Foreign Policy Case Study

U .S . Military Presence in Post-Conflict Zones : Korea in Focus

A Foreign Policy Case Study

INTRODUCTION

The nature of contemporary armed conflict has changed since the Cold War . A major concern of the 1990s was that peace-keeping duties overtax the already shrinking U .S . military force and detrimental to the ability of the American military to defend the nation , leading members of Congress to express reservations on U .S . military involvement in peacekeeping operations . Many have perceived these tasks as inefficient use of U .S . forces which would be better left

to other nations . They argue that the U .S . military should instead focus on acquiring high-intensity combat skills , while there are those who propose force size and structure adjustments to better accommodate these missions

The events of September 11 , 2001 however brought new concerns and threats to the forefront and emphasized once again the value to U .S national security of ensuring stability around the world . Congress has been divided in what , if any , adjustments should be made for the U .S . to continue its peace-keeping and stability missions be it in Iraq Afghanistan , Kosovo , Rwanda or elsewhere on the planet , without straining the armed forces , and whether it would be a better option to augment civilian and international efforts and capabilities to take more of the responsibility

Northeast Asia and the Korean peninsula have been far from passive since the end of the Cold War and the split of the two Koreas . The present attempts to critically discuss the presence of the U .S . military in supposedly post-conflict zones , particularly the case of South Korea The ensuing policy proposal endeavors to present arguments and ideas aimed at making peace and stability in the region a more concrete reality

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The Defense Policy of the United States of America

The defense policy of the United States of America has been changing rapidly since the end of the Cold War . Significant changes following the post-September 11 world have been undertaken under the present administration of President George W . Bush . Since 9 /11 , the US has engaged in two major wars (Afghanistan and Iraq , deploying troops all over the world as its military is now located in around 130 countries performing a variety of duties , from combat operations to peacekeeping and training with foreign militaries (Murphy , 2003

In response to the American-led war on terrorism , President Bush 's 2003 budget proposal asked Congress for 379 billion for defense aimed at keeping the Republic ' through achieving these goals (1 ) Maintaining the sovereignty , political freedom , and independence of the United States , with its values , institutions , and territory intact (2 Protecting the lives and personal safety of Americans , both at home and abroad (3 ) Promoting the well-being and prosperity of the nation and its people

Achieving these three basic goals of defense entails the United States taking on a leadership role in maintaining a world in which : Critical regions are stable , at peace , and free from domination by hostile...