us pivot flashpoint - korean peninsula boston, april 19, 2014
TRANSCRIPT
US Pivot Flashpoint - Korean Peninsula
Boston, April 19, 2014
Every Spring, in March and April, I hold my breath...
According to a 1978 House Armed Services Committee report...
The presence of a real live adversary north of the DMZ makes South Korea the best training ground for US forces.
Ideal Condition for War Games
Risk of Miscalculation
Greatest fear on the Korean peninsula is “a miscalculation. An impulsive decision that causes a kinetic provocation.”
James Thurman
Former U.S. Forces in Korea Commander
“The dangers of miscalculation are pretty significant. The potential for an escalatory spiral is very real.”
Bruce Bennett, Rand Corp. analyst
Missile Offense
“Tailored deterrence”
Strike first and eliminate the missile site prior to launch
Miscalculation is unthinkable...
Unconventional Warfare
“Activities conducted to enable a resistance movement or insurgency to coerce, disrupt or overthrow an occupying power or government by operating through or with an underground, auxiliary and guerrilla force in a denied area.”
Balance Knife Exercise 2013 - Train Special Forces to develop a “loyal resistance organization”
As US-ROK forces refine their regime change plans…
...North Korea's acts of defiance grow
louder
Preparing for Offensive Operations
Rethinking Conflict on the Korean Peninsula - Center for New American Security
• Predicts a conflict on the Korean peninsula in the next one to five years
• Recommends ROK armed forces to develop offensive operations capability and developing offensive strike capability
Why won't Nobel peace-laureate President Obama engage North Korea?
Joint Statement of 6-party Talks (2005)
• "Each party will take steps in the initial phase to achieve early denuclearization of the Korean peninsula"
"Directly related parties will negotiate a permanent peace regime on the Korean peninsula"
Obama’s Position
No talks and more restrictive sanctions until NK gives up nukes
Division of Korea is Critical to US interests
• Tension on the Korean peninsula justifies US military presence
• US military presence guarantees US economic interests
Pivot strategy requires the US to lean on Japan and South Korea...
...But the South Korean people have nothing to gain and everything to lose from the US
pivot
US Pivot Burdens S Korean Citizens
• South Korea will pay $850 million to host U.S. troops this year, a six per cent increase from last year.
• U.S. Forces in Korea (USFK) may be hoarding close to $1.5 billion of South Korean taxpayer money
US Pivot Destroys Life
Jeju Naval Base for US Aegis Destroyers
Hundreds of thousands of tons of stone have been dumped on corals to make the breakwaters for the harbor. Thousands of massive concrete structures are on the shore. The beautiful rocks of Gureombi have been broken apart and the area filled with concrete. It is an environmental disaster.
- Ann Wright
Nothing to Gain…. from the U.S. Pivot
US Pivot Ignores History
US wants South Korea and Japan to revitalize talks this year on a military intelligence-sharing pact
A strong Japan-South Korea alliance is imperative for the U.S. “pivot strategy”
But the United States ignores history, which
shapes the present.
Most South Koreans (65.8%) view Japan - over China and North Korea - as the number one threat to South Korea
“A nation that forgets history has no future.“
People’s Pivot - Time to Come Together
US OUT of Asia Pacific NO to the US Pivot!
Obama’s Asia tour in late April - Japan, SK, Malaysia, Philippines
4/23 @ 3-4pm Twitter rally (online) using hashtags #USoutofASPac #ASPacNot4Sale
4/25 @ 6:30-8pm Counter-protest to Obama's visit to Asia Pacific Region in NYC