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Korea
Pentagon almost through review process of restructuring US forces
2003-03-07
Rumsfeld said Army Gen. Leon LaPorte, commander of U.S. forces in South Korea, and others are considering ways to realign American forces on the Korea Peninsula, noting the location of U.S. forces in South Korea and in Europe is a leftover from the Cold War. "We still have a lot of forces in Korea arranged very far forward where it's intrusive in their lives and where they really aren't very flexible or usable for other things," Rumsfeld said.
Now that we have to watch our backs, as well as our fronts, we're not really in such a good spot, now are we?
Rumsfeld said South Korea possesses an economy probably 25 to 35 times greater than North Korea's, adding that the South Koreans have "all the capability in the world of providing the kind of up-front deterrent that's needed."
Pay for it yourself, you ungrateful brats. Now that you mention it, there's a big pile of money that could be better spent somewhere that we aren't right smack in the middle of a freaking mess. Hmmm...glad you pointed that out.
Rodong Sinmun is gonna hate it that Rumsfeld was impolite enough to point out that next to SKor, NKor ain't squat...
"And I suspect that what we'll do is we'll end up making some adjustments there," Rumsfeld said. "Whether the forces would come home ... move farther south on the peninsula or ... move to some neighboring ... are being sorted out. The same thing's true with our forces in Western Europe."
You don't like us, fine, we don't like you much anymore either
Rumsfeld said U.S. officials are consulting with the South Korean government ahead of making a final decision. New South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun has asked the United States to study the bilateral relationship. The presence of American troops has become increasingly controversial.
And their withdrawl will become even more controversial for you, ya Mooh-hyun!
White House and defense officials last month said the United States was considering shifts in global military deployments, including the thousands of U.S. troops in Europe. About 70,000 of the nearly 110,000 U.S. troops in Europe are in Germany, a vocal foe of a possible U.S.-led war against Iraq.
We have some NEW Europe friends that we'd rather play with now.
Having 110,000 troops in Europe is ridiculous, ten years after the end of the Cold War...
Rumsfeld did not state when a decision would be made, but said the Pentagon is "almost through the process of looking at our force structure" around the world. He added that whatever changes would not change that "we are engaged in the world (and) we care about assisting our friends and allies."
That would be our real allies, not our pretend ones.
Posted by:Becky

#7  According to the times, it looks like the SKs are getting nervous and insisting that we move no troops. If he's bluffing, its gotten their attention.

Money quote from a key ingrate legislator:
"American troops are something like hostages to attack by North Korea," said Mr. Song. "Maybe this kind of action means some kind of signal for a pre-emptive strike against North Korea."

Ironic given that SK has spent the last few years insisting on having a policy on NK independent from us. Be careful what you ask for.
Posted by: JAB   2003-03-07 15:46:00  

#6  Rumsfeld said South Korea possesses an economy probably 25 to 35 times greater than North Korea's, adding that the South Koreans have "all the capability in the world of providing the kind of up-front deterrent that's needed."

*snickers* What Rummie mean by "up front deterrent" is obviously "YOU take the brunt of the initial wave, and after you've worn it down a bit, we'll be along to mop up the mess."

Taiwan would LOVE to have our troops. Guaranteed. Let's move 1000 there RIGHT NOW, and see Mainland Red China's reaction...
Posted by: Ptah   2003-03-07 15:23:26  

#5  When those bases close and the neighborhoods around them dry up due to lost GI dollars, then they'll cry that it's our fault that they are broke.
Posted by: Rocky   2003-03-07 12:09:04  

#4  That would surely bunch their undies! haha I'd like to see that. "No no! Perhaps you were better off on the Korean peninsula?"
Posted by: RW   2003-03-07 12:03:26  

#3  Do you think China would be happy if we pulled our troops from South Korea? Perhaps they would show a little more interest in what North Korea is doing if there was the possibility that the troops pulled from SK would going to Taiwan.
Posted by: Anonymous   2003-03-07 11:47:28  

#2  Let's all remember that when Americans expanded westward, the military installations and forts followed. As each territory and state was absorbed into the fabric of contemporary civilization, the military was uprooted from old forts and moved along to where their attention was needed. There was just as much squawking when the government contracts and money went with them in the old west as you hear today. It's just that it is the world and not the continental US anymore. No need to have the military stationed among a horde of sod busters who have no appearent threat to them.
Posted by: Don   2003-03-07 11:47:21  

#1  He could be blowing smoke. Let's see if we get some attitude adjustment from the SK's if they really DO think we're thinking about leaving. And if we do leave Kimmie can shove his 2 nukes up his
ass. His main target just went off the board.
Posted by: tu3031   2003-03-07 11:02:52  

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