An alternative title for this post is: End Times.

It is clear the US-SK alliance is undergoing one of those rare crisis moments.

There is a very real chance this period will see the end of USFK.

Because, there are some big ticket items that will continue to hang out there for 1 to 2 years ------ plenty of time for the dedicated anti-US groups to exploit them.

One article in the Chosun Daily mentioned the US warned it could take out all of its air force assets if Korea continued to deny adequate training time.

Protesting against US bases has long been a norm in the society -- using a variety of themes - Camp town prostitution, camp town GI crime, occupying prime real estate, having taken the land without permission, harming farmers, the environment, and so on --- but before 2000, for most of the people, it was pretty much just a way to vent a little frustration on something they thought would never leave even if SK demanded it.

That changed in 2000 when Korea's joy over the NK-SK Summit caused the society as a whole to jump on the anti-US bandwagon with the effort to close down the Koonni range in Maehyangri.

They jumped on it to such an extent they propelled the issue into a lasting legacy for the anti-US groups to use to reach deep into the minds of average Koreans.

Koonni and US training facilities in general became one of the long running, best hot button issues.

Efforts by the government to find a new location or make changes at Korean military sites for greater joint use have been successfully killed by too much of the mainstream society (and press) favoring the issue.

Also, since the anti-US civic groups saw that they were successful in drawing blood in 2000 ---- they push the issues harder than before.

-----And with the major relocation of much of USFK in the Land Partnership Plan --- that will take a few years to fully put into effect ----- there will be plenty of chances for the anti-US groups to strike.

Next, the Joongang Daily told us the latest in a series of talks with USFK has failed completely to define the environmental clean up USFK will do on bases it is turning over.

This is also a product, to a significant extent, of 2000.

The Great Water Dump of 2000 was another one in which average Korean society finally fully embraced something the anti-US groups had been trying to make an issue for a long time ----- how USFK has a total disregard for Koreans and their land by polluting it at will.

Just like Maehyangri and training areas, the evironmental destroying bastards theme has been one the anti-US groups regularly score points with in average Korean society and the press since 2000.

Part of the situation behind the failure to agree on clean up parameters is natural ---- South Korea's government should push for the best deal as should the US.

But, that was the same in 2000 --- because not only the NK-SK Summit led to greater anti-US demonstrations all around ---- but the SOFA revision that was taking place saw the Korean government use environmentalism as an issue in the press to put pressure on the US negociators.

The problem for the government --- by doing this ---- they supported very significantly anti-US groups whose primary concern is not getting a good deal out of the US, but in getting the US out of Korea.

Now, after helping blow environmental concerns all to hell out of proportion in 2000 ------ it is one of THE best selling items for the anti-US groups.

And again ------ for the next 2 years minimum ------- it is going to be R-I-P-E material for these groups ----

-----at a time when the US might be looking for a way out of Korea in the first place.

Next, in other news, the anti-US labor groups have stated several times they are going ahead with their trip to protest in the US -- over the FTA talks.

Those FTA talks will also go on for a year and more.

And bastard American trade pressure has already been one of the best selling items for the anti-US groups ------

----one where they find good enough support in the press --- and like the other issues already mentioned ---- find a good sized sympathetic ear in the masses.

Then ----- there is the clear, huge, gaping chasm in US and South Korean policy toward the North.

That will remain fertile ground for conflict without any help from anti-US groups from now on.

If the Roh presidency is replaced by the GNP conservatives -----

----it might lower the amount of damage divergent perceptions of national interests in regards to North Korea the US and SK have ----

but ---- again ----- since 2000 ------ too much of South Korean society has decided it likes entertaining this issue even if it strains the US-SK relationship.

The GNP will not "roll back" the Sunshine policy. It will be less generous than what we have seen since 1998, but it will not "get tough" on NK even if it wants to because of public opinion --- as it should since it is a democracy.

So, there is a limit to how much fence mending will take place even if Roh's type is replaced next year in the election.

And more importantly, probably, it is clear the Roh team is hell bent on holding a 2nd Korean summit ---

which means --- probably ---- even if they don't pull off a 2nd summit (before next year's presidential election) -----

----they are going to do what they can to win the North over to the idea ---

which will take words and deeds that will at times work counter to joint US-SK interests or cooperation.

So, again ---- something else that will be in place for a year and a half.

That is a lot of hot button --- big ticket --- items to have coming together for such an extended period.

It places the anti-US groups in a pretty favorable position.

They have a mega handicap -------

----being the fact the vast majority of Koreans don't want to lose USFK before it is safe to kick it out - which isn't now -------

but, if the US is thinking about getting out already ---- which they believe it very well might be ----

----they have so many things lined up for months and months ----

they can pick and choose their battles with ease.

And who knows ------ there is also always the X Factor ----

during this next two years ----

if some GI commits a horrible murder like the Markle case in 1993

or some huge accident happens like in 2002

or something else we can't well guess at now happens

that sets off a bomb in Korean society -----

we could see the groups gaining much support from regular Koreans.....

Fear of having to pay for the loss of USFK is and always has been ----

---the HUGE trump card in all things anti-US in Korea.

But ------- I think it is safe to say -----

there hasn't been a time perhaps since pre-1948

that things were so stacked up against seeing a continuation of the alliance.

And this isn't even discussing items from the US side -- about why it might be looking to get out.......