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The point is that keeping the huge base filled with a bunch of loud mouthed drunks (or so they appear if you go near Itaewon when they unleash them on the neighbourhood) in the middle of Seoul is not a military necessity or real strategic benefit for South Korea.
It is, of course, nice for the US military in larger geopolitics, since it gives them yet another colonial base to encircle the world with.
The North Korean army is even more outdated than the Iraqis. If they launched a major attack, many would defect.
Second, the South Korean Army IS highly trained, motivated, and well equiped, and is backed up by some pretty fair and sophisticated industrial muscle. Although of course they'd expect US air support, they don't really need the 40 000 dudes for much except symbolism.
Many Koreans are coming to suspect that what the base symbolizes is not an 'equal alliance', but a vassal or protectorate relationship.
Second Point, thoughts on the recent deaths:
-One, the attitude to the law and legal system here is such that they are OUTRAGED that a (possible) crime commited against Koreans in Korea was not tried by a Korean court, but a US military court. This is the big thing.
-The US perspective: letting them go to Korean court would be sacrificing them. Koreans don't do jury trials, they do beat and treat 'harshly' suspects.
The third, and most important point, is one that you have to be here to get. It's vague and in the air. Korea is changing. The World Cup was not just a sports event here, it was a focus for a new upwelling of nationalism, a very powerful tide sweeping the countries youth. It is not really understood by the more passive Old Korea, but having seen the riots, talked to the police and conscripts, this new tide could go any where, find any target. I strongly suggest that America not make itself anymore of a target by parading drunken fools through the middle of Seoul looking for fights and hookers.
Note: todays paper Joong Ang Il-Bo---> protestors firebomb a US base.
It is, of course, nice for the US military in larger geopolitics, since it gives them yet another colonial base to encircle the world with.
The North Korean army is even more outdated than the Iraqis. If they launched a major attack, many would defect.
Second, the South Korean Army IS highly trained, motivated, and well equiped, and is backed up by some pretty fair and sophisticated industrial muscle. Although of course they'd expect US air support, they don't really need the 40 000 dudes for much except symbolism.
Many Koreans are coming to suspect that what the base symbolizes is not an 'equal alliance', but a vassal or protectorate relationship.
Second Point, thoughts on the recent deaths:
-One, the attitude to the law and legal system here is such that they are OUTRAGED that a (possible) crime commited against Koreans in Korea was not tried by a Korean court, but a US military court. This is the big thing.
-The US perspective: letting them go to Korean court would be sacrificing them. Koreans don't do jury trials, they do beat and treat 'harshly' suspects.
The third, and most important point, is one that you have to be here to get. It's vague and in the air. Korea is changing. The World Cup was not just a sports event here, it was a focus for a new upwelling of nationalism, a very powerful tide sweeping the countries youth. It is not really understood by the more passive Old Korea, but having seen the riots, talked to the police and conscripts, this new tide could go any where, find any target. I strongly suggest that America not make itself anymore of a target by parading drunken fools through the middle of Seoul looking for fights and hookers.
Note: todays paper Joong Ang Il-Bo---> protestors firebomb a US base.
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