Dems should hop aboard U.S. German troop withdrawal train

WWII ended 75 years ago. The Soviet Union imploded 29 years ago. In return for Russia, a shell of the former Soviet behemoth, agreeing not to oppose  

German reunification, the U.S. agreed not to expand NATO up to Russia's doorstep. Russia kept their pledge. The U.S. didn't. That has soured U.S.-Russian relations for three decades, continuing to today. The U.S., not Russia, is more responsible for the new Chilly, if not full-blown Cold War between the two former WWII allies. 

Withdrawing just 12,000 of the 36,000 U.S. troops in Germany is a good first step. It should inspire a re-evaluation of the 150,000 plus U.S. military in 150 countries worldwide. Democrats should be leading on the issue of the bloated U.S. worldwide presence gobbling up precious treasure that could be utilized to address a myriad of seemingly intractable problems here at home. Pandemic, requiring trillions to combat both the health and economic fallout, is being vastly underfund to our detriment. 

Sadly, the Democrats have seized upon the meager German troop withdrawal to conger up the ghost of the former Russian Bear who left the scene decades ago. Democrats are framing a sensible first step troop withdrawal to paint Trump as soft on Russia and endangering European and U.S. security. Democrats don't need to promote endless U.S. troop occupation of Germany and the other 149 countries currently housing over 150,000 military personnel to defeat an irresponsible, wannabee tyrant worsening pandemic and every other critical domestic issue. . 

Reducing America's worldwide military footprint, ending our perpetual wars and crippling economic sanctions killing tens, if not hundreds of thousands yearly, requires bi-partisan support freed from electoral partisanship. Step up Democrats and take the lead.