Quote:
Originally posted by SlaveNoMore
I think its the most important issue of all.
Regardless of what Clinton or Bush knew or didnt know, it has been next to impossible (if not just impossible) to do anything about North Korea when both China and our purported ally to the South have continued to prop up the North from fear that their borders will be overrun someday.
|
Ah. That makes sense.
China really is the key. Query whether they truly more fear : (a) lots of NK immigrants, or (b) that SK would eventually absorb NK (Germany-type scenario) leaving a US-treaty ally on China's border, with US forces stationed there.
The PRC's internal "history" has always been that they intervened in the Korean War to prevent having US troops on their border. (Which made a lot of sense for Chinese communists in the late 1940s and early 1950s.)
I wonder if, as you say, removing US forces from SK might not help break the logjam. One of the problems is that NK has demanded that step -- another reason we won't do it.
NK having nuclear weapons is a big problem for us less because of their direct military threat than because they just might sell them to literally anyone. (Proven track record.) The potential for a miniature nuclear arms race in NE Asia is also a longer term issue.
S_A_M
