OVERSEAS BASE REALIGNMENT AND CLOSURE COALITION
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 EXPERTS' LETTER

Launch Event
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LETTER PDF
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Transpartisan Letter on Closing U.S. Military Bases Abroad
to Save Money & Improve National & International Security

 
November 29, 2018
 
Dear President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis, Members of Congress,
 
The undersigned represent a broad group of military analysts, scholars, advocates, and other military base experts from across the political spectrum who support closing U.S. military bases overseas. As a result of a forward deployment strategy that dates to the first years of the Cold War, the United States today maintains approximately 800 base sites in around 80 foreign countries. The rest of the world’s nations together have fewer than 80 foreign bases.
 
The signatories have different ideas about how many bases to close but find broad agreement about the following nine reasons to begin closing foreign bases and improve national and international security in the process:
 
1. Overseas bases cost taxpayers billions every year. It costs an average of $10,000-$40,000 more per year to station military personnel on overseas bases compared to domestic bases. The country spends an estimated $51.5 billion annually to build and run bases abroad—at a time when the national debt exceeds $21 trillion and domestic infrastructure is crumbling.
 
2. Overseas bases are now largely obsolete thanks to technological advancements. Because of advances in air and sealift and other military technology, rapid response forces can deploy to virtually any region fast enough to be based in the continental United States. The development of extremely accurate intermediate- and long-range ballistic missiles also makes overseas bases vulnerable to asymmetric attacks that are very difficult to defend against. In northeast Asia, for example, more than 90 percent of U.S. air facilities are in high-threat areas.
 
3. Overseas bases entangle the U.S. in wars. Bases dotting the globe fuel hyper-interventionist foreign policy by making war look like an easy solution while offering targets for militants.
 
4. Overseas bases increase military tension. Rather than deterring adversaries, U.S. bases can exacerbate security threats by antagonizing other countries into greater military spending and aggression. Russia, for example, justifies its interventions in Georgia and Ukraine by pointing to encroaching U.S. bases in Eastern Europe. China feels encircled by the more than 250 U.S. bases in the region, leading to a more assertive policy in the South China Sea.
 
5. Overseas bases support dictators and repressive, undemocratic regimes. Scores of U.S. bases are in more than 40 authoritarian and less-than-democratic countries, including Bahrain, Turkey, Thailand, and Niger. These bases are a sign of support for governments implicated in murder, torture, suppressing democratic rights, oppressing women and minorities, and other human rights abuses. Far from spreading democracy, bases abroad often block the spread of democracy.
 
6. Overseas bases cause blowback. In the Middle East in particular, U.S. bases and troops have provoked terrorist threats, radicalization, and anti-American propaganda. Bases near Muslim holy sites in Saudi Arabia were a major recruiting tool for al-Qaeda.
 
7. Overseas bases damage the environment. Bases abroad have a long track record of damaging local environments as a result of toxic leaks, accidents, the dumping of hazardous materials, and base construction.
 
8. Overseas bases damage America’s international reputation and generate protest. Because people tend not to like their land occupied by foreign militaries, it’s unsurprising that bases abroad generate some degree of opposition almost everywhere they’re found (causing problems for the military). Crimes by military personnel, including rapes and murders, and deadly accidents also damage America’s reputation and generate protest. Bases in colonized U.S. territories perpetuate their diminished sovereignty and 2nd class citizenship. 
 
9. Overseas bases are bad for families. Deployments overseas can separate military personnel from their families for months and years, damaging relationships. Even when families enjoy the opportunity to accompany military personnel abroad, frequent moves are disruptive to the careers, schooling, and lives of spouses and children.
 
Compared to closing domestic bases, closing overseas bases is easy. Presidents George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush closed hundreds of unnecessary bases in Europe and Asia. The Trump administration can do the same. This would mean bringing home thousands of personnel and family members who would contribute to the domestic economy.
 
