USFK Seeking Seperate War Time Command
What is the point of an alliance with two commanders?
The United States and South Korea are considering disbanding their combined command and creating independent military commands, with a restructured U.S. Forces Korea focusing on air and naval power, according to USFK commander Gen. B.B. Bell.
Bell¿s announcement came in a speech to the Korean National Assembly¿s Defense Forum in Seoul on Thursday. He was unavailable for an interview Friday, but his spokesman provided a copy of the speech to Stars and Stripes.
Bell said that since October, the U.S. and South Korea have been studying Seoul¿s request for independent operational command of its troops during wartime. Current agreements call for Bell ¿ also commander of the Combined Forces Command and United Nations Command ¿ to direct all combat operations.
¿While no final decisions have been made, we are considering creating two independent commands ¿ one ROK and one U.S., with U.S. forces in a supporting role, and restructured to take advantage of U.S. air and naval warfare capability,¿ Bell said.
It was unclear Friday whether the restructuring Bell mentioned could mean a drawdown of U.S. soldiers or an increase of Air Force or Navy personnel or equipment.
I like how General Bell just continues to call the Koreans bluff. The whole war time command issue is just something South Korean politicians have been demagoging to the Korean public knowing full well that Korea is not willing to pay the costs necessary to take the war time command position. So far it appears the Pentagon has brought in the right guy to head USFK through this period of transformation and realignment on the Korean peninsula.
