Russian trained communist troops poured across the 38th parallel to invade South Korea. This was a pivotal moment for the Cold War as Communist expansion took a more aggressive turn.
It was a shining moment for the United Nations as the Security Council condemned the invasion and authorized member nations to supply troops to repel the invasion. It was the last shining moment for the United Nations. It was only made possible because the Soviet Union had boycotted the Security Council and hence did not use their veto.(a mistake they would not repeat) One lasting legacy of the Korean war were the endless vetoes that prevented the Security Council from becoming anything more than a debating society.
Member nations (led by the United States) poured troops into South Korea and held the North Korean advance around the southern port of Pusan. The Pusan perimeter held until General McArthur outflanked the enemy by landing at Inchon and cutting off supply lines. The North Koreans collapsed and the Allies pushed the remaining communist troops to the Yalu river. At this point Communist China entered the war and pushed the allies back to the present DMZ. Stalemate ensued for 2 years before an armistice was signed.
It was during this war that my mother's family escaped the north. My grandmother fled the north with my mother and uncle. She was separated from my grandfather at the time. Unlike so many other families who were never reunited, the found each other after the war and settled in Seoul. However like so many families, my grandmother left behind 6 brothers in the north. She lived the rest of her life never knowing what happened to them.
It is a strange feeling watching the North Korean team at the World Cup. I can't cheer for them but it has occurred to me that one of my cousins could be playing for the North.
During a visit to Wolseley barrack in London, Ontario, I read the Honour Roll of members of the Royal Canadian Regiment who fell in Korea. I was deeply moved that they gave their lives in a far away land for a people they did not know. I enrolled shortly thereafter.
It is always controversial when troops are sent to fight in foreign wars. Many have forgotten that conscription to fight Hitler nearly tore Canada apart as English Canada voted to send troops to Europe while Quebec voted against. The ultimate worth of the sacrifice of our young men is often not readily apparent. I'm sure that it was not universally popular amongst Canadians to send our soldiers to Korea.
I don't know if its enough that Korea is now the world's 8th largest economy and a vibrant trading partner for Canada. Korea hasn't always been a truly democratic nation in the aftermath of the war but is now so. I don't know if that is enough to justify the sacrifice.
Koreans sent troops to Vietnam to assist in a very similar struggle. The President of Korea wrote an op ed piece today expressing gratitude for the sacrifice of 60 years ago.
The truth is that the worth of a sacrifice cannot (should not) be measured in balance of trade figures. Ultimately history will judge whether the struggle was worthy or not. History's yardstick is not always consistent and may use different standards.
All I can say now is that i'm grateful that the world stood up against aggression and restored freedom to a small and insignificant country far away from here. The people who were liberated live in prosperity and freedom today. The people who lived north of the 38th parallel live lives filled with desperation and starvation.
Though the war ended in stalemate resulting in divided families and a nation torn asunder, the contrast is unmistakable and may provide the greater lesson to history:
Communism is an evil ideology and fighting it was worthwhile.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
BP's Gusher
The latest twist is that a collision with an underwater submersible has damaged the cap that BP installed on their underwater gusher. That means that oil is now flowing into open water at a rate of 5,000 barrels per day.....oh wait no its 10,000 barrels a day.....oh wait no, its between 60,000 and 100,000 barrels a day. However they don't really know.
Every one of BP's bandaids that have been applied to this spill have now failed and oil is flowing into he gulf unchecked. We are told that this could continue until BP drills 4 'relief well' in August.
I am not an engineer with specialized knowledge of deep sea drilling. I have no expertise on anything to do with anything here. However it doesn't take any specialized knowledge to know that every one of BP's approaches has resulted in abject failures. Has it occurred to anyone that if drilling four new holes in the ocean floor is as successful as all other attempts to stop this spill, then we could be looking at even more oil in the gulf?
Like i say i don't know the technical details of what a relief well means. I'm sure that it will be done very safely and the odds of them opening up another gusher a mile below the surface are absurdly low. Does anyone really blame me for being so cynical?
Every one of BP's bandaids that have been applied to this spill have now failed and oil is flowing into he gulf unchecked. We are told that this could continue until BP drills 4 'relief well' in August.
I am not an engineer with specialized knowledge of deep sea drilling. I have no expertise on anything to do with anything here. However it doesn't take any specialized knowledge to know that every one of BP's approaches has resulted in abject failures. Has it occurred to anyone that if drilling four new holes in the ocean floor is as successful as all other attempts to stop this spill, then we could be looking at even more oil in the gulf?
Like i say i don't know the technical details of what a relief well means. I'm sure that it will be done very safely and the odds of them opening up another gusher a mile below the surface are absurdly low. Does anyone really blame me for being so cynical?
