Don't Let The Door Hit You in The Rear...

... on your way out.

The Writing is On the Wall for USFK

It is becoming more and more obvious that the end may be near for United States Forces Korea:

An Asia specialist with the U.S. Congressional Research Service has presented a report to Congress suggesting the U.S. Defense Department is pushing to change the military command structure as a means to drastically reduce the role of the U.S. Forces Korea. Larry Niksch drew up the 16-page report after North Korea's volley of missile launches earlier this month, saying part of the plans is thought to be putting the U.S. Forces Korea under the U.S. Army First Corps whose headquarter is to move from Washington State to Camp Zama in Japan's Kanagawa Prefecture near Tokyo.

That would also mean lowering the rank of the USFK commander and changes in the UN Command in Korea, which have taken orders from a four-star general since the Korean War.

Niksch's analysis could mean that moves to downgrade the military relationship with South Korea reportedly instigated by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld are well underway. A former high-ranking official in the Bush administration told Grand National Party lawmaker Park Jin last week that Rumsfeld wanted to bring the Korea-U.S. alliance down to a level similar to Washington’s relationships with the Philippines or Thailand.

So what is the Korean President Roh Moo-hyun doing while the US contemplates moving out of Korea? Well bashing America of course!:

Where do UN "Peacekeepers" come from?

According to our friendly Wikipedia:

The 10 main troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping operations as of Februrary 2006 were Bangladesh (10,172), Pakistan (9,630), India (8,996), Jordan, Nepal, Ethiopia, Uruguay, Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa.[2]
About 4.5% of the troops and civilian police deployed in UN peacekeeping missions come from the European Union and less than one per cent from the United States (USA). The biggest contributor from a western country is Poland with 707 peacekeepers, in 21st place. The USA ranks 31st with 393 peacekeepers. The EU combined have 4,421 peacekeepers.

Come on, who has 12,000 to15,000 troops ready to put into the field? With tanks, equipment, food, weapons and sustainment goodies?

And who's ready to take anyone who violates the separation zone with violence if necessary?

Anyone? Anyone?

By the way, the article does note that the U.S. provides 26% of the UN Peacekeeping 2006 budget.

I don't see the Russians, North Korean, Iranians or the Chinese on the Peacekeeper list.

But I could be wrong.

UPDATE: I was wrong. According to the June 2006 stats available here (pdf), China has contributed 1663 Peacekeepers, Russia has contributed 315 Peacekeepers and Iran has contributed 2.

Iraq Civilian Casualty Density Map

I've posted a map of Iraqi Civilian Casualty Density as provided by MNF-I
here.

Not Gonna Happen

IS AN INTERNATIONAL FORCE the solution for Lebanon?

Don't hold your breath.

No more carriers?

Carter-era CIA director Admiral Stansfield Turner has an article in the July Proceedings (not online) asking, "Do We Need Carriers?" - a subject touched upon by this article in the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot.

Turner argues that other, cheaper ships, equipped with large stocks of computer and satellite-guided missiles, could deliver as much combat power as a carrier without risk to pilots and other airmen.

“All weapons systems have their day and we move on,” Turner said in an interview. He worries that “military people have a tendency to stay with what’s tried, true and proven” without fully studying alternatives, he added.

Me? I respectfully disagree.

Techno geeks out there

Totally off the subject of war and whatever else is on the agenda

Dead Today....

So riddle me this....

WTF is this Airman doing???

If you guessed "airborne field sobriety test," good try.

Answer plus punch & pie below the fold.

Love More Than Hate

I'm musing and doing a bit of ranting...

I also sit stunned at the sheer number of missiles and the weaponry available -- via Syria and Iran -- and the COST. I ponder this with respect to Hamas as well, and it compels me to ask: How many hospitals could have been built with the money? How many schools? Roads? Homes? Clinics? How many infant deaths could have been prevented with a Women-Infants-Children’s nutrition and pre‑natal care program? How many businesses could have been started with the money? How many factories and manufacturing facilities could have been built -- places to make things and be the linchpins of a sustainable economy? How many Palestinian or Lebanese youth could have been sent to college? How many could now be teachers? Doctors? Lawyers? Statesmen and diplomats?

The rest over at Some Soldier's Mom

Some Naval History for Lex

While Lex is standing up for Miss Australia, I've got a bit of Navy history to share here.

I think it's work safe, but some people may have other opinions.