South Korean Naval Vessel Sunk - North Korea Suspected

[Link]

"You sunk my battleship!"

Even if it is tagged on NK, what the hell will we do about it? Nothing.

Prayers for the families, the nations, and for peace.

Worries that Caboose is right.

What should we do about it? Nothing. This is an internal matter between two sovereign nation states. Let them handle it.

But, as a side note, this kind of thing happens a lot. Here's the most famous.

We still have to be involved because we still have a lot of troops there. Right or wrong, it's still our concern if shooting starts.

Bottom line is no one knows if was NK or an internal explosion. Without knowing the class of ship, the magazine location, avgas location etc and without examining the wreck no way to know.

We need to bring our troops home. Now.

Why?

Do you really think that will make peace break out around the world?

Or keep the U.S. from being as involved in conflicts?

Sorry.

Neither.

Nope. Neither is it my concern.

I don't give a fuck what happens to Korea. If Lil' Kim wants them so bad, let him. Waste of valuable US resources keeping half a tiny peninsula at bay. It's not my job to pay for the military to be the World's police. So unless North Korea bombs Hawaii or attacks Guam, Kim can do whatever he wants for all I care.

As I said, that's another issue from the current one.

The calculus is certainly different than when we first got involved.

Interesting link Elwood. Thanks.

We're there, though I am of two minds about that.

One part of me says fuck 'em we've babysat long enough.

The other reminds me that our presence is the only reason Uncle Kim hasn't invaded long ago. It is also a forward base for operations in the area and should the poop and prop collide we're there.

Here's hoping the sinking was mechanical failure or some onboard problem because I seem to have noticed a bit more sabre rattling with the state of affairs at the moment.
I could be off on that, but think about it, things are ripe for some global conflict, depressed economy, etc..
I'm seeing parallels with historical events that makes me just a bit uneasy. We are seen as weak and getting weaker at least from my perspective but again, I could be wrong.

You really think if Kim destroys or conquers South Korea that won't effect the U.S. economy for the worse?

Remember the Maine!

This will make things more interesting, but compared to Obama walking out of a meeting with the Israeli PM to have dinner--and leaving him to twiddle his thumbs, this sort of jostling happens in Korean waters all the time.

That said, I'd give up the S. Koreans as soon as I'd give up the British, West Germany, or South Vietnam. They are our allies and trade partners and I'll be damned if I let the Communists wreck another country and kill millions more when we are able to prevent it fairly easily (and have a strategic location to base troops).

Well, I'm all for abandoning the Korean Peninsula, but I should point out that the reason we're still there is that South Korea, Japan, and now the People's Republic of China are all major trading partners of the United States.

Playing Devils Advocate - since one of NK major bitches is the border between them was unilaterally decided by the US, and never accepted by them, is there still an element of responsibility there?

Of course that's a can of worms Europe would never like to open

They have accepted it though, else the ceasefire would have broken.

Really? That'll explain three decades of attempted incursions, including tunnel building and gunfire exchange.

The ceasefire has been breached repeatedly, the only reason it has never escalated is that SK doesn't fancy getting blown up by NK, and NK doesn't fancy getting blown up by the US.

It's a ceasefire predicated on the US bombing NK back to the stone age if they push too far. Bullying and fear only work as long as your continually watchful, take away the fear of US retaliation over an NK attack and see how long they 'accept' the border.

That is true for most of the world and it's people.

It doesn't change the fact that they know who has what, it just means they don't like it. Tough shit for them.

Er, no. It means they're still prepared to go war over it, which would be tough shit for the whole peninsula, and probably Japan too.

30-odd years of trying to grab back what you consider yours isn't the actions of a mildly disgruntled nation happy to accept the status quo.

I never said they were though, I said that they unofficially recognize it as the de facto demarcation.

Chris just wants a N. Korean invasion because then that'd be two less car companies that are better than GM.

How on earth did half the crew die if it took a couple of hours to sink...

General Motors owns Daewoo you halfwit.

See, Daewoo is so shitty I didn't even think of it. I was thinking of 2009 Car of the Year award winner, Hyundai, and NADAGuides 2010 Car of the Year award winner, Kia.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/asia_pacific/10129703.stm

They spell funny!

I know a lot of Army folks over in SK - bet they are on all kinds of lockdowns + alerts.

If this interferes in any way, shape or form with their ability to consume alcohol/chase women may God have mercy on NK if the poop hits the fan!

This is just fuckin' ridiculous. North Korea torpedoes a S. Korean ship, sinks it and kills 46 of its crew, then threatens total war if there is any blowback?

In a just world, our forces would already be to the Chinese border and 'Dear Leader' and his advisors would be a smoking heap of fucking ash.

I'l bet it goes unanswered. This is what happens when you elect the Chamberlains, Carters, and Obamas of the world. Evil is definitely emboldened.