In my latest KT piece, I talk about why I think relations between the US and Korea were not as bad in recent past as some of us think they were (and not as good decades ago as some of us think they were ).
The bottom line:
The alliance survived those crises, as well as the recent “decade of mistrust,” because it remains relevant to the strategic needs of both partners. It will likely remain relevant as long as the two sides maintain their parts of the bargain.
I realize that I may be in the minority among writers and commenters at the Hole in thinking that the relationship is a good deal for both sides.
BTW, here is my take on Korea’s F-15 purchase:
The recent purchase of the aging but still highly effective F-15 Eagle over more modern European designs may have also been influenced by America’s unique after-purchase plan; a promise to aid Korea in fighting against any enemy that tries to shoot those plans down.
That is what I call a solid warranty.
BTW2, I really need to remember that my editors religeiously cut “the” and “a” from titles.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
“I really need to remember that my editors religeiously cut “the” and “a” from titles.”
Man, that “btw” really ruined my joyous giggle at your gyopo ass.
Wait a second, did I read, “religeiously”? Refusing to pick up the slack for the Korean lack of copy editors then?
I think Andy is full of wishful thinking. His article details some major issues in the past between the countries. When something like 1/3 of the Korean military academy thinks the US is the main enemy of the Republic of Korea. Where a large percentage of the population is ready to demonstrate against the USA at the drop of a hat, the relationship is hardly good or healthy. Its delusional to think that the US considers Korea a reasonable or reliable ally. As recently noted, Korea import of American products remains a whack a mole game with all kinds of road blocks and regulations. Korea continues to pretend relations are good to gloss over difficulties in order to maintain favorable ties with one of its major export markets. Its Korea’s reliance on the export of products to the USA and its own internal fear of China that continues the relationship. The USA continues to import Korean nationals with their high educational levels and personal wealth to make up for shortcoming in the USA society and bankrupt economy. One wonders how well US educational institutions would fair without the huge amount of Korean capital funding them.
‘Even in the event of the fall of the Kim Jong-il regime in North Korea, a continued American military presence in a united Korea could have value for Seoul. Sandwiched as it is between China, Japan and Russia, the Korean government could use America’s clear commitment to its defense to prevent it from being drawn into future struggles between other regional powers.’
Not sure how the Chinese would react to losing the convenient north Korean buffer zone between themselves and the American presence on the mainland. They didn’t react well 57 years ago.
The F-15E (the K variant) is still a very capable bird and I would of picked it independent of any implied security guarantee. It’s the most versatile weapons platform on the market, capable of firing AMRAAMs (which makes downing Migs like shooting fish in a barrel), to 1000 kilo smart bombs, to ASAT missiles to Harpoon anti-ship missiles (the K variant being the only model capable of doing this).
The F-15E’s versatility as a bomber allowed the airforce to retire their fleet of F-111s. Once free of its bombs, an F-15E with the right airborne radar direction and AMRAAM Slammers can hit and kill any airborne threat before they can even see it.
The F-15k is one helluva capable aircraft and since the ROKAF serves with the USAF it would be nonsense to have two totally different aircraft designs on the same bases, not to mention that costs and training accidents a new aircraft like the Euorfighter would have.
But this is not about logic. It is about nationalism and the Dear Leader trying, successfully, to separate South Korea from the USA.
“Not sure how the Chinese would react to losing the convenient north Korean buffer zone between themselves and the American presence on the mainland.”
That convenient buffer is also a liability. North Korea can provoke the US/SK into war which China cannot have, atleast right now. If that happens, I’m almost certain the US echelon will use it as a reason of attacking China.
#4 – “The F-15E (the K variant) is still a very capable bird and I would of picked it independent of any implied security guarantee.”
It is a fine plane – and one with a proven track record – but you have to admit the alliance provides a great insurance policy for the ROK.
#5 – “It is about nationalism and the Dear Leader trying, successfully, to separate South Korea from the USA.”
