Lowering Old Glory in South Korea

[ckramer]

SEOUL - The US flag has been lowered on more than a half-dozen deteriorating encampments for American soldiers who have kept armed vigil for more than five decades near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing South and North Korea.

The potential for conflict still looms: North Korea's nuclear-weapons and ballistic-missile programs seek to fortify the world's fifth-largest military. But US military policymakers are hoping improvements in weapons technology can replace boots on the ground needed elsewhere, and still keep the peace.

Before Iraq, South Korea was the only place where US M1A1 Abrams tanks kept their ammunition loaded on board in case of a sudden attack. But since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the US military has faced severe staff challenges, and it's not cost-effective to maintain relatively idle troops presiding over the Korean War armistice, signed in Panmunjom 52 years ago on July 27, 1953.

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[bemildred]

1. Eh, I guess the show has packed up it's tents and moved on. nt

[aMurder.com]

2. Gotta Make some room

The Iran war won't fight itself, you know. *sigh*

[jmowreader]

3. Right now I'm not worried

That's because right now is a shitty time for the North Koreans to invade South Korea.

Remember the old Team Spirit exercises, the ones the NKs went on high alert every year for? They weren't just so the 25th ID troops could buy mink blankets in Itaewon. We fortified South Korea at the optimal time for North Korea to invade--in March and early April.

In mid-March, Kim Jong Il may get a wild hair up his ass...and if he does, the Bush Doctrine will collapse. North Korea really has an army.