The Korean people have a long and distinguished history. They have battled their various neighbors for many years, suffering invasions from all about. One might think of them as the Balkan Peninsula of the East.<\/p>\n
The Korean “War” was started by Stalin, thinking the West was too war-weary to fight and so presenting a perfect opportunity for expansion. Much to his surprise, Truman fought. Much to a lot of Americans’ surprise, America was again at war. In SO many ways Korea is truly “the forgotten war”. We vets of Vietnam were abused by the Left (our current elite leadership). Korean vets were simply forgotten. No one speaks much of the war, of the sacrifices, of the bravery. One of the best battle books, and I am a great fan of great battle books, is Last Stand of Fox Company<\/u><\/i>, the story of Fox Company, 2\/7 who held the hill in Toktong Pass, the only escape route for all of 1st MarDiv and associated Army units, against a division of Chinese soldiers. I believe at least two MOH’s were given. ?Ever hear of it – fight OR the guys who got the MOH.<\/p>\n
The solution was kind of a “let’s agree to disagree” approach. The peninsula was divided into two – we “held” the south and China, who had interjected themselves into the fight, held the north. The subsequent development of the two segments is a lesson on Capitalism vs Communism, a lesson that even the mentor of the North has learned and adapted to.<\/p>\n
The Norks have devolved into abject misery. The regime is among the most repressive in the world. The country is among the poorest in the world. To appreciate the depth of that misery, you ought to read a great book called Nothing To Envy<\/u><\/i> by Barbara Demick (?sp). About the ONLY thing the Norks have that is not 14th century is nukes.<\/p>\n
The rational answer would be to topple Fat Boy and reunite North and South Korea. Such a move would be very advantageous to China, giving them a significant trading partner. It would also buy them goodwill were they to orchestrate such a result. It would also decrease the odds of a serious conflict along that border for China, as Korea would not be likely to attack China, and we aren’t likely to push that either.<\/p>\n
The problem for China is that such a result requires a strength-to-strength relationship with America. Obama’s time was marked by American weakness, so China had no incentive to lose face by brokering such a result. Things have changed.<\/p>\n
Trump has, in just 3 months, reasserted America’s power. China now has a real opposition to which to play. Their involvement now looks like a Great Power being magnanimous. Judging from some of the recent moves, I suspect China has an increasing number of people who already see the Norks as a disadvantage.<\/p>\n
The problem is that just collapsing the North would be really, really traumatic. South Korea, much like Germany, has excellent economic strengths to aid the North to recover, and if you read the above mentioned book, you will find they have done much to aid those who have escaped from the horror. Still, we are talking about a whole generation of Koreans who know no Korean history, nor anything about capitalism. They can learn but it WILL be a journey.<\/p>\n
So stand-by for change. And watch Rex, Jim, and Nikki, with Trump guest appearances, keep the pressure on.<\/p>\n
The Korean people have a long and distinguished history. They have battled their various neighbors for many years, suffering invasions from all about. One might think of them as the Balkan Peninsula of the East.<\/p>\n
The Korean “War” was started by Stalin, thinking the West was too war-weary to fight and so presenting a perfect opportunity for expansion. Much to his surprise, Truman fought. Much to a lot of Americans’ surprise, America was again at war. In SO many ways Korea is truly “the forgotten war”. We vets of Vietnam were abused by the Left (our current elite leadership). Korean vets were simply forgotten. No one speaks much of the war, of the sacrifices, of the bravery. One of the best battle books, and I am a great … Continue reading