This is bad, right? Because this seems bad:
#EXCLUSIVE: U.S. to end large-scale military drills with South Korea https://t.co/LgpdjKV2xM @ckubeNBC @dandeluce @NBCNews
— Mosheh M. Gains (@MoshehNBC) March 1, 2019
More:
The major U.S.-South Korea exercises are being curtailed as part of the Trump administration’s effort to ease tensions with North Korea, the officials said. The exercises — known as Key Resolve and Foal Eagle — will be replaced with smaller, mission-specific training, according to the officials.
…
The military has carried out the major exercises as much for deterring the North Korean regime as maintaining troop readiness, according to senior defense officials.
…
But some experts on North Korea questioned whether the major exercises can be suspended without significantly impacting the troops’ ability to combat threats.
“That would run counter to what the military has been saying for decades,” said Bruce Klingner, a former CIA officer who tracked North Korea and is now a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation. “Militaries need to train.”
“If you continue curtailing your exercises, on what day has it reached catastrophic proportions?” Klingner added. “It’s hard to measure. But you know, over time, there has to be a degradation.”
But it’s totally OK, because they can do this stuff virtually or whatever:
Does anyone actually believe this? https://t.co/E6hdeyRdH4 pic.twitter.com/SKbyn51jAM
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) March 1, 2019
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What, you mean virtual exercises aren’t adequate substitutes for a physical military drill program to help guard against attacks from a nuclear-trigger-happy neighbor to the north?
Who says @realDonaldTrump came back from the NoKo summit with nothin', amirite?? https://t.co/Sadk4W5skU
— Jeryl Bier (@JerylBier) March 1, 2019
Yeesh.
What in the ever loving… https://t.co/jJdiW7TS7I
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) March 1, 2019
— Comfortably Smug (@ComfortablySmug) March 1, 2019
A major concession in exchange for… ??♂️ https://t.co/0gUTWGu2eR
— Guy Benson (@guypbenson) March 1, 2019
— Chris McMillen (@mcmillendesign) March 1, 2019
Wtf. Absolutely embarrassing.
— KyleF (@KF1776FIKLE) March 1, 2019
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with an additional tweet.
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