Acting Defense Chief Sees No Need to Restart Big Military Exercises With South Korea

[DonViejo]

Source: The New York Times



By Helene Cooper
June 2, 2019

SEOUL, South Korea — Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Sunday that he did not see a need to restore the large-scale joint military exercises that the United States and South Korea suspended over the past year as a concession to North Korea.

American and South Korean troops have continued low-key, smaller-scale exercises during the suspension, but the two countries are expected to keep holding off on the big, publicly advertised war games that can include thousands of ground, naval, air and Special Operations troops.

North Korea has long viewed the high-profile exercises as provocative, and President Trump announced last year that he was suspending them as he pursued nuclear negotiations with the North’s leader, Kim Jong-un.

Mr. Shanahan said he wanted to discuss with American and South Korean military commanders how to make sure that troops from the two countries remained in a state of readiness — military parlance for being able to fight should hostilities begin.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/02/world/asia/shanahan-korea-military-exercises.html?emc=rss&partner=rss

[Iliyah]

1. The dissing of South Korea and support of North Korea

must be unnerving to SK and many pro-democracies around the world.

[murielm99]

2. Shanahan, another acting secretary.

45 does not seem to have anyone in high cabinet positions who has been confirmed by the Senate. He just hires whatever crony he pleases.

[procon]

3. Well, of course he doesn't!

His only experience is working at Boeing. Unlike his predecessors, Shanahan has no military training or background so naturally Trump (sarcasm begins) thought him well qualified to defend the nation and work with our allies to keep the tyrants of this world in check (sarcasm ends).

Without any experience, and serving only as a temporary placeholder, Shanahan lacks the self confidence and authority to stand up the Trump's unrequited love affair with the mad dictator of No. Korea. He will never have the courage to do the right thing and defend this country or side with our trusted allies because he is just another hired Trump roadie who will say and do whatever Trump tells him to.

[bluestarone]

4. I'd rather hear what the generals are saying!!

NOT THIS ASSHOLE!!

[RedParrot]

5. Shanahan is Trump's Pentagon lapdog

It is inconceivable he was not aware of White House request to keep USS John McCain out of sight during Trump’s visit to Japan. It weakens military readiness to not hold joint exercises with South Korea. Pyongyang should not dictate US policy in the Peninsula.

Trump has shat on our allies and coddled our adversaries.

[jpak]

6. Unilateral Surrender to the Communists

Isn't that what they used to hammer Democrats with under Reagan?

How times have changed.

[EX500rider]

7. S Korea's military budget is larger then the entire GDP of N Korea...I think they will be OK nt

[jmowreader]

8. Trump wants something from South Korea

And, apparently, the ROK doesn’t want to give it to him. So, he’s sucking up to the biggest existential threat South Korea faces in order to force them to give him what he wants.

And knowing Trump, it’s something that will make him richer. Let me guess: he wants the old US Army golf course in Yongsan as part of his golf course portfolio.

[soryang]

9. It is South Korea that doesn't want large provocative exercises

Moon Jae In is way out in front of the US on North Korean policy, and the hardball maximum pressure tactics with no waivers for South Korean joint economic initiatives with North Korea were the key to sabotaging the talks at Hanoi.

The US approach whether it is called the "big deal," or "all or nothing," was an ultimatum style approach at Hanoi and that is what the problem is. The US gets their cues from Abe who detests Korea north and south.

Currently, the US actually isn't negotiating with North Korea, it is conducting a regime change approach, dressed up as some kind of good cop, bad cop routine. It's a deception plan designed to maintain the San Francisco system in northeast Asia with an uncertain expectation of bringing down the communist regime. If the regime falls, the US will experiment with trying to supplant the Chinese sphere of influence at the risk of another war.

[keithbvadu2]

10. More defense money Trump wants to save/steal for his wall.