I thought it might help to explain where my mind is coming from to mention this since it does not relate to anti-US culture in Korea.

I got just as pissed off about the situation the Korean government put its soldiers in when it sent them to Pyongtaek without adequate training, equipment, or riot police backup - as I do the situation the US government has put USFK members in Korean society.

It isn't right to put them in a losing situation, and it was easy to set up a better situation.

The riot police are trained and experienced in these situations.

The regular army soldiers are not.

I don't like the idea of putting people in a position where they don't have the training, tools, or authority to deal with the situation.

It is putting people in a bad situation and hoping for the best.

(My second attempt to post after the change in servers.) My last one failed.
I'm not sure what you mean about Korean Soldiers- You know all they do is train. I figure going down and letting the farmers whack them with bamboo poles is more realistic training than fighting among themselves!

I haven't seen any molotov ****tails and other weapons used in the last year in protests.
It does seem that they are not allowed to really fight back. And the women protesters are now being subdued and handcuffed and dragged by police women. That is a good move. The females representing the farmers are looking to be bloodied by soldiers or police so they can scream brutality and get more photo coverage. I read some farmers will be allowed to hang around for a while. Maybe because of the law that if a crop is planted, it will be allowed to be harvested. I don't know.
The Korean govt remembers the Kwangju incident, and doesn't want to be violent against citizens protesting legally. I think they are meeting their goal.

usinkorea, care to elaborate more on this part? Do you mean that they send the majority to Korea with out giving them training on language & culture. Or do you mean sticking them in a situtation simular to Pyongtaek where no matter what they do it will be taken the wrong way?

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Just my humble opinion!

Don't worry ! everythings will work fine.
S.Korea is still weak. So, we need USFK.

I disagree, I think South Korea has made great strides in both economic and military ability. I do not think that if USFK were to go away that Korea could not survive, but a certain sector may have to find a new scape goat. As far as Korean Politics go Park Jung Hee's daughter has become a very powerful force.

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Just my humble opinion!