Pentagon move troops on world chessboard

South Koreans have what might be described as a love-hate relationship with U.S. troops that have been stationed in the country since the end of hostilities between South Korean and North Korea half a century ago.

For the most part, older South Koreans remember the effort of U.S. soldiers during the Korean War and appreciate the stability those troops still provide. But younger South Koreans tend to favor conciliation with the north through mediation. Thousands of young South Koreans have joined massive protests in recent years aimed at getting U.S. troops to leave.

Now the Pentagon has announced that it is moving its 37,000 troops stationed near the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas to positions farther south. U.S. military officials say the repositioning will give the troops more flexibility to respond to flare-ups. South Koreans who live near the DMZ, however, say the move will decrease their protection from a military invasion from by North Korea.

The troop shuffling in South Korea is part of a worldwide effort by U.S. officials to put troops where they are needed the most, including some new posts in eastern Europe.

Last month, the U.S. withdrew its troops from Saudi Arabia. This year, there is talk of moving most of the 70,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany out of that country, which has been occupied by U.S. forces since the end of World War II.

While moving the troops to where they are needed the most helps achieve U.S. objectives, there is also an impact on local economies where U.S. troops have been part of the landscape.

In South Korea, shopkeepers and merchants who cater to U.S. troops stationed at the DMZ worry about their economic future.

In Germany, U.S. military installations have provided a major economic boost that will be sorely missed. The mayors of 13 German cities that benefit from U.S. troops are in Washington this week pleading for the Pentagon to maintain the status quo.

The impact in Germany is increased by the fact that many servicemen and women stationed there live with their spouses and children, all of whom contribute to the local economy. And these military personnel are usually posted for stays that last several years. Under the Pentagon's new vision for stationing troops outside the United States, troops would be sent for six-month rotations, and their families would not be permitted to go along.

Military readiness is much more than new weapons and computer-age technology. As world politics shift, so must the ability of the United States to respond in ways that protect its interests, and the interests of its allies, around the globe.

The lessons of recent military involvement by U.S. troops underscore the fact that mobility -- and being in the right place when needed -- are the foundation of a successful operation.