Again..North Korea!

[RoadToad]

I know it's a lot more complicated than that...and I'm not smart enough to figure it all out...but I'd love to understand the ramifications of letting them fend for themselves and whomever wins, wins.

Well first of all we'd be abandoning an ally we've sworn to protect. Just when the chips are down, we'd be telling them, "Sorry folks, you're on your own." Which of course would immediately destroy any credibility we have with any country anywhere. China, who has been quiet with its support of North Korea, and noncommittal when there has been conflict, would probably see no reason not to openly ramp up their support of the North, and maybe even offer military support. North Korea would continue to enrich uranium, and probably have the bomb in a few years, maybe sooner (which may happen anyway). But of course this is all conjecture, as was said in previous posts. Nobody can say for sure. Besides, if you read the statements that come from the North Korean government, some of them sound like the place is run by a bunch of freakin' lunatics. There's just no predicting what they might do.

[demodan]

First off..they do have nukes..the North has tested them underground...Studies from the US / Japan... says it had the force of maybe 2/3 times that of "big boy" used in WWII on Japan..And they have out right said they have them ready to use...And like us...if we thought we'd be taken over by another country by force...we'd use them!! Well...so would they. Experts (our intellegence community) say they have maybe 8 to 12...last year...next year...15/25...the next year..35/50 ready to use; and maybe a dozen..for small battle field use..and torpedos war heads! Im other words...we would be fighting a foe that will be a "stand and fight" war, for a change..And also...they do have the means to deliver these nukes...about as far as Peal Harbor, accurately...at this time. Also....I've been talking to some "so called experts" on the matter; a few that have been stationed in the south......they said the South wouldn't stand a snowball chance in hell.. at holding back the North's army...as a matter of fact..the play book on this battle...does look quite bleek. They say the North if they wanted to;...could take over about half of South Korea...before any kind of "offensive" messures could come to muster...with much of it being American forces might and will power ....could push them back, maybe. The lose of life...and damage would be such a toll...that it is about unthinkable. So any thoughts that the South could hold back the largest ground force to ever march on a battle field...is a pipe dream.

[RoadToad]

As secretive as that government is, we have no way of knowing much of anything for sure. But one thing we do know is that N. Korea has some big long-range guns pointing right at Seoul, which are dug into mountainsides near the DMZ where they'd be pretty much impossible to take out before they inflicted massive civilian casualties. And of course we don't really know what China's going to do if this continues to escalate. I'd love to think we could just take out Kim Jong Il and his son, their government would collaps, Korea would be united under democracy, and all would be well and good, but that's just not realistic.

[GeoFisher]

As secretive as that government is, we have no way of knowing much of anything for sure. But one thing we do know is that N. Korea has some big long-range guns pointing right at Seoul, which are dug into mountainsides near the DMZ where they'd be pretty much impossible to take out before they inflicted massive civilian casualties. And of course we don't really know what China's going to do if this continues to escalate. I'd love to think we could just take out Kim Jong Il and his son, their government would collaps, Korea would be united under democracy, and all would be well and good, but that's just not realistic.

Their dug in munitions would NOT be hard to take out. They might be hard to find, but if you had a decent map of where they were, or a majority of them, you'd be able to eliminate 90% of them before the fired a single shot. Our smart weapons, which the SOUTH surely have.....would be used preemptively to remove as much of the threat as possible.

After that, precision guided munitions and attack aircraft would eliminate all other threats.

The north would NEVER use a nuke, because they'd be destroying their OWN country too. Not too sure about that one, because they are crazy.....

Later,

Geo

[HURRICANEBOB]

I say let the 2 dogs fight. Why should we care. What is the strategic importance to us. Me thinks Japan ought be somewhat edgy and be supporting peace. It's there neighborhood. China me thinks could really care less if the North gets its butt kicked, as China knows South Korea is no threat, and North Korea has just been a royal pain in the Chinese side.

Me thinsks we show support for the south, and protect thier flank with our presence, but make it clear to the South that if they want to stick their chest up, and defend themselves, they do it on their own dime, and we will do no more than to make sure nobody else gets involved. We won't fight for them, but will make sure its a fair fight, and the results lie where they may.

And if the North and South totally blow each other up, then we should move in, take the land, and declare it to be the "New-New Jersey". That way New York would have more available land.

[demodan]

Negative....If the North attacked the South...in numbers (1.1 million standing force...ready yesterday..boots on the ground is their strength...with reserves of 7 million..largest army ever...anywhere...anytime), the US would respond in might..as if it were Texas! You all think our lives changed on 9-11....a war here would be devestation like we may have never seen (well....may be once). We have 28,000 service men and wemon...and their families there; not to mention the South is one of our laregest allies...not only in that part of the world...but anywhere. Yea...they have a modern army...tanks are better...air craft...Navy....and a very good defence stratigies with communications at it finest (computers). I just wonder though....are we ready to make such a sacrifice...is the US ready to see number of sacrifices in the thousands in lives...and billions in mulla..just in mer days?
I was thinking...not to many know this...but how many American lives were lost in the battle of Iwa Jima....anybody know??? The Japenesse lost 21,ooo in two day+....We lost 23,000 brave men! It came to 3 US soldiers died every 5 seconds (that is more than D-day; and the battle of the bulge togeather), think about that for a moment....And that doesn't count the 17,000 lost at sea that week...keeping the supply chain and renforcements open from the ships; battling the laregst ever ...maybe ever will be..(if I can spell it) kamikaze attacks! So...we are talking about those kind of sacrifices here. Im pissed at China...Im pissed off at Russia...( I believe they want to see us at war...checking us out). They will cry in their soup when we have to really put the screws on the North...and believe me....we will...brace yourself; might not be tomarrow...or next week...But the day will come when we face off; and really unleash the 21 century dogs of war!!!. I just hope we have a presedent like Rosevelt...that won't take excusses...and won't take nothing less that an unconditional surrender from the North...drive them to their kness...make them like it...and to hell with the Red Army and their pittyfull leadership...they will wish they had done something ...when the cloud blows over into their leadership. Their own people will rise.....and so will the North's people in devience to their own establishments....The day will come....sad really.