"I would recommend we start to redeploy out of South Korea. If this president or his party are reelected, we should be gone permanently.
South Korea can make its best deal with the North and with China, and they'll have to live with it. We've generally stood by countries that wanted to be free. But if, in their minds, we're the problem, then they are ready to leave the nest. Its time for us to back away and let them."
I agree. After we pull out of Korea announce to the world that Japan will be handling defense responsibilities in the region...then watch the Koreans react..heh heh.
Reminds me of the ploy we used when some militant Filipinos wanted us out of the Subic Bay naval base: "Do you REALLY want to see the Imperial Japanese Navy steaming down Surigao Strait again?" At that time, memories of Jap occupation were fresh and they clammed up. A few years later, they forgot - and we left.
Excellent idea. I wonder how long it would take Seoul to cave.
Taking our ball and going home is not a great military strategy unless you're sipping espresso on the Champs-Elysees. Theoretically, the Japanese could tell us the same thing. And then we'd have no presence whatsoever in the region if we employ your strategy.
We don't need to react like a bunch of hillbillies because the leader of South Korea is senile. We'll never have a military base this close to China again. To leave would be a disaster.