Posted on 06/09/2005 3:30:37 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Thursday June 9, 4:41 PM
A U.S. defense official paid a secret visit to Seoul this week and told his South Korean counterparts that Washington might withdraw its troops if the two sides continue to disagree on various bilateral issues, local media reported Thursday.
South Korea's Foreign Ministry acknowledged the visit by U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Richard Lawless, but refused to disclose what was discussed during his meetings Monday and Tuesday.
Local newspapers reported that Lawless said Washington might have to withdraw its troops if Seoul keeps disagreeing on a range of issues, including Pentagon plans for its forces to be more flexible and potentially operate across the region. The reports in the Hankyoreh and Munhwa dailies, along with various Internet media, cited South Korean defense officials and diplomats.
The Foreign Ministry dismissed the media reports as "not being in line with the trend of close cooperation between (South) Korea and the United States."
While not directly refuting the reported comments by Lawless, the ministry said in a statement that "the Korea-U.S. alliance is not so weak that it could be swayed by comments from one or two officials."
The reports come on the eve of a Friday meeting in Washington between U.S. President George W. Bush and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun where the two leaders are aiming to patch up strains in their alliance over differences in dealing with North Korea.
Roh has previously expressed concern that plans for U.S. troops here to be a more flexible force might unwillingly embroil South Korea in regional conflicts.
About 32,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty. Washington plans to cut down the number to about 24,500 in coming years as part of a worldwide redeployment of its forces.
Bush --> Roh, "Are you with us or against us?" (at the summit on June 10th)
Wow. Some read.
bttt
Whining cannon fodders? That would be tough to manage. Assign them as personal slaves to front-line combat troops. It is an ancient practice, but it is fair.:-)
Secretly, huh?
It was.:-)
Just order them to go over to the North Korean lines so they can tell them we mean them no harm.
He thinks whining and appeasing will keep him safe from the madman in charge of North Korea.
Ironically, displaying that kind of weakness is more likely to make South Korea less safe.
Jake
Good! Pull the troops until they beg for us to come back.
About damn time. South Koreans cannot keep taking positions against us if our GIs are guarding their appeasing butts.
Schroeder used that tactic for re-election and his days are numbered as increasingly German's are unhappy with his leadership.
the price of Korean steel and cars will go up as they face the facts that occured in Germany- your good life is the result of ourn (US military and taxpayer) protection and help in building your economy - now you must pay the same price we paid to bring the communists into your way of life. Someone has to pay and we have paid enough - your turn!!
On the plus side, maybe we could use the troops to protect OUR borders for a change.
"On the plus side, maybe we could use the troops to protect OUR borders for a change"
No way. Everyone has the right to come to America. It's not fair that we keep the place just to ourselves.
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