http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=50979

Patrick Buchanan is a well known washington insider and political pundit. The link is to his latest article in which he basically takes the position that the U.S. militaryshould basically abandon the Korean Peninsula. Personnaly, I would hate to see it happen however there is growing support for this position today. The South Korean military is very strong today and it does beg a final answer to the question asked by many Americans, "Why is our military still there?"

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Turk Quid Pro Quo

I can agree with the sentiment that it is time to go, keeping contingency plans in place to respond. But careful reading of international news would highlight the dangers that lie ahead with a weak military presence in Korea and Japan (likely conclusion for future drawdowns). Japan and Korea are natural enemies. As South Korea's military strengthens, so must the Japanese feel a need to do the same.

The dynamics in this region are complex, and an arrogant American may believe that his presence can be the calm in the water.

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JIMMY JOE

The fact that basically nothing has happened here in 50 years - in spite of there being several rival nations with strong militaries who hate each others guts and have long histories of violence - is not a fluke.

I agree, it is by no means a fluke. It is American presense that has kept it stable. It has been said by some of the talking heads around washington dc that we have no national security interest in Korea. I strongly disagree with that viewpoint. Some of those talking heads need to stop viewing the world in terms of oil only. Our interest in Korea is not only strategic, it is one of keeping a commitment. Many think the cold war really did end and a few think is just changed its colors. I side on the changed its colors view and so I think its vital we maintain a strategic presence in the far east, Korea being the best place.

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Turk Quid Pro Quo

Pat's a trip alright and I can imagine that some others notiable folks feel the same, but are under the media radar at this time. Whatever the case maybe. If such a thing is to come to pass (abandoning the ROK) it need to be carefully thought out, very little to no political influence (I know that's asking too much here) and so forth. It may be a different story after the next ROK election. Following Pat's ideas would be, in my mind, dropping the ball. He should stick to his US border mantra since he can say 'I told you so'. Something that he's mentioned several times on C-SPAN now.

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BOOM, BOOM. Out goes the Lights

Pat has taken many notable positions on all the issues of his lifetime, some of which I have agreed with in the past. I think he is very wrong on this one. No matter the politics, we have been in Korea for so long that I think most of us who have connections to the land of the morning calm understand that the USA now has a moral obligation to stay there, unless the Korean population votes us out. Then we can abandon the moral imperitive and only react to future events as needed. Perhaps the country should put it to a vote.

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Turk Quid Pro Quo

Hopefully my point was taken as that I feel our presence has been the key.

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JIMMY JOE

You are right, our presence has been the key. The question posed by Buchanan's article is whether or not we need to maintain a presence on the peninsula itself or is a presence in the region good enough.

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Turk Quid Pro Quo

How would we go about a well balance pre-election dialog if this issue was on the ballot?

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BOOM, BOOM. Out goes the Lights

I wouldn't have the foggiest idea of how a fair and balanced debate of that would be accomplished in Korea. I doubt the powers that be would ever consider allowing it on the ballot, if they did and the people voted the US Military out then the Korean Politicians would not have it as an issue anymore. Take away that issue and they would actually have to do something about many other problems in the country that they haven't really had to pay a lot of attention to for fifty years. The Korean people would have to make sure they actually elect people to office who know what they are doing.

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Turk Quid Pro Quo