Comments on: Rummy tells Seoul to get ready for 2009. Oh, and pay up. http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/ Korea... in Blog Format Sun, 6 Jul 2008 02:30:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Rumsfeld Calling Roh’s Bluff « http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-53112 Rumsfeld Calling Roh’s Bluff « Sat, 21 Oct 2006 23:01:06 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-53112 [...] The Marmot has more on this issue and make sure you read Brendon Carr’s posting in the comment section as well. It’s a great read. [...] [...] The Marmot has more on this issue and make sure you read Brendon Carr’s posting in the comment section as well. It’s a great read. [...]

]]> By: jd http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47462 jd Tue, 29 Aug 2006 03:25:08 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47462 i asked and you answered. my thanks to those who provided some interesting information. part of me wants america to leave korea and for korea to defend herself. but another part of me has savings in korean won and a korean wife who like living here. i don't think the future looks all that bright with america gone. i asked and you answered. my thanks to those who provided some interesting information.

part of me wants america to leave korea and for korea to defend herself. but another part of me has savings in korean won and a korean wife who like living here.

i don’t think the future looks all that bright with america gone.

]]> By: usinkorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47461 usinkorea Tue, 29 Aug 2006 03:18:25 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47461 " i find it hard to believe that the korea-america deal is really all that bad for the “yanks.”" It got really shitty after about 1990 - when the global Cold War came to an end. Post-9/11 just made the turd swell to gigantic propotion. ” i find it hard to believe that the korea-america deal is really all that bad for the “yanks.””

It got really shitty after about 1990 - when the global Cold War came to an end. Post-9/11 just made the turd swell to gigantic propotion.

]]> By: Brendon Carr http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47451 Brendon Carr Tue, 29 Aug 2006 02:57:14 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47451 Gotta admit the South Koreans are better at extracting funds from stupid foreigners. World Communism died in 1991. Since then -- 15 years ago -- they have continued to tie down 1/10 of American combat arms which cost the Yankee taxpayer a minimum of $20 billion a year to recruit, equip, and pay (my own guess is closer to $40 billion since the Pentagon budget is now $416 billion/year). So since the death of Communism at least <b>$300 billion</b> has been taken out of the pockets of billionaire industrialists and Appalachian hillbillies alike (with the hillbillies at greater risk of actually being in the Army and ending up stationed here) and transferred to subsidize the Korean <i>chaebol</i>, who then compete with American businesses and put Americans out of jobs. (This is, of course, not taking into account how money not spent by Korea on its own defense is also distressingly spent on bribes for photo-ops with North Korea.) Meanwhile, the total annual GDP of North Korea is only about $25 billion. American taxpayers dump more money into the Korea hole than the total annual GDP of the impoverished, starving state from which we're protecting the Republic of Korea. Gotta admit the South Koreans are better at extracting funds from stupid foreigners. World Communism died in 1991. Since then — 15 years ago — they have continued to tie down 1/10 of American combat arms which cost the Yankee taxpayer a minimum of $20 billion a year to recruit, equip, and pay (my own guess is closer to $40 billion since the Pentagon budget is now $416 billion/year). So since the death of Communism at least $300 billion has been taken out of the pockets of billionaire industrialists and Appalachian hillbillies alike (with the hillbillies at greater risk of actually being in the Army and ending up stationed here) and transferred to subsidize the Korean chaebol, who then compete with American businesses and put Americans out of jobs. (This is, of course, not taking into account how money not spent by Korea on its own defense is also distressingly spent on bribes for photo-ops with North Korea.)

Meanwhile, the total annual GDP of North Korea is only about $25 billion. American taxpayers dump more money into the Korea hole than the total annual GDP of the impoverished, starving state from which we’re protecting the Republic of Korea.

]]> By: non korean http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47411 non korean Mon, 28 Aug 2006 17:20:59 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47411 Nice post Brendon Carr IMO Korea should pay 100% of the maintenance cost at the very least. The US is still paying the costs of the troops themselves. All korean would be doing is paying for the cost of having them stationed in Korea. Korea is no longer a third world country. As stated they are the 10th biggest economy and need to pay their fair share. If troops can't be redeployed around the world and have to stay in korea. Then i think korea should pay for 50% of the troop cost on top of 100% of the maintenance cost. This whole thing reminds me of two people that are in a relationship that are looking desperately to find an excuse to break up. oh and having troops in Korea is no longer a benefit for American foreign policy- it is a liability. Nice post Brendon Carr

IMO Korea should pay 100% of the maintenance cost at the very least. The US is still paying the costs of the troops themselves. All korean would be doing is paying for the cost of having them stationed in Korea. Korea is no longer a third world country. As stated they are the 10th biggest economy and need to pay their fair share.

If troops can’t be redeployed around the world and have to stay in korea. Then i think korea should pay for 50% of the troop cost on top of 100% of the maintenance cost.

This whole thing reminds me of two people that are in a relationship that are looking desperately to find an excuse to break up.

oh and having troops in Korea is no longer a benefit for American foreign policy- it is a liability.

]]> By: baduk http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47406 baduk Mon, 28 Aug 2006 16:16:13 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47406 Rummy is doing the right thing, even though I feel sorry for Koreans. He is avoiding the China -Japan war which is inevitable. Korea happens to be the smack middle of these two warmongers. Too bad, Yobo, uncle Sam cannot stay. The next move will be pulling troops out of Japan and let these two, the pig and the monkey, start a tango that they have been so eager to dance. More fighters and weapon systems to sell to Japan. Time to pay off national debt. Rummy is doing the right thing, even though I feel sorry for Koreans. He is avoiding the China -Japan war which is inevitable.

