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Disarmament DocumentationBack to Disarmament Documentation Rumsfeld Says Fewer Troops Will Not Reduce Deterrence in Korea, September 8, 2004Fewer Troops Won't Reduce Deterrence in South
Korea, Rumsfeld Says WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2004 -- Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is "not one slight bit" worried that fewer U.S. troops in South Korea will mean a reduced deterrent capability on the peninsula. U.S. officials have announced they plan to reduce the number of U.S. troops stationed in the Republic of Korea by 12,500 over the next several years, starting with 5,000 moving out by the end of 2004. But officials have done careful analysis, and fewer of today's forces, with modern weapons systems, are just as capable as far superior numbers of yesterday's forces, Rumsfeld said in a Sept. 7 Pentagon press conference. "The important thing is, in the 21st century if one takes numbers (of forces) and tries to equate them with old numbers from the 20th century, they make a mistake because the implication is if the number is lower, that you're weaker, and it's simply not true," said he noted. "The capabilities that we have there (today) are vastly more capable than the exact same number of people were five, 10, 15 years ago." The Defense Department is investing $11 billion in enhancing more than 100 specific military capabilities in the region at the same time it's reducing the number of troops in South Korea. Rumsfeld said that investment allows for the United States to provide for a "healthy deterrent" on the peninsula. "Let there be no doubt that that's the case," he stressed. In response to a question from a reporter, Rumsfeld said the United States understands the threat posed by communist North Korea and has no intention of allowing a power vacuum to develop in the region. "And any suggestion to the contrary would be a fundamental mistake," he said. (end text) (begin Defense Department transcript excerpts) Q: Mr. Secretary, thank you very much. The withdrawal of 12,500 U.S. troops from South Korea, there will be a -- after the pullout of U.S. troops from South Korea there will be a security vacuum in the Korean peninsula. What -- SEC. RUMSFELD: Absolutely not. There will be no vacuum. Q: Okay. What is the United States -- SEC. RUMSFELD: It is an enormously important area. We have done careful analysis. This has been something that's been going on for over a year in discussion with the South Korean government. They have done tabletop studies and analysis. We have -- the important thing is, in the 21st century if one takes numbers and tries to equate them with old numbers from the 20th century, they make a mistake because the implication is if the number is lower, that you're weaker; and it's simply not true. We have capabilities that we can deploy there -- and air capabilities, land capabilities, sea capabilities. And the capabilities that we have there are vastly more capable than the exact same number of people were five, 10, 15 years ago because we've invested -- I forget what the number is, it's a large number of billions of dollars -- into capabilities that enable us to provide for a healthy deterrent on that peninsula. And let there be no doubt that that's the case. We understand the nature of that regime in the north and have no intention at all of allowing any sort of a vacuum. And any suggestion to the contrary would be a fundamental mistake. And anyone who looks at it from a military standpoint and analyzes it, as current commanders have, prior commanders have and the Joint Chiefs of Staff have, have not one slight bit of worry about any weakening of the deterrent. © 2003 The Acronym Institute. |