General McChrystal`s Big Mistake....and Obama`s
General Stanley McChrystal made a big mistake. He says so, his Commander in Chief says so as well as the Defence Secretary and Joint Chiefs of Staff.
He and his staff should not have allowed Rolling Stone Magazine such unfettered access in a time of war. Having done so, he compounded the mistake by speaking too freely.
Many of the individual criticisms made by he and his staff have merit and have been spoken by many in Congress and the media. It doesn`t matter whether he was right on the merits of the criticisms or not. Arguably it is worse that his comments have merit because they are more destabilizing.
As the man in charge of the Afghanistan theatre, General McChrystal is responsible for motivating the troops and getting them ready to do the job. If he felt that his hands were being tied by politicians in Washington, then he has a responsibility to resign.....not to pop off to Rolling Stone magazine.
McChrystal must go. His actions reflect poor judgment and border on insubordination. This is clear.
So then why are Obama, Defence Secretary Gates and various members of the Chain of Command issuing statements of disappointment in the General? Why are they all talking to the press about McChrystal's "error in judgment."
Obama should have fired McChrystal and ordered him home immediately. The rest of them should have shut up. Sadly, this kind of public vacillation supports some of McChrystal's complaints about indecivenesss.
It's ironic and very troubling.
Does Obama have it in him to make the hard (or even the easy) decisions? This is starting to look like a second term for the Carter administration.
He and his staff should not have allowed Rolling Stone Magazine such unfettered access in a time of war. Having done so, he compounded the mistake by speaking too freely.
Many of the individual criticisms made by he and his staff have merit and have been spoken by many in Congress and the media. It doesn`t matter whether he was right on the merits of the criticisms or not. Arguably it is worse that his comments have merit because they are more destabilizing.
As the man in charge of the Afghanistan theatre, General McChrystal is responsible for motivating the troops and getting them ready to do the job. If he felt that his hands were being tied by politicians in Washington, then he has a responsibility to resign.....not to pop off to Rolling Stone magazine.
McChrystal must go. His actions reflect poor judgment and border on insubordination. This is clear.
So then why are Obama, Defence Secretary Gates and various members of the Chain of Command issuing statements of disappointment in the General? Why are they all talking to the press about McChrystal's "error in judgment."
Obama should have fired McChrystal and ordered him home immediately. The rest of them should have shut up. Sadly, this kind of public vacillation supports some of McChrystal's complaints about indecivenesss.
It's ironic and very troubling.
Does Obama have it in him to make the hard (or even the easy) decisions? This is starting to look like a second term for the Carter administration.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
World Cup so far
The group stage of the World Cup is nearing a close.
Congratulations are in order to the South Africans. They did not advance but they finished 1-1-1 by beating France. This was a very respectable result of which they can be proud.
Greece has won their first World Cup match ever. This was helped by scoring their first goal ever at this tournament.
Along with the many minnows who have upset the big nations there have been frequent (far too frequent) displays of diving and feigning of injuries. This is cheating and is the biggest blight upon this event. The same statement can be made every 4 years. When will FIFA do something about this culture of diving?
As much as sports teaches us about the right way to do things, it also teaches us that cheaters often do prosper. Who can forget Diego Maradona winning the World Cup after scoring with a handball?
This year Thierry Henry's handball put France into this tournament at Ireland's expense. Irish hearts were broken and polls showed that the French population were embarrassed at their team's entry. This was set right today when France bowed out going winless amidst recriminations and infighting.
France is a great football nation. They will be back and will do themselves proud. However at this World Cup they went out as they should have because they did not deserve to be there.
Congratulations are in order to the South Africans. They did not advance but they finished 1-1-1 by beating France. This was a very respectable result of which they can be proud.
Greece has won their first World Cup match ever. This was helped by scoring their first goal ever at this tournament.
Along with the many minnows who have upset the big nations there have been frequent (far too frequent) displays of diving and feigning of injuries. This is cheating and is the biggest blight upon this event. The same statement can be made every 4 years. When will FIFA do something about this culture of diving?
As much as sports teaches us about the right way to do things, it also teaches us that cheaters often do prosper. Who can forget Diego Maradona winning the World Cup after scoring with a handball?
This year Thierry Henry's handball put France into this tournament at Ireland's expense. Irish hearts were broken and polls showed that the French population were embarrassed at their team's entry. This was set right today when France bowed out going winless amidst recriminations and infighting.
France is a great football nation. They will be back and will do themselves proud. However at this World Cup they went out as they should have because they did not deserve to be there.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Aid and Comfort to the Enemy
US Law prohibits the "material support or resources" of foreign organizations designated by the State Department to be terrorist organizations.
