S8 Ep669: GUEST: JUDY DEMPSEY (5) HEADLINE: Judy Dempsey Explains the Vital Role of US Bases in Germany (6) SUMMARY: Judy Dempsey addresses populist calls for US troop withdrawal, emphasizing that the current German coalition views bases like Ramstein as essential.
The John Batchelor Show
John Batchelor
4.5 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 31 March 2026
⏱️ 2 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
HEADLINE: Judy Dempsey Explains the Vital Role of US Bases in Germany (6)
SUMMARY: Judy Dempsey addresses populist calls for US troop withdrawal, emphasizing that the current Germancoalition views bases like Ramstein as essential. These installations remain the political and military heartland of America's European presence. (7)
1922 RHINELAND PALATINATE
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | This is John Batchel, conversation with my colleague Judy Dempsey of the Carnegie Endowment of International Peace. |
| 0:05.9 | She's in Berlin about the proposal or the remark by leadership of AFD, the rising populist party in the Bundestag and in Germany, |
| 0:16.5 | that America has to get out of Germany when it's in charge of the Bundestag. Something like that. |
| 0:21.8 | Americans out. |
| 0:23.5 | Judy answers in detail about how that will not happen under the present government of the coalition and the Bundestag. |
| 0:31.1 | And what it would mean to Germany if it did happen. |
| 0:33.8 | Here's Judy Dempsey to describe the Americans in Germany. |
| 0:39.0 | All of them. |
| 0:42.8 | More tonight. |
| 0:44.7 | Well, first of all, the governing coalition led by Chancellor Friedrich Merth, |
| 0:51.3 | who heads the Conservative Christian Democratic Union Party |
| 0:54.0 | and the Social |
| 0:54.8 | Democrats' Coalition Party, they're not saying Americans out. And they wouldn't even mention |
| 1:01.6 | the word closing the big Ramstein US base. This US base, by the way, is absolutely central |
| 1:08.5 | to US operations in Africa. |
| 1:18.8 | And it's central as a convalescent medical station for injured soldiers, |
| 1:22.6 | whether they're coming back from the Middle East or anywhere else. And thirdly, this is the political, psychological, military heartland of America's presence in Europe. |
| 1:31.6 | And German politicians just know how crucial it is. |
| 1:34.8 | You don't touch this. |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from John Batchelor, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of John Batchelor and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.