Re: Forward basing
Had that in mind... but even a rapid deployment force needs a forward staging area. Existing bases on foreign soil provide that in many cases; Pournelle apparently would have us give that up, and replace ongoing leases with diplomatic hemming and hawing.
Speaking of the old Fulda Gap scenario - ever read a book called The Third World War? Written by a British general (forgot his name just now), and published about 5 years at most before the Wall came down. It would have made a good Avalon Hill game - and fortunately, that's all it ever will.