Washington Starts New War Game Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit ------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the November 6, 1997 issue of Workers World newspaper ------------------------- WASHINGTON TALKS PEACE, STARTS NEW WAR GAME By John Catalinotto Probably few people here are aware that 37,000 U.S. troops are still stationed in south Korea. Fewer still know that on Oct. 27 most of them--plus outside U.S. forces--joined south Korean troops for military exercises that pose a direct threat of war on the Korean peninsula. The Clinton administration claims that, in the interest of peace talks, it has stopped the Pentagon's massive annual "Team Spirit." That was a joint military exercise that put hundreds of thousands of troops with planes, ships and tanks in motion toward socialist north Korea. But this new drill, code-named "Foal Eagle," has simply taken its place. A foreign ministry spokesperson from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea called the drill the biggest ever, and an aggressive maneuver for a surprise attack on the north. The spokesperson said the drill showed that Washington's promise to end the Cold War against Korea is no more than a phony argument "to conceal the military threat and new war preparations." Speaking of the need to answer this threat, he said: "To strengthen the revolutionary armed forces and remain fully prepared for action against the enemy's reckless war moves is reasonable as a legitimate self- defensive measure. "We will strengthen our armed forces in every way so that we can smash any provocation of the enemy at one stroke at any time and in any place." During the late 1970s, the Carter administration promised it would remove U.S. troops from Korea. This raised a storm of objections and threats from the military, led by Maj. Gen. John K. Singlaub. Singlaub had to retire, but quieter forces in the Pentagon and in ruling circles here kept the troops there for another 20 years. Now they threaten a new war on the peninsula. At the same time, Washington has been trying to take advantage of years of floods followed by drought in north Korea that have dangerously reduced food stores. The U.S. government has refused any but the most minimal food relief--and put up obstacles to prevent other countries from following United Nations recommendations on aid to the DPRK. The Clinton administration has the gall to call the DPRK a rogue state. The facts present a different picture as to which state is violent, aggressive and cruel. - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Permission to reprint granted if source is cited. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: ww@workers.org. For subscription info send message to: info@workers.org. Web: http://workers.org) ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytas-11.06.97-15:13:13-8059