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.
I got the impression from your previous comments that you only opposed those instances where the people we were defending were ungrateful whining appeasers. Thanks for the clarification.
I'd rather eat liver and onions for a month straight than forced to take another bite of kimchee.
Without a doubt, it's the most sickening dish around.
Truth is, South Korea is all that stands between North Korea and Japan.
I was under the impression there is some body of water ......?
Well, to me these other countries need to do that also. Assist them? Advise them? Give them aid? Yes, within reason on the aid thing. We have chosen many in the world that we thought were our friends, and they end up biting us on our fat @$$e$. We need to take a long, hard look at this throwing money at every stinking issue, both foreign and domestic, and put our money where it is going to do some good. Not go into someone's pocket or secret bank account. I just think the Koreans are capable of doing for themselves with our assistance, not us being on the front lines and them in reserve. The North Koreans are on the front line themselves these days. Are the SK's saying they are not equal? If you are not going to fight for your own freedom, do you deserve to be free?
"Let those anti-American protesters take up positions on the DMZ."
Great suggestion.
We can buy Japanese cars instead of Korean cars made in Iran or some place else as an added incentive.
"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.:-)"
Is that an ancient Korean Custom?
If so, maybe we can help arrange that some tough ROK Marines end up with one or two personal slaves.
This thread has more great replies for the S Koreans who hate us.
"After delivering the ultimatum he dropped on the table a recipe for 'bark soup' and walked out the door."
What would the USA lose if the North over ran the South after we left / made clear that we were not going to come to the Souths defense? I suspect pulling out could be good in the long run. It might get the South and or the Japanese to put more into defense and offset the growing threat from China. Anyone care to share some thoughts on this?
I can't share today. I'm watching my 4 year old grandson. He lets me have about 5 minutes every two hours to do what I want to on the computer.
Ping me in July sometime when something comes up.
"Any body know how to say "snivel"in SGook?"
mi-an-ham-ni-da
so velly velly sorry......close enough
Ummm.....
We lost 51,000 troops to fighting in Korea....
Over 500,000 Koreans died saving themselves from the Commies
You want to ask about price again, for freedom that is?
They know that price quite well....at least the last generation did...
I was talking in general terms. In ancient days, warriors were the top of food chain. They owned personal slaves naturally. Whiny losers are more useful as slaves, doing laundries, cooking foods, and gathering firewood, not as panicked cannon fodders.:-)
By the way, sorry to here that your grandson would not let you give little computer time. That is why I cannot see you here as often as it used to. Too bad, I hope you get your own computer soon.
Okay, no more posting without pictures.
Cabbage and garlic? Are you sure she isn't German? /joke
"By the way, sorry to here that your grandson would not let you give little computer time. That is why I cannot see you here as often as it used to. Too bad, I hope you get your own computer soon."
The little guy is back home now, and I have my computer back. Also, every 5 minutes, when he is here, "Papa, I need help. Papa, come here. Papa fix this. No complaints that is the reality.
This trip he came in my office when I was checking a spread sheet on our ETF funds. He knows his alphabet and numbers at age 4. He hadn't seen decimal points, $ signs and % signs. So we discussed these. About 20 times yesterday, he want to see the "signs" yesterday.
His Dad picked him up yesterday evening and we all went out to dinner. He took the menu and showed his Dad $ signs and decimal points. Then he wanted to know why there were no % signs. His Dad couldn't believe he knew what any of the 3 were. I told him to put all 3 of them down in different places and ask him to point to each one. So our son used the kids's placemat with the crayons given to him.
He got every one right.
They always do.
You sure?---I think you just ordered Kim Chee.---
South Korea has too many infiltrators and agitators from North Korea.
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