One country, two nations, one economically weak, the other strong, one with an excess of military capacity, one with less, both distrustful of each other and both dependent on two powerful allies, the United States and China. That describes North and South Korea.
Divided countries always spell trouble. Ask Viet Nam, Germany and the United States (during the civil war) before they became a united country. The so called experts said if Viet Nam fell the domino theory would happen and communism would be in Frisco in six months. The experts were wrong and now a united Viet Nam is a military threat to no one and the United States has close relations with that united country.
East and West Germany, both divided by the cold war and a threat to peace in Europe during that time is again one country and the threat of a war between both east and west that would have spilled over in Europe is now united and stable. The United States, united after the civil war has become a nation powerful economically and in military matters.
The recent war games by South Korea close to North Korean waters has sparked an artillery barrage from North Korea and retaliation by South Korea. The Korean war has been over 57 years and those kinds of actions have become routine. There is really nothing new there. The situation has proved that the United States and China's foreign policy in the area has been a failure concerning both Koreas. After over 57 years of foreign and military aid by the United States South Korea should be able to defend its own country with out any help from the United States. As far as China goes, they are not about to support North Korea in starting another war there.
A united Korea is what the country needs. One government for the Korean people. No more division of the land by the 30th parallel, no North or South, just the country of Korea. It should be the policy of the United States and foreign governments to keep their hands off the country and tell both the leaders of North and South Korea to reunite their country themselves with no outside interference. That is the only answer to solve the existing problem. The U.S. and its allies have the economic and military power to defend themselves regardless of the out come of who would lead a united Korea. Once both people are reunited with their families they would not support a new war.
One of the problems the U.S. faces concerning the recent attack by North Korea is that the military industrial complex want a war with North Korea like the chicken hawks clamored for war in Iraq, Iran and now North Korea. If you wonder why I use the word chicken hawks it is because the majority of those who want war never wore the uniform of their country during their generations war of after. But they love to see other people's children go to war even if its over WMD that did not exist.
The United States should lead by bringing home our 28,000 troops that are in South Korea. South Korea should be able to defend its own country. Dwight Eisenhower was elected President during the Korean war and brought it to a close as he said he would. He knew a continued military action would not unite the country and neither has the actions by the U.S., its allies or China done so in the last 57 years. A new Korean policy is obviously needed and sooner rather than later. Is any one listening?
