General Abrams Calls Suspension of US-ROK Military Exercises “Prudent Risk”
|I think it is arguable that USFK’s part in the US’s overall North Korea strategy is to do everything possible to not be the ones’ to blame if the current peace process falls apart because North Korea does not denuclearize. The Kim regime would need an excuse for reneging on giving up their nukes and claiming that USFK is training to destroy them is a good excuse. With that said they can just claim the US military presence in South Korea is enough to justify keeping their nukes as well:
Robert B. Abrams, a four-star US Army general who is nominated to become the next US Forces Korea (USFK) commander, stated that the suspension of joint military exercises between the US and South Korea has undermined combat readiness, and that an “atmosphere of detente” is being created on the Korean Peninsula.During a hearing to vet him for his new position at the Senate Armed Service Committee on Sept. 25, Abrams talked about the suspension of the Ulchi-Freedom Guardian joint military exercises in the wake of the US-North Korea summit meeting on June 12. According to an AFP report, he said “I think the suspension of the exercise this past August and September, I would say was a prudent risk if we’re willing to make the effort to change the relationship with [North Korea].” [Hankyoreh]
You can read more at the link.
President Moon’s abnormal love of that fat guy from Pyongyang is probably a good reason for not getting too involved with the ROK training as well.
I sincerely hope my assumptions about Moon and US AG Sessions are completely wrong.
@setnaffa
You’re right on the money about Commie Moon. History will prove you right.
J6, sometimes being right about people is sad.
Wish military had leadership with some backbone. With no exercises US should remove all forces. No need to practice for the mission means there is no mission.
Flyingsword, they have to give US companies time to rotate out their good staff…
somehow reminds me of this… we’re talking about practice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI
Don’t worry if you’re an officer in USFK, you’ll still have ample opportunity to claim/create/steal credit for the work of others with all the unit level dog N pony exercises that are annual. They’ll probably even thicken up the OP tempo’s to fill the void and hey since their unit level you can drive home after every shift in your POV to your apartment and sleep in your bed cause F cots, that shit’s for the enlisted right? 😎
Right on Smokee! Command Post exercises in Korea. The hardest part is untangling your gear as you take it out of your trunk.
Hankyoreh headline is deceptive because of one word: “is”. It should read “was”. Suspension of the exercise WAS prudent. Changes context entirely. Suspending UFG18 was prudent is what the general said. The Hankyoreh spin makes it sound like the general believes suspension of the exercises is prudent, as in ALL, forever.
Below is a S&S article of what he said put in correct context. SPOILER ALERT: General Abrams does not believe in suspending any more exercises.
https://www.stripes.com/gen-abrams-joint-us-south-korea-military-exercises-a-top-priority-1.549099
What’s worse is the Hankyoreh got it right in the body of the article (was prudent), but referenced and AFP report.
The Hankyoreh spin is dangerous because the Korean left will be led to believe this new commander doesn’t believe in holding any more exercises which will only fuel even more fervent protests in front of War Memorial/MND when they realize KR19 is underway and they believe they were lied to.