Pentagon Arrival
Defense Secretary James Mattis exchanges greetings with Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, upon arriving at the Pentagon for his first full day as secretary, Jan. 21, 2017. DoD photo by Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brigitte N. Brantley
CNN: US Defense chief to visit Japan, South Korea
Washington (CNN)Secretary of Defense James Mattis will make his first official trip abroad next week, traveling to Japan and South Korea -- visits that could help shore up allies and send a message to China.
The four-day trip beginning next Wednesday will "underscore the commitment of the United States to our enduring alliances," said US Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, who called South Korea and Japan "two critical US allies."
His visit to two of America's long-time treaty allies, where Mattis will meet with his defense counterparts in each country, comes amid questions surrounding President Donald Trump's commitment to those alliances.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: The focus will be on North Korea and to a lesser extent China.
More News On U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis Making His First Official Trip Abroad Next Week
Mattis to visit Asia on 1st overseas trip as Pentagon chief -- AP
US defence chief Mattis to visit Japan and South Korea -- South China Morning Post
Report: James Mattis to visit Seoul, Tokyo as North Korea threat grows -- UPI
New Pentagon chief to visit Japan, South Korea next month -- AFP
Mattis to visit South Korea, Japan in first overseas trip -- The Hill
14 comments:
The focus will be on US commitment'sto alliances.
Both Japan and South Korea will want to knowif the Mutual Defence Treaties with the US are worth the paper they are written on, and if the billions of dollars in subsidies they spend every year to keep US troops based there, is money well spent,
And if Trump is even aware of that.
"Mutual defence treaties" implies they are going to come to America's defense when it is attacked. To say I'm skeptical that would hapoen is an understatement.
"Billions of dollars in subsidies..." surely they wouldn't expect America to do this for free. Then again they might but if America is going to undertake the enormous opportunity cost to represent their interests even excluding financial interests it'd be entirely reasobable for America to expect sonething in return.
Are these treaties "worth the paper they are printed on?" Probably not. They are probably far from "mutual" as it seems unlikely these people will act to assist America in it's national defense should it be attacked. Additionally America's military is worn down to the point that even basic national defense is problematic. As such, "mutual defense" for these nations may not be feasible, at least not without these nations taking the lead with the US in a secondary role.
Hopefully they will be discussing the tinetable for the complete withdrawal of American forces and support personnel as well as how to implement it in such a way that the interests and security of America and these nations are best represented. The withdrawal has to happen and will happen. The nations involved can work together to make this reality or these nations can choose not to work constructively with America. The choice is theirs.
Also, America has a choice. Adjust to reality or not. Surely "allies" in the region have to understand Ametica's dire military and economic situation. Failure to understand reality and act accordingly generally ends badly.
"Mutual defence treaties" implies they are going to come to America's defense when it is attacked."
American's Ignorance never fails to surprise me.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Korea_in_the_Vietnam_War
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Korea_Armed_Forces
LMAO
Jay,
Thanks for the links. I will check them out. It's unlikely any of these nations acted to belp America. Instead they acted in their own selfish intersts that generally mean undermining America.
Perhaps Americans are "ignorant" but they are catching on. The day is coming when they will not allow countries such as South Korea to abuse and use them.
Jay,
I didn't realize the committment of South Korea to the Vietnam War. It is not surprising though. Vietnam would have been seen as an enemy of them and they would have acted accordingly. I don't think this was done to help America.
The article on the South Korean armed forces is interesting. It suggested the South Korean Armed Forces could defend South Korea by itself in a couple of decades. I'd suggest this'll never come as long as they have Americans to use and abuse. They've had since the early 1950s to figure this out. I'd suggest they get to it. Hopefully the timetable for the US withdrawal will be discussed in a manner whereby US and South Korean leaders can do this respectfully.
Not sure what TPP has to do with this. As I recall at one time you were opposed to TPP. While not signing could be harmful, it's hard to support something we haven't seen and given the badly flawed deals we've been stuck with previously it's hard to trust the leaders especially DJT.
