Also keep in mind these bases pump a TON of money back into the local economy:

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/06/30/12482964-bye-b...

"City officials in Heidelberg expect annual financial losses of up to $25 million, as a result of the closures of U.S. bases in the region."

"We estimate that a total of about 1,000 civilian jobs will be lost, when the nearly 8,000 service members pull out," said Diana Scharl, a spokesperson for the city of Heidelberg."

This is what makes the Dagger Complex so special: Usually, locals are very friendly to the US troops and the local dignitaries are devastated when they leave.

Not here. The NSA people are secretive, hostile and their activities are unpopular. I read an article in my local (!) newspaper recently, where people, among them the mayor of the nearest town, complained about the installation.

There's at least one person like you in every one of these threads, propagating the idea that money or economics makes injustice okay.

Who said anything about "okay"? It's an explanation for there being less protest then there might otherwise be.

What injustice? The Germans approve the bases. The US finds them useful. It's a mutually beneficial situation that both sides want to continue.

Do you not see the injustice!?! :^)

The Heidelberger mayor Eckart Würzner said he felt very sad about the departure of the US Army:

“After World War II no-one in Heidelberg knew the way into the future. The US Army worked to educate the young generation about how democracy works. It gave Heidelberg a perspective and helped the city get back on its feet and on its way to democracy,” he said.

He's right, and you can look at Eastern European countries to see what would've happened otherwise.

However, this isn't the Army we're talking about (obviously, they're leaving), but the NSA, whose mission is to gather intelligence to protect the US, so it's kinda funny that it uses bases smack in the middle of foreign countries...

A lot of former employees have been relocated to bases in Wiesbaden and Kaiserslautern, but you're right that there will be an economic downturn, a drop in petrol & energy consumption etc.

On the other hand, something very positive is that the 2.500 abandoned apartments will make some space in the horrendous housing shortage in Heidelberg. The regional authorities said it's short of 8000+ apartments to fulfill the needs of thousands of commuters and students. So this is seen as a relieve.

The 213 hectars open area can also be used for sport facilities, agricultural utilization, public green space or rooms for the "creative economy" as germans say.

Heidelberg is very stable economically speaking and will not struggle from the troops leaving in 2014. Excluding any friendships and romantic liaisons that might end, this is generally seen as positive by germans. My guess would be that the service members are also glad to be returning home.

For reference, a picture of the currently occupied space by the US in Heidelberg : http://i.imgur.com/TsZuTC8.jpg

Either the military is all about [insert alleged ideals and aims here], and then people would forego more lucrative options to do the right thing and work in the military sector; or it's not, and we should just stop the fucking charade. Maybe Smedley Butler is right, war is a racket, and the costs in lives and materials outweigh the benefits by far... how's that for an idea? It creates X jobs and destroys Y lives; so let's talk about both or neither.