Danger Is Brewing...

Lots of joking, amongst those who have never been there or never come close to combat, about the bluster of Kim Jung-un, the baby faced and drastically inexperienced, Supreme Leader of North Korea.  Seems like there are an increasing number of funny little cartoons and dismissive comments by the know-nothing's.  Here's a good example...

Now I've got as good a sense of humor as anyone...some might say better.  But here's the problem.  Although they have dated equipment, they are fanatics.  Although they can't inflict the damage that they say, they can still do huge damage.  They have a military of over 9 Million people, by far the largest military in the world.  The populace has been brainwashed.  They seem to be automatons.  They have nothing to lose.  As we used to like to say when planning alpha strikes, there is a quality in quantity.  In short, don't underestimate how heinous a war on the Korean peninsula would be.

The little blurb below gives a little taste of the heroic actions of MG O.P. Smith and his 1st Marine Division at Chosin Reservoir.  It is an unbelievable and harrowing story.  Well worth reading about and there are a lot of accounts.  One of the best is in Tom Rick's new book, "The Generals".  Check it out.

In October 1950, the 1st Marine Division landed at Wonsan on the eastern side of Korea under the command of the Army's X Corps commanded by Edward Almond. Almond and USMC MG O.P. Smith shared a mutual loathing that dated back to a meeting between the two in Japan before the landing at Inchon.  During the meeting Almond had spoken of how easy amphibious landings were although he had never planned or taken part in one and then referred to Smith as Son although he was only 10 months older than he was. Smith and the Marine command also felt Almond was overly aggressive and were sure that there were large numbers of Chinese Forces in North Korea when higher headquarters in Tokyo was telling them it was not the case.  Although ordered to go north to the Yalu River as fast as he could, Smith continuously slowed the division's march to the point of near insubordination. Also along the way he established supply points and an airfield.  In November 1950, with the 1st Marine Division surrounded at the Chosin Reservoir, he directed the breakout and subsequent 70 miles (110 km) march to the seaport of Hungnam. In the end his careful march north and ability to keep the division together saved it from total destruction and quite possibly the entire X Corps.

Korea is an interesting place.  They are a people ready for war.  The residents of that country have been on the edge of ready since 1951.  Think about that.  62 years! It's a harsh environment made harsher by the threat of war.  They have built a large, vibrant city in Seoul.  But it could all go up in smoke in a matter of weeks. And we have several thousand troops there.  They would be hard pressed to stop the hordes from the North in the first days of the war.   The casualties would be significant.  And this is without the use of nuclear weapons.  It's just through overwhelming numbers.  Oh don't get me wrong, we and the South Koreans would do tremendous harm and in the end prevail.  But it wouldn't be easy.  It wouldn't be clean.  It would be a long slog.  And after 12 years of war...I don't think the American people are remotely ready for that.  The evening news dutifully reports about the latest outrageous claim from North Korea most nights, but the stories are getting fewer and less detailed.  There is no awareness of the imminent danger.  Hope I'm wrong, but there is danger brewing on the Korean peninsula.  I think the military is doing what they can to prepare.  Not sure anyone else is...