During the Cold War, communist expansion was a real threat. We protected South Korea from the Communist and Chinese backed North. Same deal with Japan after WWII. We rebuilt both of those country's economies...to the point where certain industries overtook our own at home. (ie: Automotive industry)

South Korea is a pretty well-off nation now, as is Japan. I realize that stopping the spread of Communism has always been a "big deal" for the U.S. and it will likely always be. But, is Communist expansion really a big threat anymore? What exactly do WE stand to lose if the North and the South Koreans go at it and kill a bunch of each other? Why are we still so protective of the South that we have 30K troops stationed there that would end up in the middle of this fight? If the North attacked the South, and the fur started to fly, is it worth risking a war with China over protecting South Korea? China is, in reality, the only country on the planet that we ought to have some serious reservations about getting in a cat fight with. I like their food, but I'm not good with chopsticks and I don't really want to speak their language anytime soon.

Why don't we quit trying to be the World's police force and let the peninsula fend for itself? Unless, of course, somebody can give me a valid argument for why the security and prosperity of the U.S.A. is in jeopardy if South Korea falls. (Personally, I think they could hold their own, with the army and equipment they have.) I realize that in this day and age the world is getting smaller....it's a global economy....blah, blah, blah. However, I'm beginning to have a shift in mindset toward that of the old isolationist's policy. Take the 30K troops in Korea, transfer them to Afghanistan so that we can finish off the terrorist/Taliban/whomever it is we are fighting over there...then bring everybody home. If the South fell to the North, I'm sure there would be a need to open up some production on American soil that could help out that 10% unemployment rate a little.

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.