Also, Americans don't want others watching them like a hawk. Very respectfully Americans don't like being disrespected as they have been. As such, a failure by Americans to put out and prostrate themselves before others will incurr the wrath of certain others. Futility in sacrificing it's interests and dignity in a futile attempt to be liked by some has been a no win situation. Sone Americans are beginning to catch on.
And there you go, pissing on the dead again.
I didn't piss on the dead. I reread my post. You read something into it that simply isn't there.
Nope, pissing on the dead.
5,099 dead, 10,962 wounded, $29.8 billion spent propling up the US in Vietnam.
Maybe you want to take a shit on the Australian and New Zealand dead next.
Jay,
Since nations "prop up" their own interests and I never took a sh!t on South Korea, there'd be no reason to take a sh!t on Australia or New Zealand who have generally respected us even though at least one Aussie on this site has been VERY disrespectful to Americans. Sometimes I wonder how many so called "allies" really hate and disrespect us.
The editor of this site once pointed out he has developed thick skin for when Russia is treated unfairly. I have yet to develop such thick skin for situations when America is treated unfairly.
Jay,
You seem to think all of thesee dead are funny. Americans don't. I don't. Americans and their leaders have shown the utmost respect and love to these countries and these people honoring them and their dead at our own expense in every way we can im spite of the fact that their governments want to f!ck us or so it seems to us.
We are hoping your opinion of us isn't respective of the people in your countries. We are hoping we have a friend somewhere in the world but are under no delusion. We are truly alone or so it would seem. The messaging against Anerica today bears little difference than the messaging against Jews by Nazi Germany in the 1930s. While we hope against hope that people will help us, we don't think they will and are envious of Canadians living in hope against hope that we can somehow measure up to you while under no delusion that you will ever accept us.
Even though we sense you lord your superiotity over us on a daily basis and we Americans have long lost hope of ever measuring up to you supeior Canadians, few of us if any of us lmaof at war dead. We are pretty sure most Canadians don't have such a cavalier attitude toward the war dead as yoy seem to think it is funny.
LMFAO,
You never new South Koreans fought in the Vietnam War, Kosevo, Afghanistan, Iraq,
And yet you hold they made money off that.
LMFAO,
You have no clue,
Just another ignorant American
LMFAO
Jay,
I knew South Korea participated in Viet Nam. Admittedly I didn't realize the extent but perhaps should have. After all defeating Viet Nam was probably important to them. Apparently it was more important than even I knew. Perhaps this is why America stayed in the war so long. Dear old South Korea needed to be helped!! The Communists needed to be defeated to help them!!
As for Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Iraq they had their own interests as did everyone else who participated. Those interests are completely separate from American interests. None of these nations have any concern for America or it's interests.
Frankly I don't know how much "money" they made. They can worry about that. Supporting America is not something anyone does for profit. Russia and China are the world's top powers. Also, they can easily top any "money" America might offer and they can threaten in ways America can't possibly hope to. Now if they opposed these powers and supported the American interests that could be extremely risky. Few will likely take on such risks to support America but all act in their interests and this is ecpected except in the case of America.
Admittedly Americans have not always had a "clue" and have been "ignorant." They are are catching on and the time is coming when they will no longer allow others to use them as pawns in their power struggles. This has some worried. Of course if some will treat American leaders and Americans respectfully and as equals to themselves some needn't worry. Of course since they've been using and abusing American leaders and Americans for decades this will be a big adjudtment that I'm not sure they can readily make.
As for Americans and their leaders who are used to such abuse and have been taught to deserve and expect it, adjustment hasn't been easily done nor has it been fully accomplished but Americans are catching on. Treat Americans and their leaders respectfully and as equals and good relations are possible. Continue to abuse us, as most likely will, and hopefully Americans won't continue tolerate such abuse and mistreatment.
D.Plowman,
If your comment is directed at me, I did not do what you suggest nor have I ever done it. If directed at me, please reread my posts and you will see that I did not do this.
Nope, you shit on the dead.
You had no clue that South Korea at great cost, dead and wounded, and major Finacial costs, greatly contibuted to America's Failed Wars.
Then, you inferred they did it for money.
That's why America is becoming a failed state, utter ignorance and greed have replaced any human mores.
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/06/09/world-war-ii-unknown-war-paul-craig-roberts/
Post a Comment