Comments on: I like’em better when they’re straight-up Marxists

By: RanDomino

RanDomino — Wed, 14 Dec 2005 19:25:22 +0000

“I often wonder why the Korean Government has not done more to wean Korean farmers off of crops like rice and helped them to grow things that can be marketed more effectively in today’s marketplace.”

Probably because that’s not a government’s job.

By: Sonagi

Sonagi — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 11:43:00 +0000

“?? ? ?? ??, ??? ???!”

screamed this headline at YTN last weekend. Three ??s in a 6-word headline, that’s a classic.

By: kushibo

kushibo — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 08:23:47 +0000

And we’re ending C-17 production.

I realize that’s Air Force, not Navy, but it still speaks to a deterioration of forces.

It will also make humanitarian missions much harder.

By: kushibo

kushibo — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 08:22:41 +0000

And we’re ending C-17 production.

I realize that’s Air Force, not Navy, but it still speaks to a deterioration of forces.

It will also make humanitarian missions much harder.

By: Brendon Carr

Brendon Carr — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 03:50:48 +0000

Oops. 120.

By: Brendon Carr

Brendon Carr — Sat, 03 Dec 2005 03:32:38 +0000

So I don’t think an argument of “defense of food supplies” in this day and age is a credible defense of a sustainment of domestic agricultural subsidies for any country — at least as long at the US Navy controls the world’s sea lanes.

Great news! The 2006 Defense budget authorizes construction of just four new ships, accelerating the dismantling of the World’s Finest Navy. We’re rapidly heading for a fleet of 150 ships, to cover the whole world.

By: Michael

Michael — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 17:35:39 +0000

The Korean gov’t in its infinite wisdom is trying to get farmers to grow an even more expensive rice it is calling “Top Rice,” and as usual benchmarking Japan by copying that country’s premium rice. When in doubt, copy Japan….

By: Paul H

Paul H — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 10:30:42 +0000

“…Of course there is always the possiblity of an physical embargo during war times, which is a difficult strategy to pull off…”

Yes in today’s world I don’t see how this could happen, if you mean historical examples such as British Navy blockades of Germany during both world wars (& German attempts to counterblockade with submarines).

A total blockade of all imports into a country just isn’t an acceptable weapon of war anymore. US and ROK provision of food to North Korea is one example, the oil for food fiasco to Iraq is another. Indeed, the use of blockade can be considered to be counterproductive politically, given the willingness of dictators to hold their own populations hostage to Western sensibilities.

By: juan

juan — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 09:09:34 +0000

The logic of “Food Defense” does hold water. Yet we have to realize that the cost of “Food Defense” also needs to be kept in check. The fear of another country using food as a bargaining chip is not something we can ignore easily. But #1. Unless the whole geopolitical scene changes greatly, there will always be countries competing with each other to sell foodstuff at a cheaper price, whoever the buyer is. The more interdependent countries become due to the market flattening the world, it is near impossible for a country to use stuff so easily avaliable as food as a bargaining chip. (Of course there is always the possiblity of an physical embargo during war times, which is a difficult strategy to pull off.)
#2. Because Korea is opening up its market (rice market in this instance) does not mean its food production is going to drop down to zero. Korea has been overproducing food stuff (rice in this instance) since the late 70s, and the opening of the rice market, and other food market will not totally rob Korea of its ability to produce food stuff on its own.

By: baduk

baduk — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 08:12:54 +0000

Prince Charles of England was on PBS the other day talking about supporting farmers in his country. He used the word like “Food security” and “Food defense”.

I guess it is not a good idea for a country to depend heavily on other countries for food. It may be used as bargaining chips against the country.

Some concessions should be made by the both parties. Farming subsidies? Maybe.