I didn't say the US has any bases currently in France. Those were removed in the 1960s. However, the US did have bases all throughout Europe, which many grew to resent as I mentioned above.
You said: "People of France, Germany and other failing European states hate the US- when we have not attacked them. They hate us for our cold war military bases there. For them, it is a reminder of dependence- a dependence they are resentful for."
So what I'm supposed to believe is that you meant to say that the French are mad at the USA because something that
didn't exist for at least 40 years is reminding them of their dependence on your country
right now?
Sorry, I don't buy that, this looks far more like a deliberate attempt at backpedaling.
Btw, what makes you think we're failing? Last time I checked, we were doing great.
As for Germany, it is funny to hear that coming from someone in Germany. The US has military in four bases- Ansbach, Geilenkirchen, Ramstein, Spangdahlem.
Anderson Barracks, Dexheim
Argonner Kaserne, Hanau (closing by 2009)
Artillery Kaserne, Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Bamberg Local Training Area, Bamberg
Barton Barracks, Ansbach
Benjamin Franklin Village, Mannheim
Cambrai-Fritsch Kaserne, Darmstadt (closing in 2008)
Campbell Barracks, Heidelberg
Coleman Barracks, Mannheim
Conn Barracks, Schweinfurt
Faulenberg Kaserne, Würzburg (closing in 2008)
Flak Kaserne, Augsburg
Francois Kaserne, Hanau
Funari Barracks, Mannheim
Gießen Depot, Gießen (closing in 2008)
Grafenwöhr Training Area, Grafenwöhr/Vilseck
Griesheim Army Airfield/Stars and Stripes Kaserne, Griesheim (closing 2008)
Grossauheim Kaserne, Hanau (closing by 2009)
Hammonds Barracks, Seckenheim
Heidelberg Army Airfield, Heidelberg
Hohenfels Training Area/Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels (Upper Palatinate)
Husterhoeh Kaserne, Pirmasens
Hutier Kaserne, Hanau (closing in 2009)
Kaiserslautern Military Community
Katterbach Kaserne, Ansbach
Kelley Barracks/Nathan Hale Depot, Darmstadt (closing 2008)
Kelley Barracks, Stuttgart
Kilbourne Kaserne, Heidelberg
Lampertheim Training Area, Lampertheim
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Landstuhl
Ledward Barracks, Schweinfurt
Leighton Barracks, Würzburg (closing in 2008)
Mark Twain Village, Heidelberg (expanding)
McCully Barracks, Wackernheim
Miesau Army Depot, Miesau
Nachrichten Kaserne, Heidelberg
Panzer Kaserne, Stuttgart
Patch Barracks, Stuttgart
Pioneer Kaserne, Hanau (closing by 2009)
Pulaski Barracks, Kaiserslautern
Patrick Henry Village, Heidelberg
Patton Barracks, Heidelberg
Rhein Ordnance Barracks, Kaiserslautern
Robinson Barracks, Stuttgart
Rose Barracks, Vilseck
Shipton Kaserne, Ansbach
Smith Barracks, Baumholder
Spinelli Barracks, Mannheim
Storck Barracks, Illesheim
Strassburg Barracks, Idar-Oberstein
Sullivan Barracks, Mannheim
Taylor Barracks, Mannheim
Tompkins Barracks, Schwetzingen
Underwood Kaserne, Hanau (closing in 2008)
Warner Barracks, Bamberg
Wiesbaden Army Airfield, Wiesbaden
Wolfgang Kaserne, Hanau (closing by 2009)
Würzburg Hospital, Würzburg (closing in 2008)
Yorkhof Kaserne, Hanau (closing by 2009)
etc, etc, etc...
Four bases in Germany... riiiight...
I don't think you know much about the world outside the US.
It would seem I do.
You keep saying that... doesn't make it true though.