You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
China-Japan-Koreas
South Korean defence chief criticises US commander
2007-04-28
South Korea’s Defence Minister Kim Jang-Soo on Friday criticised the top US military commander in the country for “inappropriate” remarks about sharing the cost of American forces. In a US Senate hearing earlier this week, General BB Bell said the future of work to relocate US military bases could depend on whether South Korea is willing to pay a larger share. “Without more equitable allied SMA (Special Measures Agreement) funding, we may be forced to recommend a range of fiscal measures to the US government, including a review of base relocation and consolidation plans,” Bell said. Kim expressed regret at the comments. “It was inappropriate for the commander to talk about the possibility of reviewing the base relocation project that was agreed with the South Korean government,” he told reporters. Kim said Bell’s remarks appeared aimed more at seeking greater financial support from Washington, rather than targeting the Seoul authorities. “Nonetheless, it was inappropriate,” he said. The US has stationed tens of thousands of troops in South Korea since the end of the 1950-53 war to help it defend itself against North Korea’s 1.1 million-strong military.
Posted by:Fred

#12  Bingo, NS. Taiwan is far more appreciative of American efforts on its behalf.
Posted by: Zenster   2007-04-28 21:39  

#11  I'd rather keep Taiwan.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2007-04-28 16:24  

#10  Anyone think China will trade Korea for Taiwan?
Posted by: Perfesser   2007-04-28 16:11  

#9  All vestiges of US presence should have been removed 25 years ago. There is no reason to support having them there now. As for China, let's hope Bush is giving Abe the sniggering smile and pat on the back at Camp David and green lighting Japanese thermonuclear production now. This is what will keep Chinese in their place.
Posted by: Woozle Elmeter2970   2007-04-28 15:08  

#8   Japan wants us there as does SK for that reason only. We are there for that reason only.

And if we didn't have a US presence in SK, the Japanese would have done, what?
Posted by: mrp   2007-04-28 14:15  

#7  'Moose, they're doing that on their own quite nicely, thanks, without any encouragement from us. I think there is a stratum of logical thinking here that realizes how lucky South Korea is to have such a powerful ally with no designs on its territory (as opposed to two very close neighbors who have a history of occupying the country). However, they simply aren't being heeded by the current government, which is pushing anti-Americanism to the fore at every opportunity. One of the reasons there was so much concern here about a "backlash" against Koreans after the nutball at VT is because there would have been a HELL of a backlash here against white foreigners if something similar had happened. It probably wouldn't have been safe to be on the streets if you were white.
Posted by: Mac   2007-04-28 10:38  

#6  To get us out of SK but still on favorable terms, we should encourage the South to really get friendly with China, with an eye to persuading them that if Korea was unified under the South, it would be worth a huge fortune to China, and be no threat at all.

The US, for its part, could hope to keep naval base use in Pusan, with no forces on the peninsula.

This way, if the North collapsed, for whatever reason, then China would actually be relieved to have both a pesky North out of its hair, and to make billions of dollars with direct trade to the South.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2007-04-28 10:27  

#5  Nope to all - only reason we are there is CHINA and I don't mean the kiln-fired stuff. Japan wants us there as does SK for that reason only. We are there for that reason only.
Posted by: Jack is Back!   2007-04-28 08:53  

#4  I've long thought that the true purpose of the US garrison in SK was to prevent Japanese re-militarization. If we did pull out of the Korean peninsula 100%, what are the odds that the Japanese would start assembling nukes?
Posted by: mrp   2007-04-28 07:39  

#3  let em go on their own, ungrateful f*cks
Posted by: Frank G   2007-04-28 06:41  

#2  It's time for GWB to call Roh up and give it to him straight. Either support the fact that you have U.S. troops in your country, or ask for them to be removed. One or the other, and no waffling. Lose the "now we like you, now we don't" bullcrap. Speaking as someone living over her in SK, I don't know ONE American who thinks it's a good idea to have US troops in SK, and I'm tempted to agree with the majority. I think it probably is time to pull them out unless the Sorks really change their attitude. This is a pretty rich country, with a serious nationalist attitude. They don't appreciate what we're doing for them. We should "go Philippines" on them and leave. Let them pay to defend themselves and let us stop subsidizing their defense budget to the tune of 2/3 of the cost.
Posted by: Mac   2007-04-28 06:40  

#1  CNS > JAPAN TO DEBATE FUTURE PREEMPTIVE STRIKES AGZ NORTH KOREA.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2007-04-28 00:30  

00:00