In the interest of national, global, and fiscal security, we urge President Trump and Secretary Mattis, supported by Congress, to begin a process to close bases overseas and relocate military personnel and families to domestic bases, where there is well-documented excess capacity.
 
 
Sincerely,
 
Affiliations are for identification purposes only.

Gordon Adams, Professor Emeritus, School of International Service, American University
 
Christine Ahn, Founder and International Coordinator, Women Cross DMZ
 
Noam Chomsky, Laureate Professor of Linguistics, Agnese Nelms Haury Chair, University of
Arizona/Professor Emeritus Massachusetts Institute of Technology
 
Andrew Bacevich, Professor Emeritus of International Relations and History, Boston University,
Colonel, US Army (Ret.)

Medea Benjamin, Author and Co-director, CODEPINK for Peace
 
Phyllis Bennis, Director, New Internationalism Project, Institute for Policy Studies
 
Hon. Kerry Bentivolio, 113th US Congress (2013-15)/US Army (Ret.)
 
Leah Bolger, Commander, US Navy (Ret.)/Chair, World Beyond War
 
Ivan Eland, Director, Center on Peace and Liberty, The Lighthouse Institute
 
Cynthia Enloe, Research Professor, Political Science, Clark University
 
John Feffer, Director, Foreign Policy in Focus, Institute for Policy Studies
 
Irene Gendzier, Professor Emeritus, Political Science, Boston University
 
Joseph Gerson, President, Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security
 
Eugene Gholz, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Notre Dame
 
William Hartung, Director, Arms and Security Project, Center for International Policy
 
David C. Hendrickson, Professor of Political Science, Colorado College
 
Patrick Hiller, Executive Director, War Prevention Initiative
 
Amy Holmes, Associate Professor, American University in Cairo/Visiting Scholar, Harvard
University
 
Kyle Kajihiro, Ph.D. Candidate, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa/Hawaiʻi Peace and Justice 
 
Gwyn Kirk, Women for Genuine Security
 
Kate Kizer, Policy Director, Win Without War
 
Lawrence Korb, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower Installations and Logistics
 
Lindsay Koshgarian, Program Director, National Priorities Project
 
Peter Kuznick, Professor of History and Director, Nuclear Studies Institute, American University
 
Major General Dennis Laich, US Army (Ret.)/Executive Director, The All-Volunteer Force Forum

John Lindsay-Poland, Coordinator, Stop US Arms to Mexico Project/Global Exchange
 
Catherine Lutz, Thomas J. Watson, Jr. Family Professor of Anthropology and International
Studies, The Watson Institute and Department of Anthropology, Brown University
 
Kevin Martin, President, Peace Action
 
Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director, Policy and Political Affairs, Peace Action
 
Satoko Oka Norimatsu, Editor, Asia-Pacific Journal: Japan Focus
 
Miriam Pemberton, Associate Fellow, Institute for Policy Studies
 
Elaine Scarry, Cabot Professor of Aesthetics, Harvard University
 
Mark Selden, Senior Research Associate, East Asia Program, Cornell University
 
Mandy Smithberger, Director, Straus Military Reform Project, Center for Defense Information,
Project on Government Oversight
 
Del Spurlock, Former General Counsel and Assistant Secretary of the US Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs
 
David Swanson, Coalition Against U.S. Foreign Military Bases/Director, World BEYOND War
 

John Tierney, Former Member of Congress (1997-2015)/Executive Director, Council for a Livable World, Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation
​

David Vine, Professor of Anthropology, American University
 
Allan Vogel, Director, Foreign Policy Alliance, Inc.
 
Lawrence B. Wilkerson, Colonel, US Army (Ret.)/Former Chief of Staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell/Visiting Professor of Government and Public Policy, College of William and Mary
 
Ann Wright, Colonel US Army (Ret.)/Former Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassies in Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Micronesia, and Mongolia

 
THE ABOVE INDIVIDUALS WERE THE ORIGINAL 41 EXPERTS WHO SIGNED THE OBRACC LETTER. AFTER THE OFFICIAL NOVEMBER 29, 2018, RELEASE OF THE LETTER, OBRACC OPENED THE LIST OF SIGNATORIES TO ANY INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION WISHING TO SIGN. NEW SIGNATORIES ARE BELOW. 

