http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/07/11/rand-on-south-korean-defense-reform/ Korea... in Blog Format Wed, 3 Dec 2008 06:51:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/07/11/rand-on-south-korean-defense-reform/#comment-43291 The Korea Liberator » Sticker Shock: A Post-USFK South Korea Must Do Less for More Wed, 12 Jul 2006 11:31:45 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/07/11/rand-on-south-korean-defense-reform/#comment-43291 [...] A few days ago, the Marmot linked this RAND report on South Korea’s Defense Reform Plan (DRP). The report starts with some alarming disclaimers: it could not access much of the ROK MND’s classified information on strength levels or weapons systems, and the author has no experience (!) analyzing defense budget requests. Nonetheless, the author was able to pull together enough knowable facts and to convince me that the DRP will come unglued. How fast? Without a national emergency, I give it five years; with one, I give it five hours. Although I encourage you to read the whole thing, here’s my executive summary: [...] [...] A few days ago, the Marmot linked this RAND report on South Korea’s Defense Reform Plan (DRP). The report starts with some alarming disclaimers: it could not access much of the ROK MND’s classified information on strength levels or weapons systems, and the author has no experience (!) analyzing defense budget requests. Nonetheless, the author was able to pull together enough knowable facts and to convince me that the DRP will come unglued. How fast? Without a national emergency, I give it five years; with one, I give it five hours. Although I encourage you to read the whole thing, here’s my executive summary: [...]

]]> http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/07/11/rand-on-south-korean-defense-reform/#comment-43078 snow Tue, 11 Jul 2006 07:17:58 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/07/11/rand-on-south-korean-defense-reform/#comment-43078 I wish this kind of info was widely known in Korea. Maybe it would dampen anti-US sentiment if most people knew how much they were benefitting. Hopefully, this kind of info will become more common knowledge with a new government in power, but I wouldn't count on it. After all, the 3 main newspapers are all 'conservative' and yet do they print such information about the financial benefits to Korea of having the US troops here? It seems that the so-called 'conservatives' have often taken advantage of anti-US sentiment for their own ends (eg. Chun claiming he had the full support of the US in quelling the uprising in Kwangju). I wish this kind of info was widely known in Korea. Maybe it would dampen anti-US sentiment if most people knew how much they were benefitting. Hopefully, this kind of info will become more common knowledge with a new government in power, but I wouldn’t count on it. After all, the 3 main newspapers are all ‘conservative’ and yet do they print such information about the financial benefits to Korea of having the US troops here? It seems that the so-called ‘conservatives’ have often taken advantage of anti-US sentiment for their own ends (eg. Chun claiming he had the full support of the US in quelling the uprising in Kwangju).

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