Phasing Out US Forces in South Korea

[American Patriot]

Phasing Out US Forces in South Korea
RealClearPolitics/Yahoo ^ | July 28, 2006 | Richard Halloran

Despite North Korea's missile rattling on the Fourth of July, the United States is moving ahead quietly with plans to reduce American forces in South Korea beyond levels already set.

Today, U.S. forces in Korea number 29,500, of which 15,000 are in the Second Infantry Division and 10,000 in the Seventh Air Force. The rest are in logistics, communications, and intelligence, and small Navy and Marine Corps units. The Pentagon has announced that those forces will be cut to 25,000 by September 2008.

Now under consideration is a further reduction to a small token force or possibly a total withdrawal sometime after 2008. As a senior U.S. military officer, pointing to the U.S. commander in Korea, General B.B. Bell, said: "Bell's mission is to turn out the lights in South Korea."

The reasons for the coming phaseout:

* The U.S. Army and Air Force are stretched thin because of Iraq and Afghanistan. All U.S. forces elsewhere must be prepared to respond to contingencies now unseen. Some U.S. troops from Korea have already served in Iraq and more are likely to deploy there as that conflict goes on.

* The South Koreans are able to defend themselves with minimal help from the U.S. if North Korea attacks. "They are very capable," said Admiral William Fallon, commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific, "I believe quite capable of providing for the defense of that country."

* Anti-Americanism is rampant in Korea, starting with President Roh Moo Hyun. An expert at the Congressional Research Service (CRS), Larry Niksch, reported last week: "Polls have shown majorities or substantial pluralities of South Koreans in favor of the withdrawal of U.S. forces."

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[Malsua]

Why weren't we out of there 4 years ago?

-Mal

[American Patriot]

Because we supported South Korea in a war against the Communist Chinese who used North Korea as their proxy, then later helped attack Americans in South Korea at the 33rd parallel.

My dad was there. Two purple hearts and some other medals.

The North and South have never stopped the fight. It's been ongoing since 1953 or so. The North wants to absorb the south, in much the same way as China wishes to reabsorb Taiwan.

I don't think either will happen unless the US falls.


Rick

[Brian Baldwin]

It's mostly the younger generation there that want America out. The older generation is still well aware and very supportive of our help. The big question is do we care anymore what happens to South Korea when we have bigger fish to fry right now. We all know that eventually the South and North will unite but it won't be as fantastic a reunion as either side believes. (imagine West and East Germany squared to the nth power).

[Malsua]

After 9/11 ALL troops in SK/Japan/Germany and any other place not overrun by Moos should have been recalled home and re-dispatched to Moo zones and run their boots up the ass of any moo who even whispered something bad about uncle Sam.