Korea happens to be the smack middle of these two warmongers. Too bad, Yobo, uncle Sam cannot stay.

The next move will be pulling troops out of Japan and let these two, the pig and the monkey, start a tango that they have been so eager to dance.

More fighters and weapon systems to sell to Japan. Time to pay off national debt.

]]> By: seouldout http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47379 seouldout Mon, 28 Aug 2006 09:26:19 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47379 The hand-out junkie should have been forced to go cold turkey 10 years ago. Recall that upon the economic melt down Korea demanded and received a sizeable reduction in its contribution to USFK. Yet during this time Korea spent billions for now little-used World Cup stadiums across the country, built the KTX, expanded its highway & subway systems, and gave the Dear Oompa Loompa $500,000,000 for a photo op. And let's not forget the billions wasted on cabbage and rice farmers to prepare them for market liberalization. I agree w/ R. Elgin's lady friend, albeit for different reasons. President Noh has done a fine job shaking things up and thus exposing the money pit that Korea is. Best Korean friend America ever had. The hand-out junkie should have been forced to go cold turkey 10 years ago. Recall that upon the economic melt down Korea demanded and received a sizeable reduction in its contribution to USFK. Yet during this time Korea spent billions for now little-used World Cup stadiums across the country, built the KTX, expanded its highway & subway systems, and gave the Dear Oompa Loompa $500,000,000 for a photo op. And let’s not forget the billions wasted on cabbage and rice farmers to prepare them for market liberalization.

I agree w/ R. Elgin’s lady friend, albeit for different reasons. President Noh has done a fine job shaking things up and thus exposing the money pit that Korea is. Best Korean friend America ever had.

]]> By: R. Elgin http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47373 R. Elgin Mon, 28 Aug 2006 07:48:34 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47373 My Korean friends gave me a sour face this morning when I pointed to the Chosun Ilbo and asked if this meant that their taxes were going up or not. Despite this, I listened to one young lady tell me that she thought Roh Mu Hyan had done a good job. . . go figure My Korean friends gave me a sour face this morning when I pointed to the Chosun Ilbo and asked if this meant that their taxes were going up or not.

Despite this, I listened to one young lady tell me that she thought Roh Mu Hyan had done a good job. . . go figure

]]> By: michael http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47372 michael Mon, 28 Aug 2006 07:40:32 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47372 JD, more at issue is whether the host country, whose president goes on about being "independent" and says the U.S. should "withdraw" wartime control of S. Korean troops, has created a situation where costs outweigh benefits for the U.S. The entire region has benefited from the U.S. presence--think of what S.K. and Japan (and even Russia) would have to face in its absence: N. Korea and China, two dictatorships with territorial expansion aims. If you think there's an economic benefit, such as selling weapons to S.K., it's far offset by the trade protections, earlier aid and FDI from the U.S. Like Mr. Carr said, it's a new world and communism is no longer the global threat. But for S.K., with a belligerent dictatorship to the north, pulling the plug on the alliance without dealing with the threat is plainly stupid and shortsighted. JD, more at issue is whether the host country, whose president goes on about being “independent” and says the U.S. should “withdraw” wartime control of S. Korean troops, has created a situation where costs outweigh benefits for the U.S.

The entire region has benefited from the U.S. presence–think of what S.K. and Japan (and even Russia) would have to face in its absence: N. Korea and China, two dictatorships with territorial expansion aims.

If you think there’s an economic benefit, such as selling weapons to S.K., it’s far offset by the trade protections, earlier aid and FDI from the U.S.

Like Mr. Carr said, it’s a new world and communism is no longer the global threat. But for S.K., with a belligerent dictatorship to the north, pulling the plug on the alliance without dealing with the threat is plainly stupid and shortsighted.

]]> By: Brendon Carr http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47370 Brendon Carr Mon, 28 Aug 2006 07:23:11 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2006/08/28/rummy-tells-seoul-to-get-ready-for-2009-oh-and-pay-up/#comment-47370 <b>America gets nothing from the "alliance"</b>. America <b>used</b> to have a strategic interest in opposing Communism. It was an existential crisis for the United States, one which made logic go out the window. <i>Bear any burden, pay any price</i>, and all that. That one-time strategic interest is <b>now gone</b>, worldwide Communism having been defeated (ironically, the Republic of Korea is now the only industrialized state in the world at risk of getting more Communist). The Soviet Union is dead, Eastern Europe is free and prospering, China now works for Wal-Mart, and all that Communism has brought to its periphery is hardship and even starvation. So whereas in 1950 standing "shoulder-to-shoulder" to prevent a poor and wretched land from being gobbled up by worldwide Communism made sense, in 2006 when the erstwhile poor and wretched land is rich, fat, and lazy (just like us!) it doesn't. In 2006 we have the luxury to look at the math. America gets nothing from the “alliance”. America used to have a strategic interest in opposing Communism. It was an existential crisis for the United States, one which made logic go out the window. Bear any burden, pay any price, and all that. That one-time strategic interest is now gone, worldwide Communism having been defeated (ironically, the Republic of Korea is now the only industrialized state in the world at risk of getting more Communist). The Soviet Union is dead, Eastern Europe is free and prospering, China now works for Wal-Mart, and all that Communism has brought to its periphery is hardship and even starvation. So whereas in 1950 standing “shoulder-to-shoulder” to prevent a poor and wretched land from being gobbled up by worldwide Communism made sense, in 2006 when the erstwhile poor and wretched land is rich, fat, and lazy (just like us!) it doesn’t. In 2006 we have the luxury to look at the math.

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