About a month after the possibility came up, Defense Secretary Robert Gates put an end to the speculation by saying that the two Apache battalions in Korea won’t be going anywhere for now;
SEOUL - Pentagon has no plans to move a battalion of Apache helicopters from South Korea, and would consult local officials before doing so, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates said here in response to jittery local officials who worried that the attack aircraft would be shifted to Iraq and Afghanistan.
“I reaffirmed the discussions and commitments made at Camp David in terms of the U.S. troop level,” Gates told reporters after a change-of-command ceremony for U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) at Yongsan Garrison. “We will ensure we will maintain at least the same capabilities we have here or perhaps be able to enhance them.”
It also seems that additional reductions of the USFK will be put on hold;
U.S. and South Korean officials agreed in 2004 to cut the number of U.S. troops from 37,000 to 25,000 in phases by the end of this year, but in April, President George W. Bush and his South Korean counterpart Lee Myung-bak agreed to pause.
So does this mean that the possible sale of second hand Apaches to the ROK will be put on hold?
One Comment
DEFENSE NEWS: “He said no decision has been reached about the Apaches.”
No decision YET — and still on the table.
Reminder about bean-counting in the military. There is a dramatic difference between “authorized strength” and “assigned strength.” The USFK has stated that the “authorized strength” will NOT be reduced. The “assigned strength” is much less — and no one can talk about that.