Posted on 02/12/2018 2:57:33 PM PST by SeekAndFind
There are many reasons why the U.S. government is in the red. One of the most important is because Washington insists on defending so many of its prosperous and populous allies around the world. They are the international version of Ronald Reagan's famed "welfare queens."
This year Uncle Sam is spending $3.8 trillion. Upward of $1.65 trillion of that will be borrowed, an incredible 40% or more. About $700 billion is going to the military, twice as much in real terms as just a decade ago.
[SNIP]
In the early years the ROK would not have survived without American military support. But by the 1980s the South was pulling away economically from the misnamed Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The latter was a militarized wreck unable to feed its people; in the late 1990s a half million or perhaps more North Koreans starved to death.
Today the ROK economy ranks around number 13 in the world. The South boasts successful hi-tech industries, is known for its construction work and auto production, and is one of the world's top trading nations. South Korea also has twice the North's population as well as an overwhelming diplomatic edge.
In contrast, the DPRK is an economic disaster, again stalked by hunger. Pyongyang has defaulted on its international debts. It has nothing to offer other nations: in fact, the North recently went to Third World states begging for food assistance. Aid agencies are predicting that North Korea will run out of food in just a couple of months. Both China and Russia now have far greater economic ties with Seoul than with their one-time communist ally.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
Why Are U.S. Troops Still In Korea?
Because there’s a war on and we’re signatories to the armistice??
To keep China and NK from running over SK.
because North Korea wants them out ,LOL
RE: Because there’s a war on and we’re signatories to the armistice??
Can’t we re-negotiate this?
RE: To keep China and NK from running over SK.
The article argues that SK is 30 times richer than NK and is more technologically superior. She can easily develop their own weapons to counter NK.
And the good Doctor has a bingo !
“The article argues that SK is 30 times richer than NK and is more technologically superior. She can easily develop their own weapons to counter NK.”
If it weren’t for the US, the south might have already re-unified the peninsula under their own terms. A funny thing that commies/media don’t get is that the unification flag at the Olympics is a win for the South. The South WANTS reunification. They see the citizens of the north as living in captivity.
Because it’s easier to keep 30,000 of them there day to day than to have to ship 300,000 over in a hurry?
How’s this for a solution to the N. Korea problem. They are apparently justifying their nuke program because they are aftraid the US will attack them.
Let’s agree to remove our 28,000 troops with the proviso that we give S. Korea two nukes for every one that N. Korea has.
China and Russia ought to be real interested in that and work harder to get the peninsula denuclearized.
RE: If it weren’t for the US, the south might have already re-unified the peninsula under their own terms.
IOW, You agree with Pat Buchanan, we should find a way to get the heck out of there as soon as possible?
We are entangled in a UN treaty agreement or something.
RE: Let’s agree to remove our 28,000 troops with the proviso that we give S. Korea two nukes for every one that N. Korea has.
Will the Sokors agree to this? And by Sokors, I mean the CITIZENS of the South.
We are also in effect agreeing to let South Korea develop their own nukes?
“RE: If it weren’t for the US, the south might have already re-unified the peninsula under their own terms.
IOW, You agree with Pat Buchanan, we should find a way to get the heck out of there as soon as possible?”
No. There are many 2nd and 3rd order consequences of letting the south go it alone, even though the could! Not the least of which is the proliferation of all of KJU’s WMDs of all sorts.
You received a correct answer that was brief and to the point.
You then responded as if the most relevant portion of that answer had been left out.
You really need to stay away from subjects entirely beyond your grasp and you have made it clear that Asian military matters are one of those subjects for you.
Better yet, why are American troops still in Germany?
Now that one was worth asking.
SK has had 60+ years to figure out how to defend their country. If they weren’t interested in doing it then tough luck.
Bring my tax money back home! Stop taxing me to defend a nation that can defend itself!
South Korea spends roughly THREE TIMES the North's entire GDP on defense.
South Korea has twice the population of North Korea.
South Korea has an economy roughly 40x larger than North Korea.
Yet American taxpayers have been duped to think we have to borrow money from overseas to protect South Korea from North Korea.
“Better yet, why are American troops still in Germany?”
Yeah, you’ve got me there! :)
You guys all know how treaties and international agreements hold more weight than US law. I’m not sure what the arrangement is in Europe. But in Korea, it’s a common misperception that we’re the provocateurs (because that’s what KJU says maybe?), but in fact our presence prevents war, prevents proliferation, and stabilizes the region. The Koreans are fantastic military and economic allies. Although, it can be quite expensive for sure.
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