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| Axis of Evil |
| Roh maybe A.O.K. given enough Time and Knowledge |
| 2002-12-29 |
| President-elect Roh Moo-hyun appears to have reevaluated his policy toward the United States at a time when tension is escalating over North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. Now that he has been exposed to Privelaged Information about who's who. His cautious approach to the U.S. was evident Saturday when he called for restraint of the growing anti-U.S. sentiment sparked by the acquittal of two U.S. soldiers whose armored vehicle struck and killed two 13-year-old schoolgirls in June. The vehicle was in the middle of the convoy, at the age of Thirteen you would hope they had a little better luck at ducking thru traffic Recently, tens of thousands of protesters have held candlelight vigils across the country, including near the U.S. Embassy, and some of them have called for the withdrawal of the U.S. troops stationed here. These protest happen nightly here in the South Roh, who once called for the withdrawal of U.S. troops and equal relations between the two countries, seemed to have toned down his rhetoric. The president-elect appeared to have taken into account the fact that widespread anti-U.S. sentiment could deal a blow to cooperation between the two countries at a time when South Korea badly needs U.S. help to defuse the tension touched off by the North’s nuclear issue. His call for restraint also seems to have come in response to the anti-U.S. sentiment showing signs of causing a backlash from the U.S. Recently, some in the U.S. have called for the withdrawal of its military and taking military strikes against nuclear facilities in the North, and a boycott of South Korean cars. The former lawyer said he would first deal with North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons before seeking a revision of the controversial Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), the legal code governing the rights of the 37,000 U.S. soldiers stationed here. Roh’s move indicates he would play a leading role in resolving the nuclear issue by mediating between North Korea and the U.S. after dispelling concerns of the Bush administration about his U.S. policy. Roh has been accused by his detractors of being a radical and an anti-U.S. politician. Earlier, Roh, who has never visited the U.S., said he would not visit the country just to take photos with American politicians and that he would not kowtow to the U.S. Having repeatedly denounced Washington for its hawkish policy toward the North, Roh stressed he would keep intact outgoing President Kim Dae-jung’s policy of engaging the reclusive country, the opposite stance from that of U.S. President George W. Bush, who branded the North as part of an ``axis of evil,’’ together with Iran and Iraq. |
| Posted by:Richard |
| #6 Fine with me, Sarge: Our troops are there because of North Korea. Remove NK, and there's no need to spend money or keep troops there. A member of the Axis of Evil gone, and the troops are freed up to be reassigned elsewhere. I'm for it. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2002-12-30 08:09:15 |
| #5 Here's th ekicker: "He would first deal with North Korea’s development of nuclear weapons before seeking a revision of the controversial Status of Forces Agreement..." Gee, once we deal with the Chonger's nukes, there won't be a need for a SOFA, since there won't be a need for US troops to be in Korea, since there won't be a North Korea. |
| Posted by: theSarge 2002-12-29 23:01:11 |
| #4 historically the US has been willing to be the bad cop to the South Korean/Japanese good cop. They have to live in the region after all. We did the same in Europe. After a long enough period of time it seems that our allies lose grasp of the game and think that its their good cop role that is getting the progress and if only the bad cop would go away everything would be love and kisses. They miss the point that the bad cop is the only thing keeping them from war. |
| Posted by: ruprecht 2002-12-29 14:32:08 |
| #3 Unfortunately, the Koreas - like China and Japan - have absorbed a huge dose of Confucianism into their cultures. Confucianism dictates an almost religious devotion to stable, unified, and enduring social order. It puts it's entire value in the "group" at the expense of the individual, and individual rights. Basically, it's all about sucking up, and being beaten down. They have no appreciation for individuality, independent thinking or (individual) human rights. And they like it that way. That's why Japan is perfectly happy to sit there and let N.Kor build all the nukes they want. It would be far, far worse in their eyes to confront their neighbor. In their (obviously illogical) view, "Rocking the boat" would only make things worse. |
| Posted by: Scooter McGruder 2002-12-29 14:23:57 |
| #2 That was very well written Ed, I agree completly with your words. Its a pain in the bumm living down here and everyday I awake I wonder "Why am I here?". I'm ready to kick butt but these darn people down here are arsse backwards,.. |
| Posted by: Richard 2002-12-29 09:18:55 |
| #1 Like other politicians we could name, President-Elect Roh seems to wish to have his cake and eat it too. "Gee, guys, you didn't take me seriously did you? It was only local election stuff, local politics but you know how we love you!" And we didn't even get kissed. That the South Koreans chose to elect a politician who wishes them to face South then bend over and spread their cheeks is their right and their problem, not ours; we should remove our troops lest we inhibit their love life. The bitter pill here is that we must do something about the North Korean regime. It is obvious why they were included in the "Axis" and their nasty habit of exporting weapons to our enemies must be brought to an immediate halt before (at least we hope it's before) they begin to export WMD to the usual suspects. Sending this "problem" to the UN is an exercise in futility unless it is intended as another example of the absolute impotentency of the UN. Perhaps it is time to provide a reality check to those who oppose America and all we represent. We should also announce that failure of the UN to quickly resolve this problem will leave us no option but to provide complete assistance to Japan (should they wish it) in creation of a nuclear force to counter North Korea. China, South Korea and Russia seem to believe this is only an American problem which they can sit back and enjoy. Let us just place the logical conclusion to their actions on their plate and see how they enjoy the meal offered. The alternative of a nuclear Japan should focus the attention of those enjoying an "American" problem on the reality of the situation. And when the policy is announced, we can all blow a kiss to South Korea, China and Russia - let it never be said that we haven't learned the lessons of international diplomacy. |
| Posted by: edwardvt 2002-12-29 09:13:45 |