South Koreans Have Had Enough Engagement - Have a big reality check

Captain's Quarters ^

[kingu]

When I was in Korea in the late '80's there were still plenty of Koreans that would come up to an American and thank them for stopping the Communists. It was only in those years that the South Korean economy surged to the point where they could prevail over the north. The South Korean Army was plenty aggressive, but remember that the North Koreans have 1 million men under arms - a million!

One million men under arms... And this means, what? That North Korea will march everyone to the border and proceed to walk south? Raiding people's homes for food, since they don't presently have the infrastructure to maintain supply lines?

We provided an incredibly valuable service. But like everything, there comes a time for things to end. Us guarding the DMZ is past prime. They can handle the job themselves.

[BubbaHeel]

It's too bad that no leader in this country will ever have Truman's stomach.

Shame that Truman didn't have it, either.

[garjog]

"It's too bad that no leader in this country will ever have Truman's stomach."

We have the most powerful military in the history of the world, but it looks like one or more of our cities will be toasted by nukes before we actually use it.

Then we we will be able to elect a leader like Truman who has the will to protect our people by any means necessary.

[sgtyork]

Half a century of having some other nation guarding your border because you won't do it yourself? Yell yes, I'd be pissed at my government and the government of the troops.

We provided an incredibly valuable service. But like everything, there comes a time for things to end. Us guarding the DMZ is past prime. They can handle the job themselves.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I can agree with the second statement, could not the first. Where else in the world was there ever an alliance where two nations stood together so well for so long? All things change, but our valuable service - and their commitment to their defense - should be honored.

[claudiustg]

I fully agree with your assessment. To think that the PRK can take and hold ground on the pennisula is ridiculous. They need the nukes for blackmail and hard currency.

I can't believe the number of people here that favor a cut and run policy. South Korean is one of our best friends in the world. We're not going to better our position in the world by throwing our friends under the bus.

[ModelBreaker]

In less than a week since North Korea claimed to have tested a nuclear weapon, public opinion in the South has turned sharply against a South Korean policy of engaging the enemy in the belief it will eventually bring peace on the divided peninsula.

It'll last for a few months. Then they'll be back to hating us. Democracies have the attention span of a gnat and think that wishing on a star is the proper way to set public policy.

[ccmay]

This is good news. The South Koreans' attitude towards the North was a major obstacle to dealing with Kim as he deserves.

The other major obstacle will not change as quickly, unfortunately, and that is the accident of geography that has millions of South Koreans in Seoul living within artillery range of the North. Tough question. They are basically hostages. The North would attack Seoul if we took any action against them, even a naval blockade, or began to evacuate the city.

-ccm

[Axhandle]

I think you're overlooking this.

[parisa]

Even President Roh acknowledges that the test has neutered his policy, but that realization comes too late to undo the damage.

Why do we ALWAYS have to wait until it's too late to undo the damage???

[PGalt]

Great editorial from Captain's Quarters. Interesting thread. Thanks.

[justshutupandtakeit]

You act as though those lunatics use reason and logic and therefore when reason says not to invade or try they won't.
I wish I shared your optimism.

[justshutupandtakeit]

"It isn't personal, Sonny. It's business."

[Neidermeyer]

I think a decapitation would work in this instance ,,, they have no Air Force or Navy and at best 1980's Soviet air defenses... so what if they have a million man army ,,, they're not in the army for love of "dear leader" ,, they're in the army because they want to eat more than one meal of rice and bugs a day... AC-130's A10's and B-52's with bomblets will stop any advance by an unsupported ground force... after all the war there isn't over we just called a time out 50 years ago..

[justshutupandtakeit]

There is no doubt that we would slaughter the NKs but there is also no doubt that there would be enormous death and destruction meted out to the SKs.