Thousands of troops to leave Europe
Baku, January 15 (AZERTAC). Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Thursday the Army will withdraw two combat brigades from Europe as part of a broad reorienting of U.S. forces and instead rotate units in and out of the region, presumably from U.S. bases, Associated Press reports.
Panetta made the comment to a Defense Department news service whose representative was traveling with him to Fort Bliss.
Panetta told the Armed Forces Press Service on board his plane that the Army will do more rotational movement of combat forces not only in Europe but also in Africa and Latin America. "It will keep the ground forces very meaningful in the future," he was quoted as saying.
Last week, the Pentagon announced a new defense strategy to accommodate hundreds of billions of dollars in budget cuts over the coming decade. At the time, Panetta said that the military will get smaller and that its presence in Europe would "evolve." But he declined then to discuss what that would mean for the long-standing U.S. presence in Europe. A combat brigade typically consists of 3,000 to 4,000 soldiers.
Later, Panetta addressed about 500 soldiers and their family members at the sprawling Fort Bliss Army post, ensuring them that their benefits will not be affected by the announced budget cuts to the military.
