June 25, 2003
US Plans to Remove Troops from Korean DMZ A Cause for Concern
First of all, let me say that I have no idea how the powers that be are planning to tie North Korea to the War on Terrorism, but a good guess would be that they build weapons and sell them. Ignore the part where just about every country in the world does the same thing and remember that they (DPRK) are commies. It’s also an interesting coincidence that every country that the US has hostile relations with has rebuffed open economic trade and foreign exploitation of their resources and people; that’s something to ponder the next time some talking-head neo-conservative claims that war “X” has nothing to do with Imperialistic/Capitalistic gain or protection.
But I digress, and move on to the topic at hand. The US recently announced that it would be removing troops from the de-militarized zone (DMZ) between the two Koreas that has served as a “tripwire” for the past fifty years. If N. Korea had ever invaded again, US troops would be killed immediately and would require the US to enter the war (and would make it far more palpable to public opinion). It has served as a deterrent because N. Korea knows it would not possibly win against the US.
Both Koreas are nervous over this decision since it essentially leaves S. Korea left out to hang in a first wave onslaught in the event of a pre-emptive move by N. Korea. And N. Korea is nervous because it opens the door for the US to launch a pre-emptive attack from afar without risking US troops to danger from artillery and troops at the border, this leaves N. Korea with the standby option of turning Seoul into a “sea of fire”, which could be a bluff. In any event, this change in tactics in the region is sure to put both sides on edge for a while and increase tensions throughout the region.
Posted by Stephen VanDyke at June 25, 2003 12:39 PMStephen,
You wrote, “First of all, let me say that I have no idea how the powers that be are planning to tie North Korea to the War on Terrorism…”
Where have you been? All the “powers” have to do is simply say “North Korea is linked to terrorism” and it becomes so.
It worked with Iraq. What makes you think the mindless masses won’t swallow the same pill?
Robbie D.
Posted by: Robbie D. at June 25, 2003 12:48 PMRobbie D.: you make a good point, but the people who will have to swallow this pill are not American. They are Japanese, Korean and Chinese. If the US thinks it can invade countries at will, it may have the support it needs at home but if it does not disseminate propaganda to the rest of the world, eventually some powerful countries are going to wise up and come to the aid of those being attacked (Russia and China both come to mind).
Posted by: Stephen VanDyke at June 25, 2003 01:06 PMStephen, I should also have mentioned in my wise-cracking reply that you raised a very legitmate and scary question that (SHOCKING!!!) has not been covered in the mainstream media.
Robbie D.
Posted by: Robbie D. at June 25, 2003 03:02 PM
