More U.S. Soldiers Assaulted (in South Korea): Choson Ilbo Report

The Choson Ilbo Daily (Seoul) ^ | 20 December 2002 | Yu Yong-Won (Reporter)

[pawdoggie]

Let's pull our men and women out of South Korea and let the North Koreans assault the South Koreans.

As Americans we don't allow the actions of a few misguided dingbats to stereotype the entire people of South Korea (any more than Sean Penn's actions characterize the attitude of the American people toward Saddam and Iraq). I was in Seoul recently when a group of "Yankee Go Home" student demonstrators passed through a bus station. They were ignored by the Koreans waiting for their commuter buses. I should add that the student demonstrators, who recognized my party as Americans (active and former GIs all) were polite to us.

[BlueLancer]

Speaking as one who did three tours to Korea .. 80, 88, and 93 .. I saw the public opinion turning against the US. The old people, for the most part, remember that it was the US military that kept them free for the last 60 years. The young ones believe that the US military is in the way of the peaceful reunification of Korea and believe that it is the good will of the North that has given them peace.

Sometimes, like any child, you just have to let him stick the nail into the light socket ... nothing else, no amount of lecturing, reminders, or history will convince them of their danger.

In this case, I would say that it's time to let the teaching begin. After all, it isn't as if the North is going to get much advantage out of the ruins that will be left in the South after such an invasion. Let the blood flow ...let's see if the anti-American college students can hold back the tide of advancing North Korean tanks with signs and chants of peace and brotherhood.

It's time that the lesson that a bloodbath will teach be learned again.

[Constitutional Patriot]

Good idea, I second the motion.

[JustAnAmerican]

"The US elected Clinton! Maybe we should just disarm since a few in the US are against the military. You have no clue.

Looks like I have more of a clue then you do. What sort of statement are you trying to make? Last time I checked the USA was the USA whereas Korea is Korea, trying to equate a foreign country with the USA is absurd at best. Or are you suggesting that the defense of another country who is mostly Anti-American is ok, even if our troops get treated like crap? And if you bothered to check, Clinton(in my book he does not even deserve the "President" label) got elected by a minority of the Americans, whereas from all reports Korea's next leader was elected by a majority of Koreans.

[cinFLA]

What sort of statement are you trying to make?

That you are agreeing with the communist propaganda from Korea so you must also agree with the communist propaganda in the US.

[WatchNKorea]

"The 8th Army is seriously concerned with the series of attacks targeting US soldiers stationed in Korea, and is reportedly preparing..."

What the 8th Army should be preparing to do is - to pull out of South Korea and let them worry about the twin light-water nuclear reactors that Bill Clinton *Gave* to North Korea.

[WatchNKorea]

Your #24 - are the sentiments of most of Americans I'd bet. bttt

[eastforker]

You are so right!I was there from 73-75,Camp Casey and tongduchon.Quite a few crossings.A friend of mine was shot dead in the motorpool while on gaurd duty one week before he was to return to the states with his Korean wife.Speculation at the time was that he confronted an infiltrator.

[Bikers4Bush]

Nope, I'm supporting our troops. Communism is dying, it's a slow death but it's a death all the same.

[JustAnAmerican]

"That you are agreeing with the communist propaganda from Korea so you must also agree with the communist propaganda in the US."

Oh, I see, since I care more for America, Americans and our troops overseas you think its because I believe communist Propoganda?. Guess that means most "Americans" excluding you of course, are Communists in your mind huh? Don't you think you would feel more at home at DU?.

Please tell us "Oh enlightened one", what do you think we should do in the face of Anti-Americanism by the majority of a foreign population who Americans risk their lives to keep safe? Why don't you give us a good reason for wanting American solders to put life and limb at risk in Korea?

[cinFLA]

Don't you think you would feel more at home at DU?.

Beg your pardon? I am not the one that is agreeing with the communist protestors!

[JustAnAmerican]

"Beg your pardon? I am not the one that is agreeing with the communist protestors!

Tsk, Tsk, seems you always avoid answering any questions, just lots of blame game. Try answering some of the questions put forth to you instead of doing the ole "Baiting" routine. Or are you taking a Page from the Demoncraps. The only other post from you I will answer is one where you answer the questions put forth to you, instead of the typical "Baiting game" to try and divert attention from the matter at hand.

[Crowcreek]

Red Flag -- for later reading . . .

[Man of the Right]

The media has formed a feedback loop with the NKPA: the zips do it, the media reports it.

Two reactions to the story: 1) the armed forces can defend themselves, and 2) when I was in the army, I was verbally assaulted 10 times a day.

Now's not the time to do it, but a review of the U.S. deployment to the ROK is a decade overdue. I question whether it makes sense to deploy an army headquarters, an infantry division and an air force to the ROK a half-century after the Korean War. The ROKs are more than capable of defending themselves.

[Lopeover]

BRING OUR SERVICE PEOPLE HOME! NOW! LET THE SOUTH KOREAN'S GUARD THEIR OWN BORDER!

[AmericanInTokyo]

We are both adults. We can sit down and see what their grievances are. Find out some common ground. Confirm the fortification an independence of their own forces, phaseout/pullback of ours, implement a standing contingency plan to bomb the crap out of North Korea from other bases in the Pacific with B-2, B-117s, cruise missiles, predators, & what not if North Korea creates any problems. But as far as having 37,000 US men and women there on the ground at the apex of the hot tripwire, perhaps that era should come to an end.

Do the Pentagon planners in this Administration have any cogent plan for "Koreanization"?

I doubt it. I think they still are stuck in the 1950s and want to continue to run it as a vassal state in that frozen context.

Is there any wonder that we face a backlash and resentment when the country we protect grows up but is still kept suckling on our defense teat, as we do in condescending to the Republic of Korea (by now an adult that can and should be on its own).

[Man of the Right]

I agree totally with your post.

In '50 & '53 South Korea was one of the poorest and most anarchic countries in the world -- the Afghanistan of its day. Today, it's a top 10 trading nation and a top 20 economy. We act like it's July, 1953.

[1rudeboy]

Well done, and a far sight from your #16. I have no problem with those that are opposed to our overseas deployments for economic or strategic reasons. It is the political, i.e., "a Burundi broke wind in the presence of U.S. Marines, therefore we should bring our troops home" line-of-argument with which I have an objection. It is the worst of knee-jerk reactions, and hopelessly transparent. If one objects to overseas deployments, fine. But don't use leftist agitators as a prop.

[AmericanInTokyo]

"In '50 & '53 South Korea was one of the poorest and most anarchic countries in the world -- the Afghanistan of its day. Today, it's a top 10 trading nation and a top 20 economy. We act like it's July, 1953."

Further proof of what you say. It is a modern country, and yet we often treat it like (in US public policy or in the personal behavior of some individual GIs offbase) as some kind of 'third-world backwater colony'.

It 'ain't your uncle's South Korea anymore' (here are some good examples, at Inchon International Airport and elsewhere in Korea). Folks who haven't been back in 10-20-30 years ought to take another look. Might be surprised.........