[Sabertooth]

[HumanaeVitae]

If the U.S. backs down on North Korea, every tin-pot dictator in the world will put the objective of obtaining a nuke on the front burner. 'That's the way you intimidate the Americans', they will rightly think.

We are entering some dangerous waters...thank God we've got competent people in command.

[headsonpikes]

DPRK, ROK, DMZ, SOF, ...I don't know

I'd say the North Koreans are about to be SOL.

[Centurion2000]

Whatever part of the Rainbow plan covers Korea we need to have that option number 7 right at the top of the list. Anything less invites massive chaos in Western and civilized lands.

[Riley]

Bump.

[gcruse]

There is nothing in the article pertaining to the nuclear mines that have been said to be deployed against a NK offensive. I wonder if that was all BS...?

[johnny7]

... might also try to conquer the entire peninsula...

They could do it in a week! ROK forces will fold and our people, 36,000... those who are left will be hostages.

They say we have 46,000 troops in Japan. Cannon fodder. They'll go in deaf, dumb and blind.

1950 all over again! Pusan perimeter at best.

The Chinee will back up her little buddy with whatever it needs.

Bush needs to strike and strike now. Send them a message... GET OUT OF DODGE!

[Uncle Miltie]

Amazing post, for which I thank you.

Does a casualty estimate come with this? It sounds like 2M casualties, 500K+ dead to me. And that before considering a nuke exchange.

JHFC. This is nasty stuff.

[Uncle Miltie]

From the same web-site:
---------------
Korea Crisis Countdown Timeline

The timing of possible military action by the United States against North Korea is highly uncertain. The most obvious forcing function would be a decision by North Korea to begin reprocessing spent fuel to extract more plutonium to fabricate additional nuclear weapons. If the North began reproccessing in January 2003, the United States would be faced with the possibility of military action against North Korean nuclear facilities prior to mid-year.

[mhking]

Bump for later study.

[Outlaw76]

Interesting post but I think this analysis might be a little dated.

The proposition of moving large numbers of troops and artillery over any stretch of ground without overwhelming air power is no longer a feasible approach. Defense in this day and time will be far less costly than offense in terms of resources and numbers. Unlike the last war in Korea, South Korean troops and a very large contingent of US troops are all ready present. Air power from within South Korea and externally in Japan and Okinawa is ready and mobile.

Without the heavy use of WMD's North Korea would stand no chance at all of success and the field of battle would be little more than a place to relive some of the population stress in North Korea.

If they use WMD's North Korea would be destroyed and China would turn her back completely. Pyongyang (sp?), Nampo, Sunchon, and Wonson and others in that region would be smoldering ruins in the first 48 hours we would begin to drive the peasants north and cut off what meager supplies there military has. Within three weeks there would be mass starvation in the southern part North Korea and the number of white flags will make you think we were fighting the French.

China will call for the peace treaty quickly due to an extreme refugee problem.

It’s not even our amazing technology that would bring it about, but darn near 50 years of planning, digging in learning the turf. Last time we didn’t know the terrain, we didn’t understand the tactics, we didn’t have time to prepare and we didn’t have the resources at hand. Last time we played games with who what and where we could attack, what hills we could hold etc… to appease the politicians of the day. A lot has changed in that time period. Still, lets hope it doesn’t come to it, many lives will be lost if it does - on both sides of the border.

[montag813]

Who gives a crap about South Korea? They all hate our guts there anyway. Let those commie bastard "students" who riot against us do the fighting and dying. Our "relationship" is a one way street. We build things there and give them jobs, we import Kia's and Hyundai's. They import oil from the Arabs, plastic crap from China, and nothing from us. Now this new punk ass "President" over there is pissed at us too. I say to hell with them. We can nuke the whole peninsula when its all over.

[InvisibleChurch]

do the nkoreans have food and fuel to run their army? do the soldiers even care? look for them to get their rear ends kicked by the US and skorean troops already there

[montag813]

North Korea has about 500 long-range artillery tubes within range of Seoul, double the levels of a the mid-1990s. The North Korean navy has also deployed 430 surface combatants and about 60 percent of some 90 submarine combat vessels near the front line in forward bases. With about 40 percent of its 790 fighter planes

Bill Clinton's 8 years in office produced the biggest vacation for thugs and terrorists the world has ever known. He permitted massive buildup in N Korea's armaments at the same time he cut ours to ribbons, while conducting Tailhook and Gays in the Military attacks on morale.

To paraphrase Manchurian Candidate, if Clinton were a paid Soviet agent, he could not possibly have done any more harm to the United States than what he accomplished. Damn him and his sycophant soccer mom supporters all to hell.

[eastforker]

This is BS.We would never allow this to happen,this is 1950'sh think.We would never allow NK to advance to SK.We have the ways and means to stop any NK advance.

[M Kehoe]

Decent analysis. I guess the time has come to cut off their food and oil. Let them eat plutonium.

5.56mm

[Jackie222]

I see a lot of activity moving away from US and into the gulf regions. Maybe this is a stupid question but.........what are we leaving around close by to defend our shores besides the missile defence system that maybe is still in trial?

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

It sounds like absent our use of the bomb that North Korea has a winner. Lets avoid a land war in Asia.