I agree that it has a lot to do with nationalism, but I’m not yet going to give the Fat Man credit for ending a relationship that is still alive, albeit changing.
The alliance barely made is through Roh (remember, there for awhile there were serious rumors of a real U.S. drawdown in ROK). Military ties and the knowledge that Roh had only one term helped stop it from disintegrating, despite Roh’s best efforts and mind-boggling incompetence. In part because of Roh, part because if Kim, and perhaps the natural way of things, the pendulum is swinging back a bit. The alliance under Lee has already healed a great deal.
Part of the attraction of the F-15 was compatibility with U.S. systems, which would not have occurred with a European option. The F-15K will beat the sox of anything North Korea has, and would even compare to the Chinese Su-30 variants.
#2…”One wonders how well US educational institutions would fair without the huge amount of Korean capital funding them.”
No doubt they would continue to be the world class institutions that they are, attracting the best and the brightest from around the world. Do you have statistics or facts to back up the assertion that it is Korean money that keeps the Ivy League going? If so, somebody inform the Jews and that guy who draws the comics about them!
You’ve been reading too many C-borg comments.
Last time I checked, Korea ranked eighth in terms of number of immigrants, but that figure is misleading because number one Mexico sends more immigrants than the remaining top ten put together. Ethnic Koreans comprise less than 1% of the US population; it’s easy to overestimate the number if one lives in a metropolitan area with a large Korean community.
74,000 Korean students arriving in the US every year rank the country second behind Japan, but it’s still a small fraction of the total tertiary student population. Without them, some university budgets would be a little tighter, but I don’t think too many schools would go out of business.
I’ll sum it up in one word: Facile.
Two examples:
1. The recent purchase of the aging but still highly effective F-15 Eagle over more modern European designs may have also been influenced by America’s unique after-purchase plan; a promise to aid Korea in fighting against any enemy that tries to shoot those plans down.
Key Word: “may”. At the risk of committing the same sin, let me keep it simple and say that purchases of military figher jets are 100% about politics, always.
2. Not inconsequentially, the United States can also continue to count on Korean support on international issues and in international forums as long as there are no direct conflicts with Korean national interests.
Key Phrase: “as long as”… Nice caveat. So let me get this straight, they can count on each other as friends unless there are situations in which they can’t count on each other. Fascinating.
#11.
1 As you cannot get inside the head of the folks who made the purchase, you can’t be 100% sure about why they did it. On the other hand, I will say that purchases of military fighter jets are not 100% about politics. Otherwise, we would be able to dig up some F-4s and unload them on that Koreans.
#2 Nobody is going to go directly against their national interest so that caveat is necessary. Korea will not give up Dokdo for the USA, but it will send troops to Iraq and vote with the US on most issues in the UN and other international forums. As I said, that is not inconsequential. Combined with similar relationships with nations around the world, it helps the US maintain its influence.
“So let me get this straight, they can count on each other as friends unless there are situations in which they can’t count on each other. Fascinating.”
How about this then: “Sammy Schilt can beat up your girlfriend unless he is in a situation in which he can’t beat up your girlfriend.” OR “The Brazilian national soccer team can beat the Orange County Middle School All Stars unless there are situations in which they can’t beat the Orange County Middle School All Stars.”
I am not saying that the piece is Shakespearian in its brilliance, but you will have to do better than that.
Andy,
Tough crowd, huh?
“The USA continues to import Korean nationals with their high educational levels and personal wealth to make up for shortcoming in the USA society and bankrupt economy. One wonders how well US educational institutions would fair without the huge amount of Korean capital funding them.”
Koolaid buzz-induced posting? One wonders? Yes, probably only one… you.
#10 Sonagi
Japan has always ranked 4th since 2002 in terms of number of four-year college students accounting for 6.9% of the foreign students in the US behind China, India and Korea. You must have included language school students.
A nice compliment to Andy’s article is this on by Kim Dae Joong at Chosun.
english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200805/200805190017.html
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