Comments on: Another forgotten West Sea Naval Battle anniversary

By: usinkorea

usinkorea — Thu, 01 Jul 2004 03:07:46 +0000

There was an interesting note somewhere last year that I’m not sure really happened, but it was reported when Condalessa Rice was meeting with South Korean officials, the topic of the two middle school national flowers came up and how USFK “could have prevented the anti-US orgy if they had only….”

Rice is supposed to have asked if the Korea officials could remember the names of the two girls.

“Of course. Everyone can,” was the reply.

Then Rice is quoted as having asked, “Can you tell me the names of the sailors who were killed in the West Sea Battle?”

And things got real quiet, because they couldn’t.

I think the thing that would piss me off the most if I were a family member of the sailors is how the government officially calls the event “an accident.”

It is outrageous. It is utterly incomprehensible.

And there is no surprise no big guys from the gov showed up at this anniversary. They didn’t show up for the funeral itself.

By: lirelou

lirelou — Wed, 30 Jun 2004 16:56:49 +0000

Regarding the two unfortunate young ladies who died crushed by a tank carrier, they were only two of the 353 “children” killed on Korean highways in 2002. I’m sure that no one remembers the names of any of the others save their immediate families and friends, which is as it should be. Shame, though, that no one at the time at least recalled the sheer numbers to call for addressing the true problem, Korea’s position as #1 among developed countries in traffic deaths. Nor, did anyone to my knowledge attempt to place the two “martyrs” deaths in context with 351 others. Small wonder, then, that no great public outcry arose over the deaths of six sailors, other than within conservative political circles. In the end, countries get the governments they deserve, and governments in turn get the armed forces they deserve. In this, any government with democratic ambitions would best remember some roman grafitti, scratched into stone in what was to become Algeria: “Let Rome beware the anger of the Legions”. A country that ignores the sacrifices of its soldiers and sailors runs the risk of suffering defeat, or of being overturned by those they have belittled or ignored.

By: WJK

WJK — Wed, 30 Jun 2004 12:37:31 +0000

I apologize to Mr. Shin. He must have heard that line many times during his childhood. It does bother me somewhat that Bush is going to buy Kim Jong Il out. Kim Jong Il should take it. But it has to be check-proof. US government officials should be able to stay in North Korea and oversee everything. EVERYTHING. Or else, it’s no different that Clinton’s deal.

By: WJK

WJK — Wed, 30 Jun 2004 11:28:04 +0000

Shin Jong Il, the South Korean government kisses up to Kim Jong Il big time. Hey, wait a minute. Your names are similar. Do you guys even share the same Chinese characters? Hmm…

By: shin jong il

shin jong il — Wed, 30 Jun 2004 11:21:50 +0000

‘everyone else round the table in beijing is fed up with us intransigence (including japan). the us proposal is a watered down version of south korea’s proposal.’ aiden foster-carter writing about the latest 6 way talks with nk in beijing.

well, mr marmot, where is your indignation and your accusations of appeasement? i suppose, since it’s bush doing the appeasing, it’s just hunky dory for you. further, the us delegation made no mention of starvation. why aren’t you going ballistic about that since you potray the us as more caing than south koreans on the matter?

and mr marmot, does bush go to the funerals of us soldiers who died in iraq?

ps i imagined you looking rather like a wiseman with a very long white beard. your picture at ohmynews told me you’re a rather dapper looking guy with a not-so-comman philosophy on life. swahili???????