U.S. bases abroad are walled enclaves of plenty amid surrounding poverty

Evidence

The contrast between the base and its surrounding landscape was dramatic. Amid fields of peaches, apricots, and grapes, the base was ringed by a razor-wire-topped fence, security cameras, and motion detectors. Inside, there were perfectly ordered roads, large swaths of manicured and lavishly watered grass, shaded picnic areas and barbecue pits, children’s playgrounds, skate parks, pools, neat apartment blocks, and row upon row of parking. The only signs of anything out of order at this gated community were trash bins overflowing with garbage spilling onto the ground. — David Vine, Base Nation_ How U.S. Military Bases…, 320

Categorization

Category: Factual Claims

• XREF: Connects to the fortress-enclave pattern of U.S. bases described in earlier chapters of this book and to the reader’s interest in bases harming host countries by insulating Americans from local conditions.

Related

• US military bases abroad can be isolated enclaves of affluence contrasting with local poverty (similarity 0.90)
• The Guantánamo prison occupies only a tiny fraction of the base (similarity 0.83)
• Overseas bases operate as insulated self-contained American towns (similarity 0.82)
• Modest base acreage nonetheless gave the U.S. global reach (similarity 0.82)
• Bases expanded American power far beyond the small territory they occupy. (similarity 0.81)
• The U.S. holds more foreign bases than any empire in history (similarity 0.81)
• Overseas bases lock the U.S. into a permanently militarized, less-secure society. (similarity 0.81)
• The U.S. base network exceeds any prior empire’s footprint (similarity 0.81)
• Bases provide hosts mostly low-wage local jobs while higher-skilled work goes to Americans. (similarity 0.80)
• The reciprocal scenario of foreign bases in America is unthinkable (similarity 0.80)
• Analyzing overseas bases reveals America’s economy runs on continuous war preparations. (similarity 0.80)
• By 1900 the U.S. had an overseas base network rivaling European colonial powers (similarity 0.80)
• The U.S. military network has expanded geographically despite closing giant Cold War bases (similarity 0.80)
• Base closures show no measurable harm to surrounding community economies (similarity 0.80)
• Bases occupy valuable urban and beachfront land worldwide (similarity 0.80)