Is there anyone left who still wants to keep US troops in South Korea? After I pointed out that liberals are joining the increasing chorus of conservatives in calling for our withdrawal from South Korea, here’s yet another op-ed from Reagan’s National Security Adviser:
Among the modifications Washington should now consider is the continued presence of 37,000 United States troops in harm’s way, especially now that the harm can come from two directions — North Korea and violent South Korean protesters. We must make clear to the South that while we will honor the terms of our mutual defense treaty, which means that we will respond to any aggression by the North, we will not stay where we are not wanted.The first step should be to reduce our military presence on the peninsula by 25 percent by the end of 2004. After that, we should pull out roughly 10,000 troops a year for the following three years. If Seoul is serious about neutrality, then it can plan to assume eventual responsibility for its own frontline defense with its more than 600,000 well-armed troops. The gradual withdrawal of American troops will be neither destabilizing nor provocative, especially if combined with a reaffirmation of our security commitment to South Korea.
UPDATE: Another column calling for the same thing is up on TechCentralStation. It makes a very cogent case.
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