By It looks like this is the concession President Bush gave to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak during their summit this week in order to resume the sale of US beef in Korea:
The United States will pause the drawdown of its troops in South Korea, military officials from both countries said Monday.
President Bush and new South Korean president Lee Myung-bak agreed to the pause during their Camp David visit Friday and Saturday.
It was the first meeting between the two leaders, and several political experts in Seoul see the agreement as a signal of improved relations between the two countries under Lee’s leadership.
Under the pause, the U.S. will maintain its current level of about 28,000 troops “for the foreseeable future,” U.S. Forces Korea spokesman Col. Franklin Childress said Monday. That number was scheduled to drop to 25,000 by the end of the year, when the drawdown was scheduled to end.
The U.S. and South Korea agreed to the drawdown in 2004, when the U.S. had 38,500 troops stationed in South Korea. [Stars & Stripes]
What I find interesting is that the ban on US beef over mad cow fears was something totally ridiculous and involved possible shady behavior to implement. It is amazing that something this ridiculous and shady was then used as a bargaining chip to get something the Korean government wants which is to stop the drawdown of US troops on the peninsula. It is clear the South Korean negotiators have learned well from North Korean negotiators on how to get what you want from the United States. With this pause on US troop withdrawal that would mean that the Air Force squadron that was to be possibly withdrawn from the peninsula will now probably not happen.
Here is what else President Bush awarded President Lee with:
President Bush and his South Korea counterpart, Lee Myung-bak, also agreed to upgrade South Korea’s Foreign Military Sales status, according to a press release both countries issued after the leaders’ summit concluded over the weekend.
The program determines who gets preferential treatment for the sale of U.S. arms, defense equipment, defense services and military training.
This is actually a good thing because this would mean that South Korea should be able to buy all the capabilities that the US military currently provides for them. So does anyone think the ROK government will actually spend the money necessary to provide for their own defense when they have more important things like building canals on their agenda?
4:46 am on April 23rd, 2008 1
I noticed that some of the editorial pages in at least the English version of the Korean press reacted negatively to both news items: on stopping the draw down by saying it will mean more South Korean tax payers will have to pay for USFK cost sharing and on the weapons upgrade that it is just a ploy to force Korea to buy more US weapons.
I've been watching the Korean press since this last election trying to see if they are going to return to the type of irresponsible nationalism they were so good at before Roh scared them straight for five years. So far, the signs have been mixed. I'll have to wait and see…
6:30 am on April 23rd, 2008 2
You really think there was a beef for US troops deal with Bush? You're out of your mind.
If the US really wanted to withdraw, they would have done so, beef or no beef. If by a limited chance there was a deal, Bush sure didn't deal that hard. Lee was in the US for less than couple of days.
6:56 am on April 23rd, 2008 3
The agreements for the summit were already worked out before Lee ever step foot in the US to meet Bush. The leaks to the South Korean media about LMB getting Bush to stop the USFK withdrawal has been reported on for the last month. General Bell even confirmed these leaks.
Likewise leaks to the media about a US beef deal have also been reported which of course had the usual suspects in an uproar. The larger picture is not the beef deal by the ROK-US FTA which now has cleared a major hurdle with the beef deal.
5:20 pm on April 23rd, 2008 4
Hmmm…this summit was really a give-away session? I think it was more of a PR blitz on the US-ROK solidarity and showing how good friends they were.
Let's see. Visa Waiver Program (VWP) had MOU signed between ROK and Homeland Security secretary. BUT there's a lot more that needs to be done before it's implemented. More hype than substance.
The FTA same stuff as before. The US boneless beef negotiators came over with one rule — no opening of market, no FTA. ROK opened market with caveat that they could bring back the quarantine at their option. Meaning: If FTA passes Congress, boneless beef stays. If FTA dies, you will hear the slamming of gates on boneless beef.
Stop reductions? The ROK media is so intent on saying that Gen Bell recommended it — which is a bunch of horse puckey. However, I remember an unsubstantiated report in the Stars and Stripes a couple of months ago that stated that the USFK was at 27,000 — meaning the 28,500 was simply the billets. Anyone remember after the Vietnam War when the slots remained the same, but many units' manning was cut by 75 percent. I do. There is a different reality between authorized strength and actual strength. I wonder if people are playing with numbers here. I am one of the number that is not happy with the decision on this…BUT I wonder if there are other things going on behind the scenes.
NATO +3 status good news for ROK — and US defense contractors. The Congress passed this bill in Feb, I think. Regardless, the ROK really needs help fast as their choppers reach the end of their life cycles — hmmm…Eurochopper designs for new utility choppers have gone where? Also time running out of time on decisions for the WRSA-K munitions. If the ROK doesn't make some decisions fast, they are going to be SOL. Also expect to see the push on the missile defense systems (PAC2/3) that Gen Bell and Sharp are politely "demanding" from the ROK. Also haven't heard much of the ROK ATACMS after they took over the artillery return fire mission. All kinds of purchases in the future if the ROK is serious of upgrading their military — which they will have no choice once the USFK moves into a support role.
Hmm…ROK possibly joining the PSI. Check it out, but the VWP has a caveat that it is a reward to our "allies" against terrorism. ROK had best consider it very carefully.
The solidarity on going back into Afghanistan fizzled with the ROK offering up 10 policemen who will hide in the Police Academy to train the Afghans. This is not the last you will hear on this as this is a political item for Bush.
In all, I think the Lee-Bush summit was simply a photo op for back-slapping photos and shots showing them laughing and joking with arms around each other. Just a good buddy photo op.
5:50 pm on April 23rd, 2008 5
I personally hope that no more military will be taken out of Korea.
6:26 pm on April 23rd, 2008 6
I hope the USA leaves today.
Japan Guam Hawaii.. that is plenty.
If it were up to me, I would take everything "American" out of Korea and never look back. I would pull the grass and trees out of Yongsan and leave a open pit. And if it were up to me, I would pull every bit of American Japanese and Chinese culture out of Korea too, and leave it in its "pure" Korean form. LOL
One can dream…
1:46 am on April 24th, 2008 7
kalani as usual great comment. The meeting itself was a PR blitz used to publicize the many new deals worked out between Korea and the US to show how LMB is improving ties with the US.
The FTA probably has more opposition in the US left to clear then it does in Korea now. If the FTA does not happen then yes US beef will be banned again in no time.
Your statement about assigned slots compared to actual manning of USFK is a good one. I don't know the answer to it and even if I did I couldn't disclose it here anyway.
The ROK may have had their defense sales status upgraded but I doubt they will begin buying the really expensive stuff they need to begin to provide for their own defense. Take the case of the PAC-3's. These are very expensive and if Korea buys and fields them then that gives the US an excuse to withdraw our PATRIOT units from the peninsula. That is why I think Korea will probably buy a few PAC-2's but not enough to warrent a withdrawal of US PAC-3s.
I think this type of reasoning is what will be implemented across the Korean military where they will buy some new stuff but not enough that would greatly impact the national budget or give an excuse for further USFK withdrawals.
As far as PSI I just do not see the ROKs ever stopping and inspecting NK ships even if a visa waiver program is dangled in front of them.
Afghanistan like I said before I am very ambivalent about the ROKs going back there and was happy when I saw only 10 policemen going to train Afghan police.
1:55 am on April 29th, 2008 8
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