How's a 50 year military presence in Iraq sound to ya? Just like S. Korea?

[bigtree]

Bush envisions U.S. presence in Iraq like S.Korea

Reuters
Wednesday, May 30, 2007; 11:00 AM

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush would like to see a lengthy U.S. troop presence in Iraq like the one in South Korea to provide stability but not in a frontline combat role, the White House said on Wednesday.

The United States has had thousands of U.S. troops in South Korea to guard against a North Korean invasion for 50 years.

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/30/AR2007053000712_pf.html

[lpbk2713]

1. How about Cuba as another example?

We've been there for over a hundred years. And for the last fifty years it has been against their wishes.

[bigtree]

3. If we had our troops in Havana propping up a puppet regime I'd agree

It is a wonder though

[Squatch]

2. But serving in the ROK is fun!

Just FYI

[AllegroRondo]

5. I cant remember my year there

it must have been good.

Seriously, theres a BIG difference between Korea and Iraq. In Korea, we have had a stable government that supports us being there, with its own competent military and defense forces. How many US soldiers have died in Korea since the cease fire? Not very many - I remember the "tree cutting" incident, but thats about it.

In Iraq, we have almost NO support from the local government, a populace that wants us OUT, and an Iraqi military that is ineffective at best, and working for Shia militants at worst.

In Korea, the locals want us there in case NK invades. In Iraq, the locals want us GONE so they can get on with their civil war.

[Squatch]

7. I miss the KATUSA snackbars

and Obi beer.

Fond memories: I nearly got arrested in Pusan because I refused to pay the bar tab that a drinky drinky girl rang up and charged to me. I stepped onto Camp Hialeah as the Korean police pulled up to the front gate...

[TwilightGardener]

9. "drinky drinky girl"--that the same as "juicy girl"? My husband used to

talk about those gals ("You buy me drinky?") during his year over there (Kunsan).

[AllegroRondo]

11. yup.

most bars that cater to American GIs have them. basically, you buy the girl a drink for $5-10 (she gets a cut), and she sits and talks with you for 15 minutes or so while you drink.

[AllegroRondo]

10. The KATUSA places had the best food!

we had a little one at Camp Red Cloud that had the BEST chabche bap. And CHEAP too.

OB beer - eww! mine always tasted like formaldehyde. At least we were able to get Foster's on post.

[Squatch]

13. That's what we said about the Soju.

Truly vile stuff.

I got hooked on the yaki mandu that the ageema's would bring out to you in the field.

I remember doing a dismounted movement to contact at night. Here we are, an entire company of infantry snooping and pooping through the Korean night. We would hear a rumble of an engine behind us...when we stopped, it stopped. Finally, the CO walks back a couple hundred yards to investigate and finds out that an ageema was following us with her little Hyundai truck...she asked him for a grid coordinate where he's going end up so she could set up her little operation.

[bigtree]

6. ROK forces in IRAQ- the Zaytun Division

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. I guess the WWII peaceful forces in Germany line wasn't sticking too well

Sadly, there's also going to be a whole bunch of people scratching their heads saying, "We've been in South Korea all this time?" Let the revisionist historians commence!

[Blackhatjack]

8. Yeah well We have not been losing 100 lives per month in Korea....

I think his comment about 'providing stability' is code for 'ensuring privatization and control of Iraqi oil.'

There will never be a 'Korea-like situation' in Iraq.

This path will lead to 'all war all the time' and further exploitation by the military industrial complex.

[leftofthedial]

12. except that we'd be surrounded by "North Koreas"

and 9 out of 10 people IN country would be "North Koreans"