PACIFIC RIM The word itself means "peaceful", does it not? Tranquil? Untroubled?
Yet in the Pacific area we have about three hundred thousand soldiers, airmen, marines and other armed forces personnel who are stationed there to maintain the peace.
The Pacific Ocean rim is not exactly peaceful and the potential for trouble in the future is quite obvious in several areas. Our military manuevers and training programs are fashioned with the idea that China or North Korea, or both might well be our advisaries but we strive to call such preparations by other names with connotations of friendliness and cooperation. That idea has been there in the back of our planning ever since the Chinese came charging across to aid North Korea during the Korean War. It is considered, by many, to be inevitable. Just exactly constitutes a nation and what makes up an off-shore nation claiming to be separate and distinct nation in itself is being discussed - and in terms which are disquieting .A nation in its own right is living as such very much moreso right now in Taiwan . Estimates of around 40,000 marines soldiers and in Asia, in general, 120,000 seaman afloat and they are at about ninety locations, in addition to about 37,000 in Korea. The general public is aware of the "occupational troops" being in Korea but few know about joint exercises" we have carried on in cooperation with the Aussies and the Japanese at Narathinatt, Thailand or,more recently, at Shoalwater Bay, in Australia. The Thai operation, called "Cobra Gold" and the "Foal Eagle" exercises in Korea both were practice routines against a possible Oriental aggressor.
In spite of recent attempts to establish better relations between China and the United States, much suspicion and distrust still exists - and with good reason - on both sides. Sword rattling by Red China concerning Tiawan and the "One China" concept are disconcertng to say the least. Since getting Hong Kong back from the British, China has been more confident in the field of international relations but just how far she might go in retaking the island is a point for study, and preparations to meet such a moment.
It is not a pleasant prospect, but harsh reality of times present and of the past suggest that talk of tranquility is to be questioned. It is my hope that we can continue to have a Media and a Congress both of whom realize the importance of maintianing a strong front again possible Chinese/North Korean aggression along the Pacific rim.
A.L.M. May 8, 2005 [c000wds]
