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The Death of an Alliance, Part 52: Thirty Days

The Air Force, via  USFK Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Garry Trexler,  speaking at a public lecture, has given the South Korean Defense Ministry thirty days to find it some training range space, or see the air component relocated. 

I’ll go that one further:  if the air cover leaves, the ground forces leave, too.  With the exception of small Special Forces and SEAL teams, the U.S. military fights combined arms warfare.  Take away the air cover and we go home.  I also think that we’d avoid keep a foot in the door through 2007, to see if competent people win the next election.  Unfortunately, once you eliminate Uri and all political parties whose spokemen  throw around idle coup threats, you run out of options fast.

12 Responses

  1. Very interesting. It appears the anti- american protestors of 2002 thru present will get what they want. Good for them! I hope they enjoy the Change.

  4. Signs the the Sunshine Policy is Dead, Part LXXVII: Mi-Hwa calls for Roh to comply with USFK deadline for bombing range.  Welcome to the Dark Side, Mi Hwa.  Please check your han and pick up your Sam’s Club card at the concierge desk.

  6. Is there any branch of the service that isn’t combined arms? Special Ops included?

    The Roh/Bush summit must have been a very friendly affair. Within a few days of its conclusion, the US throws down an ultimatium. 30 day one at that. Where’s the love?

  7. This one will leave a mark. The ROK Army can duplicate many of the effects achieved by US ground forces, albeit at a higher cost in casualties.

    They will really feel the pinch on the air departure because the ROK air capability unfortunately doesn’t come close to what the US provides.

    This leadership is playing dice with the very forces that are most critical in the early days of the fight. They should be really careful of what they ask for. The US seems to be in the mood to give it to them.

  8. It will be interesting to see what’s left in a year…

    I guess the Koreans missed all the signs that the U.S. was getting fed up with its attitude. Can’t really miss this one though!

  9. I wish our leaders had the balls to bring our troops home – NOW. Let the 6 party talks become 5 party talks. I’m sure Russia and China are thrilled at having an ideological “soul-mate” armed with nuclear rockets right on their borders. I’m sure they are salivating at the prospect of thousands, tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of North Korean refugees streaming into their territory. As for South Korea? They have the industrial base and economy. Let them take care of their own defense. It’s time.

  10. With the exception of small Special Forces and SEAL teams, the U.S. military fights combined arms warfare.

    Actually, I’d argue that JSOC is the ultimate combined arms command, if not in organization, then certainly in operations.

  11. It’s disappointing to see what a situation like this typically degenerates into.

    Seoul, finally, says, ‘Why didn’t you tell us BEFORE … that you really, REALLY needed a training range? … We can’t understand why you (Washington) gets in such a snit about things like this!’

    Yeah, it’s enough to bring tears to your eyes.

    By the bye, it looks like the ROK Army is having their own problems: ‘Army Facing Lack of Training Ground ‘ at the Dong-A Ilbo:

    http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=050000&biid=2006092570508

  12. SK is a small country with a high population. That’s why it’s so hard to find a desolate place where the military can train.