Korea Threat

[CharlesHarris]

Not much this Hillbilly can do. Two principle documents drive this

UN Security Council resolution 84 established US as lead nation, in execution of UNSCR 82 and 83.

Armistice agreement. Signed by US Commander as senior UNC representative, the nK commander, and Chinese People's Army Commander.

ROK is not an explicit party to armistice agreement, but China is.

Withdrawing from UNC changes the game completely. A necessary step in resolving the situation. It completely changes relative diplomatic power of the parties and redefines the realm of the possible...

A serious US campaign against DPRK would be costly, difficult and of uncertain outcome. That's the case with all war and not a good reason to avoid one.

There are lots of subtleties in this situation...some assertions that really require long explanation, then a course of action.

- half of ROK hates the US. Xenophobic response to 5000 years of foreign occupation and some jealousy.
- half of ROK loves China and half hates China. Economics and xenophobia for past occupation
-Japan and ROK have a quasi-alliance, battered wife syndrome. Same 5000 years of Japan and China fighting in Korea.
- China likes the situation exactly as is. They win no matter how it goes. China and India have troubles over resources and their respective Mohammadan minorities.
- Russia and China are not friends. They cooperate only to frustrate the US.
- Half of America hates America. The other half is old but no longer willing to sacrifice.
- American ground forces are no longer not up to the task of serious ground war in complex terrain. Doctrine, material, and organization are all unsuited. Leadership skill in operational art is highly questionable above battalion level.
- Nuclear exchange is "unthinkable" for most Americans. Very problematic for the younger half that doesn't remember the Cold War and duck & cover. Changing this perception should be job 1 for political leaders in the coming highly proliferated world.

A way ahead that considers facts on the ground, so to speak.

1. US withdraws from United Nations Command for Korea. Declare that the 70 year armistice ends UN mandate.
2. US and ROK deploy nuclear deterrent on peninsula in response to DPRK abandonment of the Sunshine Non Proliferation agreement between the Koreans. This is aimed at DPRK.
3. US and Japan deploy nuclear deterrent in region. This is aimed at China, not DPRK.
4. US withdraws all non essential personnel from ROK and Japan. This tells everyone we're serious.
5. The usual naval deployments.
6. Civil defense drills on US west coast. Demonstrates resolve to DSPR. Also smokes out the US communists for what they are.

All these set conditions for either defensive war.
The time for preventive or pre-emptive action have passed. DPRK now has the initiative.

Sanctions won't work. Too much money flows subversively from ROK and China to DPRK.

Our nation has done this before with USSR. Mutually Assured Destruction works.
DPRK won't abandon nukes because they saw the Libya example. We have few viable options. MAD, and a willingness to engage in real interstate war among nuclear powers is the most likely to succeed.

None of this is good news for a Libertarian small government guy. It is however realistic and our best chance at national survival.

That's the hand we've dealt ourselves in decades of appeasement.

First principles and facts can be a harsh mistress for the political crowd

Untangling the Gordian knot... probably with the sword of Damocles...

These discussions are always better on the front porch with the beverage of choice