Stick a Fork in It

There will be no FTA this year.

3 Responses

  1. So why does LAMEDUCK Roh want FTA anyway? Not for free trade but to bring out the UGLY antiamerican protest. He knows the armored car incident got him the job and wants to bring out contentious nutcase farmer union not to mention US pressures on opening up the car market. Uh, of course to legitimitize KS at the same time for his boss up north so he can funnel more funds indirectly. It’s for all the WRONG motives and US would be better off to delay the FTA till after next prez election.

  2. Two presidents Roh and Bush entering lame duck status this year might not have the political muscle to force through an FTA that meets both countries needs. Korea weakened its chances by delaying the start of negotiations until June. Japan doesn’t have a FTA with the US so its not a big deal in isolation.
    Given the ever weakened nature of the alliance lots of work will be needed to repair it after Roh and Bush leave the scene. Roh’s idiotic embrace of China and North Korea and his repudiation of Japan and the US will be a major challenge for his successor.

    Question is, has Roh successfully entrenched leftist/North Korea politics in the ROK even if the GNP takes over in 2007? Has the US looked at post USFK contingencies and found them palitable?
    Ironically there could be a conservative ROK in 2007 and a leftist USA in 2008. The next US president, if from the left, will not like a $500 billion US defense budget. Will they like spending billions on the USFK as they slash the DOD? Lots of unknowns and if I was a ROK citizen I’d be worried.

  3. Good point. MF Roh’s self imposed love affair with enemies of DPRK and PRC is laughable. Which countries attacked ROK in war? Which country attacked ROK for 2000 year plus? Which countries will challenge ROK’s economic might and drive ROK economy to blink of collapse (be careful what you wish for with uniFICTION). Gee, don’t we learn history so as not to repeat it?

    That’s beent the prob with amateur 386 who are good at protesting and hate for US who happend to rescue ROK as entity. Talk about butung the hand that feed…

    As for security concern, it’s obious that US is drawing a line over the East Sea. Last time this happened Korean war broke out. And why should US forces stay in ROK? ROK has patterns of not meeting commitments on base moves and sharing cost. With chorus of Yankee go home – why not just get the hell out?