The Marmot’s Hole

Anticipatory Retaliation contributes yet another though-provoking piece, this time concerning the Peninsula we all love. A snippet:

Moreover, creating linkage between North Korea non-aggression and Iraq peacekeeping, in light of the recent UN resolution, does create the awkward situation where the US is supporting a UN-backed peacekeeping force in South Korea while the South Koreans refuse to assist in a UN-backed peacekeeping operation in Iraq. Thin ice, indeed. This kind of move could provide a valid departure point for complete withdrawal of US forces if that’s what’s decided in Washington. Similarly, the US could even take this a step further and withdraw from the UN cease-fire monitoring agreement - since North Korea’s already done it, why continue the charade?. The US could sign the non-aggression pact, declare the war over and pull out of South Korea. Of course there’s not really effective way to spin such a maneuver without it being perceived as a total defeat brought on by the US invasion of Iraq. Additionally, I don’t think there’s really any cause to cut the South Koreans loose like that and hang them out to dry so completely.
At any rate, that’s the murky and uncertain territory South Korea could find itself lost in should they get to jack-happy about shafting Washington.

It doesn’t look like Noh is prepared to shaft the migugnom just yet - Noh might find himself in hot water over a letter he reportedly sent President Bush earlier this month in which he a) promised to send troops and b) not to link the dispatch with North Korea. Still, read AR’s post in its entirety - it’s a good one.