C. Douglas Lummis, Visiting Professor, Okinawa Christian University/Coordinator, Veterans For Peace Ryukyu/Okinawa Chapter Kokusai
David McReynolds, Former chair. War Resisters International
Ellen-Rae Cachola, Ph.D. Hawai'i Peace and Justice
Gerry Condon, President, VETERANS FOR PEACE
Gordon Fellman, Brandeis University
Jeffrey Larson, Treasurer, Republican Liberty Caucus/Secretary, Foreign Policy Alliance
Jerald P. Ross, Treasurer, Campaign for Peace Disarmament and Common Security/Massachusetts Peace Action
Joan Ecklein, Emerita Professor of Sociology, University of Massachusetts
John Lamperti, Professor of Mathematics, Emeritus, Dartmouth College
Joseph Marcinkowski, Vice President, Foreign Policy Alliance
Louis Kampf, Professor Emeritus of Humanities, MIT
Mark Solomon, Professor Emeritus, Simmons College
Michael True, Emeritus Professor, Assumption College
Nydia Leaf, Granny Peace Brigade, NYC
Paul Shannon, Board member, Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security
Peace Action New York State (via Jim Anderson, President)
Steve Leeper, Executive Director, Peace Culture Village, Miyoshi, Japan
Aaron Hopes, Ph.D. Student, Department of Anthropology, Stanford University, USA
Daniel McVety, Owner, Japan Corea China Carolina
Erin Jones, Independent Researcher
Nancy Martin
Reverend Kil Sang Yoon
Marie Jean, Chair Chagos Refugees Group UK
Ellen E. Barfield, Former National V.P. and Baltimore Chapter Founder, Veterans For Peace
Lindis Percy, Co-Founder of the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases - CAAB UK 
Ted Clausen
Robert Desdner
Stephen Daly
Johnathan Boyne
Hernan Sierra  
Stan Banos
Leon Robert,  Activist
Gary Thaler Activist, Unaffiliated
Arthur Heiserman Adjunct Professor, Columbia University, New York,  New York
Theresa Evans
Jamilah Elder
Rex Payne, Attorney at Law
Jared Crawford, Audit the Pentagon
George F Klipfel II, CLS
Catherine Fontanazza
Paul Whitson CEO, Cypress Healthcare
Marie Jean
Greg Collins
Maude Rith
Michael Friedman
Ann Rogers, Co-chair Northern Mi Environmental Action Council
Abdelkarim Benothman, co-founder of Islamic Center of Hawthorne
Lindis Percy,  Co-Founder of the Campaign for the Accountability of  Americam Bases - CAAB UK
Caryn Cowin
Linda Murphy
Philip Origlio
Rodney Reiswig
Jon Anderholm, Director
Karen Jacques
Ibrook Tower
Suzanne Kirby
Marlene Dick
Karen Wilson
David Cavallo
Jodi Rodar
Paul Haider
Paul Haider
Genie Silver
Susan Armistead, M.D.
Eli Hegeman
Alison Guzman
Herb Kline
Claire M. Cohen
Claire M. Cohen
William 'Skip' Dykoski
Dorothy Lynn Brooks
Mei Mei Miriyam Sanford
Emily Moran
Honey Friedman
Joan Wilson
Kathleen Ervin
Ellen E Barfield, Former Ntl VP, Baltimore Chapter Founder Veterans For Peace
Stephen Daly
Nancy Brown
Sara DuBois
Erin Jones, independent researcher
Angela McClendon
Todd Snyder
Evelyn Mc Mullen
Eric Steele
