It looks like the servicemembers stationed on the DMZ will get a chance to see President Obama when he visits the country later this month:
The White House indicated Tuesday that President Barack Obama will tour the Demilitarized Zone, which separates the two Koreas, during his visit to South Korea later this month.
“A visit to the DMZ would be reflective of the president’s commitment to both security on the Korean Peninsula and the need for North Korea to live up to its international obligations, give up its nuclear weapons program and return to the community of nations,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said at a press briefing.
He was responding to a news report that Obama is expected to visit the DMZ when he travels to the South to attend the second Nuclear Security Summit March 26-27.
It would be Obama’s third visit to South Korea, a key Asian ally, since his inauguration in 2009. [Joong Ang Ilbo]
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10:44 pm on March 15th, 2012 1
Each service member should tell Obama to stop the facade and bring the troops home.
11:24 pm on March 15th, 2012 2
North Korea says it’s planning a satellite launch in April. Andrei Lankov is somewhat surprised. The wire staff reports at CNN.
1:04 am on March 16th, 2012 3
I’m diggin’ the picture of Obama flashin’ a gang sign…
…the Pennsylvania Avenue Loco Dawgs, I believe.
1:29 am on March 16th, 2012 4
Dear President Obama,
A person going by the name of Tbonetylr was hurt very bad by some Koreans. He’s angry and out of some sick twisted revenge thinks Koreans should be abandoned, even though this would actually be counter to the interests of the United States itself. Nonetheless, please bring the troops home so Tbonetylr can feel better about his pathetic existence.
Yours truly,
Kushibo
3:32 am on March 16th, 2012 5
Dear President Obama,
Here’s the plan, man.
1. PRC stays out.
2. ROK annexes DPRK.
3. USA gets out.
You are less bad than any Republican, so you have my vote.
Glans
7:16 pm on March 16th, 2012 6
Will our soldiers at the DMZ or elsewhere be disarmed for this visit? Wonder what kind of apology will be part of the junket…
8:35 pm on March 16th, 2012 7
Since he is commander and chief that means he is active duty. I hope he does not get caught for a curfew violation.
7:20 am on March 18th, 2012 8
I wonder if he will see this whole USFK sucking sound for the Tax Drain fiasco that it is
8:52 am on March 18th, 2012 9
Dear President Obama,
I had a great time during my 9 YEARS off and on in Korea. Lets face the facts here. They don’t need us any longer and they sure don’t want is there, any longer.
President Obama, America needs to pull up stakes in Korea. We have over stayed our welcome and it is past time America got out of the way for reunification.
North and South Korea should unite once again and be the proud Korea it once was. This can never happen as long as American Forces are stationed there. (Even if they are kept like caged animals on their post and have a curfew to keep them off the streets).
Besides that logic, think of the brownie points you can get from the Left when you bring our people home!
Not to be forgotten of course would be the cost savings, which you could use for “other projects”.
Additionally, it would make America look weak and it is no secret that this is one of your goals.
So — give peace a chance and bring our troops home.
8:56 am on March 18th, 2012 10
PS.
THINK OF IT Mr President! Another 1st for the Obama library! Brought the troops home from Korea!
It would easily over shadow even you getting the Peace Prize. And it would be for something you actually DID!
12:07 pm on March 18th, 2012 11
Retired GI wrote:
When your two premises are utterly false, it doesn’t hold out much hope for the rest of your comment and your conclusion.
See above.
Every president in modern times knows that the USFK deterrent presence is pennies on the dollar compared to the alternative. More so if the removal of USFK leads, predictably, to a war that gets the US involved.
Now, an argument could be made that South Korea needs to step up and start doing more (again) outside the Korean Peninsula since the home front is secured by both countries’ strong presence. That is happening today with the ROK joining anti-piracy efforts and other things, but it could be stepped up.
2:10 pm on March 18th, 2012 12
Kushibo wrote; fear fear and yet more fear. Followed by; fear fear and more — fear.
Only an unimaginative mind thinks in such ways.
As for the thought of a Korea on Korea WAR, well that is really THEIR business, now isn’t it.
They can’t keep running to Daddy (America) to solve their problems. Sooner or later, if they can’t get along, they will just have to fight it out. OR — learn to get along (reunification) They say thay WANT THAT. (Just not right now).
