing FDR and President Truman advancement into interventionism during WWII and the Cold War era. It was during the Cold War era when America would see its largest footprint of US forces overseas. The main body of the paper ends with the Post-Cold war era discussing Bush 41, Clinton, Bush 43, and Obamas transformation of US forces in size and posture. The paper ends recommending to the new administration, the United States should maintain an appropriately prominent overseas posture in order to provide the administration flexibility in achieving its national security objectives.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 06, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1038289
Entities
People
- Addalyrica Q. George
Organizations
- Air War College