Rakkasans!

Had a chance to meet with two local chapters of the Rakkasans this past week as they celebrated their Christmas dinner.

These airborne troopers were attending from several of America's wars, including old-timers and younger men who had recently returned for war.

They meet together to remember old times, but it is more than that. They also meet to remember what they did, and why, and to register their patriotism and their continued support for the country.

They seem to have a lot of different opinions, even some disagreements, about all kinds of current events, but they were united in their support of each other, and of the nation. It was good to be with them.

Senior Fellow, Paul M. Edwards

Finding the MIA

When United States and United Nations troops were moving north in November 1950, the promise was that they would be home by Christmas. This is at last coming true for First Lieutenant Dixie S. Parker of Iowa, who was killed 27 November 1950.

After fifty-seven years his body, lost in the foxhole where he died, is being returned for burial in our national cemetery.

While thousands are still unaccounted for, the search goes on with GIs being identified every so often. While all wish the process was moving faster, and more completely, our hats must go off to the government (www.dtic.mil/dpmo) and their continued effort to locate, identify, and bring home those who died in this awesome war.
http://www.wmbb.com

Senior Fellow, Paul M. Edwards

Culture Wars

Cara has a wonderful idea (http://caramac.umwblogs.org/), suggesting that we might be far better off conducting a cultural war rather than a shooting war.

She also points out the similarities between Korea and Vietnam; not so much the causes or fighting, but the remembrance. The tombstones of those men who died in those wars are still reporting these wars as “conflicts.”


Senior Fellow, Paul M. Edwards

The Real War

The Baltimore Sun (http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/broadband/photoedge/blog/)
has recently used the length of the Korean War as part of a trivia question.

What are the dates of the Korean War, it asks, then reports the answer as 57 years. It then goes on to say that the “real war” was from 1950 to 1953. Well, they are right of course, if you are not concerned with what was going on.

Even the US Army acknowledges that the war continued well into the new year, and thus see the end, for official purposes, as 1954. But even that is not a good picture, as anyone who was there between 1953 and 1954 will know. The war may have been over as far as the politicians were concerned, but not the GI in the field.

Senior Fellow, Paul M. Edwards

Progressive Historians on Ridgway

The progressive historians have published an excellent comment about General Mathew Bunker Ridgway who, at Christmas 1950, took over command of the United Nations forces in Korea.

He arrived he found a demoralized army and a highly aggressive enemy at his heels. His response was a long unappreciated military marvel.

Check their website: http://www.progressivehistorians.com

Senior Fellow, Paul M. Edwards

A Win For North Korea

For those who are interested in the current peace talks between North and South Korea, it would be helpful if they read about them with some perspective about the U.S. role.

For more than six years the Bush administration has been attacking the North Korean government, listing them among the axis of evil, and saber rattling while the North Koreans have postured their nuclear power plants and sent missles out over the Sea of Japan (East Sea).

Now, with seeming surprise, there is talk that America will promise not to undertake an aggressive war against North Korea in return for the North’s promise to stop its nuclear endeavor. Shades of remarkability, is this not the same proposal that President Clinton made nearly a decade ago. And was it not seen then as a “win” for North Korea.

Well, that is because it is. I don’t usually buy all that Bruce Cumings says about the Korean War, but he is sure on the mark in his recent comments when he explains just how much of a win it is for the North.

North Korean Economy: http://nkeconwatch.com
Roundup: Historian. http://hnn.us/roundup/1.html#44102

Senior Fellow, Paul M. Edwards

Best Interests

So what are China, Russia, and the United States doing in the Korean peace talks?

Is it that everyone who had an interest in the war nearly sixty years ago still retains the same interest? Or, perhaps, these are the nations that see some significance in Korea remaining divided.

Is it South Korea that is refusing to send the promised rice until the nuclear plants are destroyed? Don't think so. Is it China that is interested in opening the border so that Koreans can move back and forth with their families? Don't think so.

Perhaps the move, recently taken by the South to just go ahead and talk with the North, is a good move.

www.kimsoft.com/korea/4-talks.htm
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/IF02Dg01.html

Senior Fellow, Paul M. Edwards