Shirley Obeya
Peter Franklin Davis Leverett‚ Äôs MA Peaceworks Now Group
Aliaa Abdel-Gawad
Luke Shamrock
Kristen Schupp
Honorable Tiffany Snyder, Mayor Ward, Colorado(Ret.)
Noenoe Barney-Campbell Campbell
Barry Ingber Member, War Resisters League, MA Peace Action, Jewish Voice for Peace
Nicole Renee Peters
Riley Brannian
Hayley Patterson
Ted Clausen
Frank Waters
Alistair Smith
John Conner
Thomas Lutgens
Mark Weinsoft
Gerry Milliken
Brent Rocks
michael salzmann
Wilson Sproehnle
Frank Sennett
Steve Overton
Robert Schuessler
probyn gregory
Thomas Holley
James Brown
Jon Singleton
Ivan Olsen
Scott Flood
Thomas Askjellerud
Omar Boumali
Nehemiah Hankins
Ronald and Deidre Brown
Jonathan Boyne
John Boncek
Larry Taylor
Mark Vendel
Jeffrey Johnson
Ken Rosen
Dennis Schaef
Michael Halloran
Richard Medlock
Richard Johnson
John Thayer
Jerry Rukavina
Obie Hunt
Nick Hammer
F Robert Wesley
F Robert Wesley
Daniel O'Brien
Vic Calderon
Robert Wallace
Perry Adler
John McKenzie
Joseph M Gaffney
Glenn Yutzy
Richard Wojtowicz
Karl Koessel
Christopher Dowling
Dewey Jackson
Robert Blumenthal
Ethan Hastings
Steve C. Dennis
Fredric Hefter
Antonio Lorenzoni
Erik LaRue
David Olson
David Olson
Matt Geer
Frank Wissler
D H
Lee Hutchings
Dave Frank
Brent Endicott
Dave Frank
D. Frank
Nate Hildebrand
Bharat Adarkar
Alex Fierro-Clarke
Brad Jolly
Derek Benedict
Derek Benedict
Phil Goldsmith
Jack Stansfield
Fred Koster
Jim Loveland
John Martin
Carl Meyer
Thomas Rogers
Ray Wager
Martin Horwitz
Michael Quinn
Hal Pillinger
David Morrison
Querido Galdo
Ed Rivera
Tom Clark Jr
Raleigh Brecht
Dustin Brown
Rob Milburn
Michael Ahern
David Muro
Van Rookhuyzen
Gary Bennett
Walter Schultz
Barry Shook
Brandon Morrow
Evan Throop
Kevin Hancock
Ian Nolan
Lorraine Michek
Nancy Matthews
Helen Curtis
Gilia Humrich
Geralyn Leannah
Andrea Bonnett
JEANNIE FINLAY-KOCHANKOWSKI
Ana Mallett
Stephanie Mory
Linda Hardy
Iku Fujimatsu
Valerie Crawford
Diane Riley
Elke Hoppenbrouwers
Linda Moore
Joan Day
Diane Pierce
Aileen McEvoy
Elizabeth Davis
Ellen Wasfi
Katherine Wright
Maria Baum
heather Schlaff
Cindy Cirran
Helen Richardson
Connie Raper
Mary Ann Jones
Mary Cutrera
Bea Momsen
Karyn Barry
Karen Toyohara
Marci Spencer
Linda Montanero
Theeesa Davella
Lisa Stone
Kathi Ridgway
Lily Beaumont
Cindy Risvold
Mary Cato
Ellen Madsen
Patricia Beaman
Nancy Burge
Sheryl Benning
Graciela Huth
Denise Zemer
Inge Ferdusch
Alice McCarley
Sarah Younger
Joan Glasser
Margaret Wilbur
Janet Tice
Carmela Sudano
Libby Sosa
Tania Malven
Pam Ferman
SYLVANA ARGUELLO
Concepcion Keenan
Sharon Longyear
Sharon Hobrock
Caryn Graves
Florence Buckley
LONNA RICHMOND
Irene Radke
Audrey Frank
Robyn Pape
L.L. Dored
Victoria Urias
Jamilah Elder
Cynthia Owen
Elaine Heathcoat
Andrea Bertram
Ellen HOMSEY
Marianne Follingstad
Elaine Hultengren
Robyn Class
JL Angell
Diane Fager
Katherine Robertson
Elaine Fenton
Pamela Guyon
