[caption id="attachment_10868" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Korean Veterans Memorial"]
[/caption]Carol Forsloff - On Tuesday the United States ponders release of classified military documents and
issues of civilian vs military authority while it remembers veterans who
died in an Asian war 60 years ago that could not be won.
"Today we celebrate the signing of the Military Armistice Agreement at
Panmunjom and we honor our servicemembers who fought and died for
freedom and democracy in the Korean War. This year marks the 60th
anniversary of the start of the Korean War and the birth of an enduring
friendship between the United States and the Republic of Korea that is
stronger today than ever before. Our alliance is rooted in shared
sacrifice, common values, mutual interest, and respect, and this
partnership is vital to peace and stability in Asia and the world."
With those words by way of introduction, Obama has asked the nation to
honor the veterans of the Korean war, a war ending with an armistice 60
years ago that continues to be tested.
President Obama (source Wikimedia commons)In Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendall has ordered all US and
Pennsylvania flags to be lowered in memory of those who fought in the
Korean conflict, a war that continues on some levels with two separate
nations, North and South Korea, continuing to look at each other down
the barrel of a gun. Other states are also following Obama's directive in honor of Korean war veterans.
Korea is unfinished business in many ways. It became a stalemate, a
relative peace but with tensions that at any time can be unleashed into
cataclysmic war, experts say, since North Korea's muscle-flexing over
having nuclear weapon capability the country's leaders boast about as
growing in power to dominate the region.
The Afghanistan war is also referred to as one that cannot be won and is a
reminder of the problems that occurred in both Vietnam and Korea where
the United States promised to support its allies in protecting them from
communism while preventing communism from invading America and the rest
of the free world.
America continues to be a democracy. A case might be made that's
because of the men who fought those wars. A case could also be made
that some things changed with the changes in the rest of the world, as
people longed to be part of that, and took some of their swords and beat
them into plowshares, while some continue to rattle them.
In Korea General Douglas Macarthur lost his job directing the troops in
Korea by impugning President Truman's authority. MacArthur publicly
disagreed with Truman's Korean War plans based upon the President's
designs to keep China out of the war. Macarthur, however, intended to
make strategic strikes against China, in violation of the President's
orders, when China sent troops into North Korea to fight against UN
forces. MacArthur sent letters to Congress, expressing his opposition to
Truman's policies and also a letter of ultimatum to China, going beyond
his authority in direct opposition to Truman. Truman followed up by
removing Macarthur from command.
Many people, however, considered Macarthur a hero and some do to this day.
In Afghanistan the parameters of civilian authority vs military
allegiance again is tested by the release of classified military
documents to the press during time of war. And General Stanley
McChrystal lost his job as the designated point man of the Afghan war,
again through press reports of his questions regarding the Obama administration's conduct of that war.
Some people consider the press involvement and the revelations of the
problems occurring in Afghanistan are heroic acts as well. Issues of
Presidential authority in conflict with military authority and the
belief in having a quick win in spite of territorial complications are
raised again.
Unanswered questions and problems remain a part of the history and
the present status of Korea. Will that be the future of the war in
Afghanistan as people left and right demand its end?
The military retains a presence in South Korea, a lingering shadow of that presence it held in the 1950's, 60 years ago.
Governor Rendall's order is based on a nationwide
order issued by President Obama, honoring the memory of Americans who
died as a result of their service in the Korean War.
Flags should remain at half-staff until sunset.
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