Remember Oct 2006 and the fiasco that was the FIRST all-ROK amphibious landing attempted. It was a disaster where they had to borrow civilian boats to make the crossing. The Dokdo was standing off-shore but didn't participate. It was a total disaster and the conclusion was that the ROK would need US naval support to perform a naval amphibious landing in the North if required as a counterattack.

Jump forward to 2007 and the ROK has been practicing its amphibious landing tactics with the Dokdo…and now to 2008 where the ROK has started to gain some confidence in their abilities.

Amphibious landings are not simply driving up to a beach and off-loading. It is a special operation that requires training and a massive amount of coordination. This has nothing to do with the ROK fighting skills, it is a coordination exercise and the ability to load up your men on YOUR ships — not the US Army fast ships that are used at Pohang. It is an exercise to put all the pieces together. Also remember that the ROK — which under Kim Dae-jung and Roh REFUSED to build more landing craft for its ROK Navy — is now rushing forward to finally replace its decrepit fleet of US-hand-me-down WWII landing craft. The ROK is still building their landing craft.

This was not simply a public-relations Inchon landing, it was an announcement to the world that the ROK is ready to perform an amphibious landing ON ITS OWN!!! Unfortunately it was as the Admiral Rowden stated "monumentally difficult."

Jump forward again to the latest move by Gen Sharp to ask for the Marine 31st MEU from Okinawa — a very special unit who constantly qualify for their tasking — to lead an amphibious landing at Pohang, the headquarters of the ROK 1st Marines. Will the ROK Marines join in??? This is still being debated.

The question comes down to whether the ROK Marines are truely ready to accept some of the taskings that they will lead if and when the transfer of OPCON comes about.

The lessons learned from the Inchon landing reenactment are probably still being gone over and over by ROK staff. This is probably the reason that the ROK has shown reluctance in accepting the invitation to join in the festivities in the Pohang landing. It is one thing to do it on your own, but another to start taking on the leadership role for a multi-national force.

Anyway, that in my opinion is what the Inchon reenactment was REALLY about.

My apologies if I misunderstood your intensions. I would simply say that there are many Koreans out there with a lot bitterness towards Americans. Thus, it grates on men such as me. Some of us, Americans, have to deal with this animosity on a daily basis. Often the ill will is based on misinformation and emotion, for example, the Anti-American beef protest. I am glad to hear that you are not one of those people who unfairly have it in for Americans. Best wishes.

All I said is that I praise Calmseas for being bold enough to say the truth. I never insulted the USA, I never said USA in not welcome in Korea, I never underestimated the role of USA in Korean War.

You are loosing the focus, which is “facing the truth” as CalmSeas did. If lack maturity to you to deal with it, that’s your problem but don’t insult me because of it.

This is funny, comments in this post started by confronting GI, but now they are all focused on me. You owe me one GI.

Might I suggest you do what I have done in the past? Contact your “democratically” elected government official and request that U.S. troops redeploy where they are welcome. As for the Japanese, are you the spokesperson for that nation? U.S. troops may not be welcomed by a significant number of people on Okinawa. However, the general population seems to have enough good sense not to operate from emotion. I hope your vision of a U.S. free Korea comes true sooner than later, Dr. Yu. Most Japanese seem to recognize that whatever the shortcomings of the U.S. military presence in Japan it is still needed. Obviously the benefits presently outweigh the negatives. Just think Dr. Yu; if an American who is married to a Korean and has family in Korea feels this way, what must many Americans with fewer ties be feeling. The sad reality is geographical for the people of Korea. The Japanese seem to have come to terms with their geographical plight. So tell me? Who is left for an ally when the United States leaves, the gently and trustworthy leadership in Beijing? The Japanese? Perhaps the Russians? Or perhaps you don’t need allies, just a few nukes.

I am kind of confused by your post.

If ALL of Korea is a battleground…in which you seem to agree with me, and ANY U.S. military we have there will just be sacrificed in the event of hostilities…then why on earth would we want to keep them there?

Especially in light of the hostile and opportunistic Anti-American attitudes that we currently have to endure? Is it really worth it?

Given today's technology it is far better to have a little stand off distance…at least initially, so we would have time to assess the situation, formulate a plan and proceed to bomb the aggressors back into the stone age…then & only then, would we want to send in the Groundpounders to close with and ultimately destroy what is left of these Godless heathen.

Are you saying that we, the U.S. cannot afford to lose S. korea, or are you saying that S. Korea cannot afford to fight a war on their own? I would then have to ask…of what value is S. korea? Do you have natural resources that we need? Do you have a vibrant economy that we can export to? Do you have Oil?

As with the false "Domino Theory" of spreading communism, which led us to "Eroniously" get involved in Vietnam, what threat would a united Korea under communism be to us that is not already there (perhaps the greatest threat is to Japan)? There are no major shipping lanes that would be lost, no safe distances from the threat of N. Korean missiles, etc. What would be the great loss of having a very precarious toehold on N. Asia? I really cannot think of one that is still viable in today's strategic situation.

Perhaps these are questions that Koreans need to ask themselves, if they still desire our presence, and most definitely questions that America needs to ask and act upon.

Time to Downsize our footprint, if not leave the Korean penninsula altogether.

As I said before, I praise CalmSeas for his honesty. That’s all I have to say.

Regarding Japan, you are not welcome there. Can’t you see?