Irene Dobrzanski
Hilary Young
Susan Babbitt
Kathy Bradley
Michela Colosimo
Kiristin Harvey
RoseMaria Root
Patricia Fleetwood
Claudia Reed
Barbara Harper
Sharon Byers
Dee Sands
Ellie Maldonado
Oceana Free
Stephanie Sarich
Joanne Oleksiak
Melissa Howell
Kristin Arioli
JOYCE SHIFFRIN
Shaun Griguts
Tenaya Egbert
Kevin Lindemann
D. Robinson
Jill Manske
daniel burval
Douglas Stevenson
Stacy Grossman
Michael Kast
Christopher Lish
Ann Dorsey
Patricia Pierce
Olga Jimenez
Nancy Martin
Frank Evelhoch II
Mary Kupetz-Gardner
James Scheid
Michael Grant White
Kathe Garbrick
Linda Artiaga
Mara Obelcz
Janet Hoover
Mary L De Luca MD
Ryan W.
Jeffrey Hurwitz
Janet Kennington
Patrick McIntosh
Kevin Gallagher
Brant Kotch
sofia okolowicz
Gwenna Weshinskey
O'Neill Louchard
william haegele
Anthony Zammikiel
Terry Dycus
Denise Romesburg
Paula Summers
Kathleen SEWRIGHT
Patrick McIntosh
John Webb, North Coast People's Alliance
Heidi Klein
Patricia Agdan
Daniel McVety
Karen Ball, Pax Christi USA
Linda Groetzinger, Peace Task Force, UUs For Social Justice, Chicago Area
Suzanne James
Aaron Hopes, Ph.D. Candidate, Anthropology, Stanford University, US
Laureen Nussbaum, PhD Member of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility
Kil Sang Yoon, (Reverend) President, Korean American National Coordinating Council
Joan Bowers
Wayne Ott, Prof.
Joseph Fashing, Prof. Emeritus, Purchase College
Susan Phillips, Public Citizen
Taran Green, Public Health Nurse
Timothy Havel, Research Staff, MIT
Joan Lancourt
Alice Littlefield
Walter Ramsey, Retired BioChemist and Microbiologist 
Mary Devereaux, Retired teacher 
Roberto Zagha
Joshua Angelus
Mark Meeks, Rev. Captiol Heights Presbyterian Church
Edward Kern, Rev. Dr.,  ELCA Pastor
Carol Rudisill, Reverend
J.T. Smith, Reverend
Adam Martin
Lois Jordan
Nancy Chismar
Dianne Maughan, Sierra Club
Paulissa Jirik
Denise Curry
Michele Hines Sole officer, MD PSC
Cally Guasti
Alec Vandenberg
Ellen Koivisto
Jutta Goble
Michael Miller, The Nation
Ryan Nelson, The Apple Tree
Roberta Stern, Therapists for Peace & Justice
Gary Thaler, Unaffiliated Activist
Daniel Venzon, Veteran For Peace
John Chadwick, Veterans For Peace
John Spitzberg, Veterans For Peace, Past President, Chapter 099 and Past President, Asheville Homeless Networl
Barb DiPipi, Volunteer
Alice Slater World BEYOND War, Board Member
Hani Ibrahim, writer



Citations for facts in the letter can be found in the OBRACC fact sheet, which is available here. 
Watch and share the launch event video on Vimeo.

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  • HOME
  • Drawdown Report
  • Experts' Positions
    • Letter to Trump
    • Letter to Biden
    • No New US Bases in the Philippines
  • FOR MEDIA
  • FACT SHEET
  • RESOURCES
    • Protect the Marianas
    • Overseas Bases Report in FY2020 NDAA
    • Letter 2018
    • es/de/fr/It/Sh/
  • CONTACT