WASHINGTON -- President George W. Bush has proposed bringing home upwards of 70,000 U.S. troops stationed in Asia and Europe. It's a good start, but remains only a start. Washington should withdraw all 230,000 service personnel guarding against phantom enemies in Europe and protecting well-heeled friends in East Asia. And the United States should begin withdrawing them now, rather than in 2006, and finish in two or three years, rather than in 10.
The Cold War ended nearly two decades ago. America's friends face few conventional threats and are capable of defending themselves. An invasion of Europe by Martians is about as likely as by Russians. In East Asia the dangers are more real. But South Korea has 40 times the gross domestic product and twice the population of the North.
Japan understandably looks at China with unease, but Tokyo should construct a defensive force capable of deterring Chinese adventurism. Taiwan is an obvious potential flash point, but no sane American president would inaugurate a ground war with China.
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