David Vine (Island of Shame) spent six years researching Base Nation, visiting more than 60 bases in 12 countries and territories, studying their history, and interviewing military authorities and local inhabitants. He is convinced that, as of 2015, this network of foreign bases does much more harm than good to U.S. national security and the U.S. economy.
Vine calculates that foreign bases, not including those in war zones, cost the U.S. between $72 billion and $120 billion each year. Meanwhile, improved transportation has made it unnecessary to keep so many troops stationed abroad. He describes how bases strain military families, encourage prostitution and human trafficking, damage the environment and contribute to military tensions rather than keeping the peace. He shows that they have harmed foreign relations over decades as the U.S. forcibly removed local populations, collaborated with dictators and organized crime, and maintained colonial relationships with many host nations in direct contradiction of its stated goal to spread democracy.
However, Vine says that the tide is beginning to turn. "The tremendous costs of maintaining such an unparalleled collection of bases abroad have made closing foreign bases one of the rare ideas that draw support from across the political spectrum." He recommends greater Congressional control of military spending, closing of most bases and annual reviews for those remaining. "We have a chance today to make the investments in transportation, science, education, entrepreneurship, energy and housing that have been neglected while trillions of dollars have been poured into unnecessary wars and military bases abroad." --Sara Catterall