• @masquenox
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      171 month ago

      Iirc the way these bases work is with the agreement from the host country country’s government and most definitely NOT the people of said country.

      FTFY.

        • @masquenox
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          81 month ago

          Right, right… like the US just did?

          How’s that vote on healthcare coming along?

          • @[email protected]
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            -11 month ago

            I was thinking more European countries, since the discussion was, you know, foreign countries hosting US military bases

            • @masquenox
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              51 month ago

              So-called “liberal democracy” works pretty much the exact same way it does in Europe (or anywhere else) as it does in the US.

              Ie, it’s 95% capitalism and 5% fake democracy substitute (the ratios vary slightly but never by much). And, like “liberal democracy” everywhere, the 5% fake democracy substitute will be rapidly replaced with 5% very not-fake fascism if you threaten the 95% capitalism part in any way whatsoever.

              • @[email protected]
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                -31 month ago

                So-called “liberal democracy” works pretty much the exact same way it does in Europe (or anywhere else) as it does in the US.

                Lol no. Much of Europe ranks much higher in all sort of democracy, press freedom etc indexes. Not all liberal democracies are created equal.

                • @masquenox
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                  31 month ago

                  I’m guessing you’re having a real hard time understanding that there is absolutely NOTHING democratic about so-called “liberal democracy,” eh?

                  Why is that? Is the new information clashing with your programming?

                  • @[email protected]
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                    1 month ago

                    I mean I’ve voted for a candidates in municipal, health care area, parliamentary and European Parliament elections. Hell, even in church elections. I’ve had friends as candidates, seen stuff get through from a single person’s suggestion through to reality through what I’d call democratic means and action, I’ve worked with different campaigns and parties and have seen change happen through that.

                    If that doesn’t count as democratic then not sure what you consider democratic tbh because that’s the stuff I think of when I think of democracy.

                    Is the new information clashing with your programming?

                    It just seems to clash with the common definition of the word, is all. If democracy isn’t that sort of stuff then I wonder what it is and where you might find it, if anywhere.

        • @wpb
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          1 month ago

          They do. However, I’m sure you can imagine an elected government acting in a way that the majority disagrees with. We’re about to see it in the US (actually, we have for years if not decades). This is not just a US phenomenon, there’s actual research showing that in liberal democracies, there’s very little correlation between what the general public wants, and the policies instated by their elected officials. There is a strong correlation with the interests of the owning class though.

          Here’s a study for American politics: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/testing-theories-of-american-politics-elites-interest-groups-and-average-citizens/62327F513959D0A304D4893B382B992B

          There’s a Danish study as well. I’m having terrible trouble finding it though. It’s an important addition because the democrats not representing the interests of the working class could in theory be a consequence of the US’s two party system. The same result holding in multi-party Denmark shows that this is not the case.

          At any rate, the point is that just because these countries are liberal democracies doesn’t mean their population wants a US military presence.

          • @[email protected]
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            01 month ago

            No it doesn’t automatically mean people want it, but add in stuff like living next to Russia and suddenly it’s very easy to understand why some actually want it.

      • JoYo 🇺🇸
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        1 month ago

        to be fair, most of these countries allow usa bases because of the countries that explicitly dont have usa bases. see map.

        they use expensive infrastructure and most countries would rather fund their own bases.

        oooo cake 🎂

    • @Absaroka
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      171 month ago

      Tell that to Cuba.

    • @[email protected]
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      31 month ago

      If the base in Okinawa is famously unpopular amongst the Okinawa locals and a political head ache for the Japanese government, I don’t imagine that other bases in less allied countries are more popular.

      I know even the bases in Europe are famed for being rough and a blight on towns. (but then so are most British military bases in at least England…)

      • @[email protected]
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        61 month ago

        Bases, plural

        There are 4 US military bases in Okinawa that accounts for 22% of the land on the island. It’s no wonder they’re pissed.

      • @[email protected]
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        41 month ago

        I’m fairly sure there’s historical and cultural reasons for the Okinawa bases being disliked amongst the locals. There was like a little war thingy you may have heard of, I believe it was the second of its’ series.

        Anyway.

        I’m from one of those countries where NATO troops and equipment get stationed. Most locals seem to be grateful, I know I am. Putin will be too scared to make any moves if there are both American AND British troops in our bases.

        • @[email protected]
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          21 month ago

          Eastern Europe would be the probable exception, due to the ever threat of Russian invasion.

          (As for the Okinawan bases… I think all the sexual assault has something to do with it, beyond the fighting in the Second World War.)

    • @TankovayaDiviziya
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      -11 month ago

      You got down voted because some folks are either ignorant of wider geopolitics, or of certain inclination and don’t want to hear the inconvenient truth.

      I am originally from Philippines which hosted a major US military base. Despite the protests, the Americans did not leave until a major volcanic eruption nearby prompted them to do so in the early 90s. I am anti-imperialists as much as the next guy and the overseas American military presence is an on-the-face sign of imperialism, but the fact of the matter is that many countries literally “free ride” under American protective umbrella. It saves the country money and deter rivals. That being said, in hindsight the Americans should not have left, as China has now started claiming an entire sea region and bullying Filipino and Vietnamese fishermen. China has also literally set up a military base within 200 nautical miles of Philippine exclusive economic zone without permission, which the international court deemed to be illegal.

      Many Filipinos changed their tune from “go home Yankees” to “Yankees come back! You should have stayed” because hindsight is 20/20. Right now, American soldiers are dripping back slowly to the Philippines since the Chinese military is still squatting.