Lang, in his 1960 report, talks about the significance of American military bases abroad (in Korea, Japan, Philippines, etc.) and the necessity of them. He outlines the roles of the bases, such as serving as early warning, offensive capabilities, and deterrence. In addition he offers a rough timeframe as to how long certain bases need to stay operational, as well as which should stay open indefinitely if possible. Lang states that most military bases serve the purpose of stemming the spread of communism.
Since the end of WWII, the U.S. has established numerous military bases around the world. Lang indicates that it is important to maintain them and understand their purpose. He discusses why and how long some bases should stay active.
“From an overall view, one of the prime strategic advantages enjoyed by the United States over the USSR is the possibility of surrounding the Communist Bloc with combat forces — land, sea, and air – or of strategically positioning or shifting these forces wherever needed.” [p. 46]
This report was released to the Nautilus Institute under the US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).