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| China-Japan-Koreas | |
| Korea-US: Swan song for an alliance | |
| 2006-09-19 | |
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #14 Feel sorry for my Marine uncle now dying of cancer who had to fight his way out of Chosun while trying to save these folk. Perhaps in the end they are too low infantile to have been worth the efforts of him and his Marines. |
| Posted by: 3dc 2006-09-19 23:34 |
| #13 And not 1 cent in aid when it all comes crashing down on them. |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2006-09-19 22:51 |
| #12 I thought we said OK, they wanted 2012 and we said 2009 and they got their knickers in a twist. Who says Kimmee's even going to be alive by their election? |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2006-09-19 22:50 |
| #11 We should have pulled out in the early 90s. South Korea is a democracy and a fairly wealthy one at that. They don't need us and if Clinton had foresight he would have given them a few years notice before pulling back. Then we started bribing the Kim kids in the North and withdrawal with face became difficult. Missed opportunity. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2006-09-19 13:52 |
| #10 I hope we get our troops out of there before Kim sends his starving millions to pillage the South. Then the SKs can see how they enjoy a life free of the "Damn Yankees". Al |
| Posted by: frozen al 2006-09-19 10:45 |
| #9 Re: #5 - LOL, SS. |
| Posted by: flyover 2006-09-19 10:01 |
| #8 The SKors already pay for most of their defense. Remember, they have a capable army. Plus they pay part of the upkeep for the American forces there. So money-wise it wouldn't be that big a hit to them if they needed to upgrade their military after our departure. |
| Posted by: Steve White 2006-09-19 09:57 |
| #7 Pull the troops, sell your Hyundai stock, and don't buy a Korean car unless you don't care about getting parts. |
| Posted by: Perfesser 2006-09-19 09:44 |
| #6 Throw us out? Why would they do that, they will have to pay to protect themselves then. And money is one thing that those little guys understand in no uncertain terms. I think you are looking at it wrong if you think we may get thrown out. They should be worried that we will leave. |
| Posted by: Spaviting Slaviger8729 2006-09-19 09:16 |
| #5 Goodbye and thanks for all the fish! Oh, and enjoyed the thunderruns through Tongduchon. Short time or overnight :) |
| Posted by: Snineger Spavitle5395 2006-09-19 09:13 |
| #4 I'm not holding my breath. But if they do throw us out, it will be interesting to see what happens. Countries that throw the Americans out do not necessarily have great track records. Think France, the Philippines, and to a large extent Germany. Making the barbaric Aemrican occupiers the focus of attention may be a good way to distract attention from domestic problems, but it does not solve those problems. American troops are not always good neighbors, but throwing them all out will either increase defence costs or reduce security. And why alienate the world's largest market? For what? And the Japanese will not watch the eviction of the Americans without response. That would ultimately be the stengthening of Abe's hand in the depacification and remilitarization of Japan. Though there's lots of hand wringing in the Military-Industrial Complex about the growth of the Chinese military, it would be mooted in a year by the transformation of the Japanese self-defence forces into a robust military. This is something for China to consider well as they continue to prop up Kimmie. Likewise, markets could shun South Korean exports, particularly durable goods such as automobiles, due to the increased political risk of Korean sourced parts as well as anti-Korean reactions in the U. S. and possibly Japan. All-in-all a very irrational policy. No wonder it may be adopted by the Koreans. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-09-19 07:36 |
| #3 What's the exit strategy from Korea? |
| Posted by: doc 2006-09-19 06:48 |
| #2 I have read articles by Lee before. I think he is overstating the threat to US security. SK has been acting foolishly for a while. It is good for us that their foolishness is now disentangling us from them. |
| Posted by: JAB 2006-09-19 00:53 |
| #1 Good. Can we have a few months to move our stuff to Pusan and ship it out before we whack Kimmie. Seriously, pulling out of SK is the most aggressive thing we can do to the Norks. Once our 'hostages' -- as one SK lawmaker referred to our troops -- are off the peninsula, we can pursue a policy vs. the North that is independent of the corrupt "Sunshine Policy." |
| Posted by: JAB 2006-09-19 00:44 |