Replies

Well over 50,000 Koreans died in that war (57K? not sure) and about 36K Americans (the British lost around 1100 and the French 270 or so, to put that into perspective.) It is we that called for armistice, not they. They have a much larger force thereon the ground then we do. Our force is there as a toehold to keep the Chinese out and to give us a real time on the ground reason to intervene - either strategically or tactically - without having to go through the congress first. The ROK military served quite honorably beside us in Vietnam and they at least have no "debt" to us.

The Koreans are quite brave soldiers, marines, airmen ans sailors. as fine as any in the world. I would not let a group of leftists in the Korean media, quasi socialist political movements or a pack of young college age kids lead you to get the wrong impression of Korea. Shall we judge America solely by the Democrats, CBS and MoveOn?

Our presence there has broader implications as well for Japan and Taiwan. A great deal that one hears out of the media about the place is either fear mongering or conjecture.

We bear some responsibility for there situation, not all but some. Are we not obliged to keep our commitment to them?

Over 220,000 Koreans soldiers died in that war and over 54,000 Americans.

Korean War Casualties

US Korean War Casualties

It was horrific. Hundreds of thousands more South Korean citizens were killed. It is estimated that over one million North Korean soldiers were killed and an unknown (but very high) number of North Korean citizens.

Jeff