[Editorial] U.S. Forces Korea commander’s inappropriate comments

Posted on : 2007-03-10 14:48 KST Modified on : 2007-03-10 14:48 KST

United States Forces Korea (USFK) commander Burwell B. Bell is again the talk of the town for making comments that are inappropriate. In testimony before the United States House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee, he criticized South Korea’s plans to reform its military and revealed a view of North Korea prejudiced in one direction. As well, during a press conference held January 18, he said used violent language when he said he would "fight" any delay in relocating the main USFK installation to Pyeongtaek.

The commander of an allied military stationed in Korea may indeed express his views on issues of commonly shared security concerns; however, the premise is that he do so with respect for the Korean people, their government, and its policies, as well as with the moderation becoming of a soldier. Without these in place, he could cause misunderstanding and discord that could hurt the alliance, all the more so when the two countries are looking decades ahead into the future as they restructure the alliance.

"Military Reform Plan 2020" is a long-term policy already drafted as legislation in the South Korean parliament after long discussion. It is nothing more than meddling in domestic Korean affairs for the USFK commander to dispute it. Furthermore, there are problems with the logic of his argument. He said the North Korean military’s ability to wage war has very much been left behind, while at the same time criticizing South Korea’s plans to reduce the time men spend in the military by six months and cut the size of its forces, saying that this move could lead to a "hollowing out" of South Korean forces. This also contradicted his praise for South Korean fighting power and his claim that wartime operational command be handed back to South Korea from the U.S. at an early date. It is therefore not unreasonable that there are now suspicions that Bell was taking issue with Military Reform Plan 2020 because he would like to make it easier for the U.S. to sell its latest weapons to the South.

He was irresponsible in saying that North Korea could still produce weapons grade nuclear material with plans based on highly enriched uranium even if it gives up its plutonium program. Not only did he fail to produce any evidence, but that assessment is also very different from what is coming from high-ranking members of the U.S. government. It was also not befitting someone of his position to say it is possible economic cooperation with North Korea and humanitarian aid is not being used for the goals for which it was intended.

Bell was right, however, when he said more Koreans want a more equal and level alliance with the U.S. If he had adequately understood that, though, he would not have said things that were arrogant and beyond his authority. We hope the U.S. government will make sure imprudent comments by its military brass does not hurt "the most successful alliance in the past decades."


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