The Death of an Alliance, Part XVIII
Here is a list of U.S. installations in Korea that are shutting down, courtesy of the Stars and Stripes (HT to the Nomad):
Closed and returned to South Korea in 2004:
- Camp Bonifas (Demilitarized Zone)
- Camp Liberty Bell (Demilitarized Zone)
Closed in 2004, returning to South Korea in 2005:
- Camp Edwards (Paju)
- Camp Gary Owen (Paju)
- Camp Greaves (Paju)
- Camp Giant (Paju)
- Camp Howze (Paju)
- Camp Stanton (Paju)
Closing and returning to South Korea in 2005:
- Camp Page (Chuncheon)
Closing in 2005 and returning to South Korea in 2006:
- Camp Falling Water (Uijeongbu)
- Camp LaGuardia (Uijeongbu)
- Camp Sears (Uijeongbu)
- Camp Nimble (Dongducheon)
- Camp McNab (Chejudo)
- UNC Compound Seoul
It’s all part of a plan to reduce the U.S. presence to 25,000 within the next couple of years. Meanwhile, the Chosun Ilbo adds that a congressional commission is enthusiastic about the cuts:
A U.S. Congressional commission on Monday reiterated support for a withdrawal of American troops from South Korea but warned against undue haste in bringing personnel back from Japan and Germany.
The commission told a press conference Monday the decision to withdraw a heavy brigade from Korea and move remaining U.S. forces to positions south of the Han River “make eminently good sense” and would strengthen U.S. fighting strength on the peninsula. The USFK is scheduled for cuts of 12,500 men by 2008.
However, the commission was less happy with plans to move U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam, a move it said might not “reflect U.S. interests in East Asia.” It also advised the Pentagon to change its mind and leave a heavy division stationed in Europe where it is.