[USFK Forums] 'Historical Amnesia' Hurts Korea-US Alliance: Hillary

[C. Y. Lee]

[Uploaded by C. Y. Lee, Wednesday, October 26, 2005] A news article of the Korea Times follows:

`Historical Amnesia' Hurts Korea-US Alliance: Hillary

The Korea Times, Wednesday, October 26, 2005

By Reuben Staines Staff Reporter

Former U.S. First Lady Hillary Clinton said ``historical amnesia’’ among South Koreans about the important role the United States has played in supporting the country’s development is putting strain on their longstanding military alliance.

Clinton, a Democratic senator for New York, made the comment on Tuesday during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing for new appointees, including Gen. Burwell B. Bell, who is nominated to take over as commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).

Addressing recent signs of divergence between the wartime allies, Clinton said the relationship between the United States and South Korea is at a ``critical juncture.’’

She argued that the strain in their relationship is due partly to a shift in South Koreans’ ``understanding of the importance of our position there and what we have done over so many decades to provide them the freedom that they have enjoyed to develop the economy that is now providing so many benefits for South Koreans.’’

``I think there is a lack of understanding and a sense of historical amnesia,’’ Clinton told the hearing. She said both countries should seek to understand each other and recognize the importance of their alliance.

Anti-American sentiment has grown among South Koreans in recent years in parallel with a thawing of relations with communist North Korea. Some activists have recently called for the removal of a prominent statue of U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who in past decades was viewed by South Koreans as a hero for turning the tide in the 1950-53 Korean War.

On the diplomatic level, Seoul and Washington have also struggled to bridge differences of opinion over how to approach the North Korean nuclear crisis.

According to newspaper polls, many South Koreans now view the U.S. as a greater threat to the nation’s security than the communist North.

During the hearing, however, the nominee for the new USFK chief stressed that North Korea’s million-strong military remains a significant danger.

Bell said his role as commander would be to ensure close cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. so they are ready to respond to North Korean aggression.

``The ROK-U.S. alliance must be `ready to fight tonight’ due to the proximity and lethality of the threat,’’ the four-star general said.

Bell also said he will seek to develop USFK’s operational flexibility so it can work under the U.S. Pacific Command in regional conflicts.

``U.S. forces in the Asia-Pacific region should be stationed to provide sufficient flexibility to deploy forces to meet global contingency requirements,’’ he said. ``If confirmed, I will ensure that I fully understand the situation on the Korean Peninsula and of those regional actors so that I can provide my input.’’

rjs@koreatimes.co.kr

10-26-2005 17:28