BullShit. Now if they start paying 100% of the cost for America, I might (might) change my mind. This has been going on since 1945!
They found a stupid and rich old sugerDaddy (America) who was willing to support them — while they talk chit behind his back, I might add.
America has been stupid in Korea for FAR too long. Time to kick Korea out of the house and let it support itself.
I’m sure that Korea can stand on its on. If not, let Korea fall— Not one more American life for Korea.
Now go cry about it Kushibo. I’m not buying what you’re selling.
2:16 pm on March 18th, 2012 13
No, Retired GI, it’s not “fear fear and yet more fear.” It’s pragmatism, knowledge of East Asia, and a stark understanding that effective deterrence is cheaper in lives and treasure than rushing to a hot spot unprepared.
Go follow the link I left in #11. Tell me where it’s wrong.
And if it’s lacking in imagination, as you claim, it’s only because it’s deeply anchored in reality.
2:21 pm on March 18th, 2012 14
And another thing, since you brought up the old “go support themselves” chestnut.
Besides the superpowers, what countries on Earth, particularly those in relative hot spots, successfully get by without alliances to back them?
Japan does not, none of Europe does, North America does not. Why apply this only to South Korea?
You say it’s about saving American lives. You are the one lacking in imagination if you can’t see that the situation now (with no combat lives lost) is far safer for American troops than what will likely result if the US leaves altogether.
6:09 pm on March 18th, 2012 15
Bring back most if not all of American soldiers home from South Korea. You don’t need so many men in South Korea. Just keep some admin personnel for the UN command and bring the rest home. Don’t even think about setting up a KORCOM. UN Com is an obligation so keep it at a bare minimum. This Peninsula will drag you into an unwanted war on the Asian mainland. Like all the Presidents before Bush have said, don’t get involved in a war on Asian mainland. Time and time again, some idiot never heeded the words of the wise and got Americans killed for nothing on some patch of land on an Asian mainland.
Bring ‘em all home. Korean Peninsula just ain’t worth it. Keep some on Japanese Islands and bring the rest home.
6:14 pm on March 18th, 2012 16
It’s god darned expensive to keep troops in S.Korea did you know? They say it takes about 20 Billion US Dollars to maintain USFK personnel. With that much money, you can buy a few super carriers EVERY year!!
Pentagon has overspent precious tax payers’ money for no apparent reason. NK is not a real threat to the U.S. It can never hit the U.S. territory. Keep the boys and girls on the Japanese Isle. But K. Penn. ain’t and it has never been a real strategic piece of real estate. Especially not after the end of Cold War with Soviet Union. Bring our boys and girls home !!!! Just leave couple hundred for United Nations Command but bring the rest home.
6:54 pm on March 18th, 2012 17
Call it whatever you want to Kushibo, it is still only Fear mongering.
We serve only one purpose in Korea and that is to funnel money into the South.
As I said before (which you chose to ignore) they can defend themselves. If they fail, then they fail. Not America’s business anylonger. We are only being USED by South Korea and everyone knows it but you.
8:08 pm on March 18th, 2012 18
Well, many Koreans think the U.S. military is present on the Peninsula ’cause the U.S. have important security interest there. That is true to a certain extent but it is not so much important to Americans as it used to be. Back in the 50′s it was because we were fightin’ against world-wide encroachment of communism so naturally, this piece of small real estate might’ve had some strategic importance. But now, it is just a local matter. That needs to be taken care of by local folks. Yeah, the Chinese are breathing down Koreans’ necks but that is not American problem: it is Korean problem. Americans Need to stay in Japan for a reason in line with what Kushibo said “deterrence saves lives & sticking by an important alliances”
KOR-US alliance isn’t really beneficial to Americans. It costs us and really, we don’t get appreciated by them kimchi lovers. They take us for granted. As Retired GI said, we should think about staying here longer if Koreans pay for everything.. I mean everything in pay for GIs and expenses for keeping their families in Korea and all of maintenance fees i.e. fuels for air crafts, tanks, automobiles, food, exchanges, operational expenses for Dragon Hill hotel, bases, Korean employees, schools etc.
Japanese pay for nearly 80% of U.S. military expenses in Japan. Why should Americans pay more in South Korea?