In the case of the Attorney General v. Humanitarian Law project, The Supreme Court upheld the law in the face of arguments by Humanitarian Law that this prohibition infringed upon their First Amendment rights.
The majority decision correctly held that any American had a First Amendment right to express support for the aims of an organization no matter how odious. They ruled that this did not apply to the provision of material, expert training or personnel to the organization.
To put it into layman's terms, it is fine for any American to say that the Taliban represented a golden age for Afghanistan but it is illegal to provide personnel, material or expert advice as support for the Taliban.
The remarkable thing about this ruling is that the 6-3 majority brought the 5 conservative justices together with the dean of the liberal wing, Justice John Paul Stevens. That justices Breyer, Ginsburg and Sotomayor would uphold a "right" to supply terrorists with material and personnel as a free speech right is shocking and offensive.
Voices of dissent in times of war are often shouted down with accusations that the dissenters are giving "aid and comfort" to the enemy. That accusation is often used as an unfair and over the top bullying effort to silence dissent. How remarkable that 3 justices of the Supreme Court would allow for actual aid and comfort to be supplied to the enemy.
It is rare that I applaud Justice Stevens for being on the right side of a SCOTUS ruling. His presence on the right side of this ruling makes it something other than the usual left-right split on the Supreme Court. The 3 dissenting justices are left looking ridiculous.
In the case of the Attorney General v. Humanitarian Law project, The Supreme Court upheld the law in the face of arguments by Humanitarian Law that this prohibition infringed upon their First Amendment rights.
The majority decision correctly held that any American had a First Amendment right to express support for the aims of an organization no matter how odious. They ruled that this did not apply to the provision of material, expert training or personnel to the organization.
To put it into layman's terms, it is fine for any American to say that the Taliban represented a golden age for Afghanistan but it is illegal to provide personnel, material or expert advice as support for the Taliban.
The remarkable thing about this ruling is that the 6-3 majority brought the 5 conservative justices together with the dean of the liberal wing, Justice John Paul Stevens. That justices Breyer, Ginsburg and Sotomayor would uphold a "right" to supply terrorists with material and personnel as a free speech right is shocking and offensive.
Voices of dissent in times of war are often shouted down with accusations that the dissenters are giving "aid and comfort" to the enemy. That accusation is often used as an unfair and over the top bullying effort to silence dissent. How remarkable that 3 justices of the Supreme Court would allow for actual aid and comfort to be supplied to the enemy.
It is rare that I applaud Justice Stevens for being on the right side of a SCOTUS ruling. His presence on the right side of this ruling makes it something other than the usual left-right split on the Supreme Court. The 3 dissenting justices are left looking ridiculous.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
World Cup 2010
I often write about the beauty of sport. There are so many life lessons that can be learned through participaton (even as a spectator) in sports. Different life lessons are often learned through individual sports vs team sports however both are important.
Among my favourites:
1) David can slay Goliath when one compensates for a lack of talent with superior effort.
2) Contests are more often won in practice. (admittedly a variation on Sun Tzu)
3) Life isn't always fair. Sometimes the good guys don't win. Sometimes cheaters prosper. You should still display sportsmanship.
The first world cup of soccer to be held on the continent of Africa is currently being held in South Africa. Soccer is probably the most global of all sports in participation and appeal. North America has been a laggard on this front until very recently.
That South Africa has emerged from Apartheid as a leading African nation is a wonderful thing. Living standards across Africa are poor but less so in South Africa. Hosting the World Cup after so many years of being banned from most sporting competitions sends a powerful message.
South Africa scored the first goal of the tournament in their 1-1 draw with Mexico. The symbolism and spirit cannot be denied. This World Cup might be more momentous than the 2002 World Cup in Japan/korea in terms of the effect upon the host nation.
However much i appreciate sports, it's also true that too many people overestimate the impact of sport in an economic sense. Many taxpayer dollars have been squandered in its pursuit.
Montreal's Olympic Stadium now sits mostly empty as a white elephant to the folly of the 1976 games. It was finally paid for 30 years after the Olympics at a total cost of 1.6 billion dollars.
So what will South Africa do with 10 similar stadiums?
Several first round games have been played in front of sparse crowds. So how many bums will fill the seats when the World Cup is not being hosted?
Perhaps i'm being overly negative but while sports provides important life lessons, it usually doesn't truly change the nature of a city hosting it. While Winnipeg's social pride was wounded when they lost the Jets of the NHL, getting an NHL team back will not result in a sea change. Winnipeg will still not be Toronto even if they end up having a better hockey team.
I hope i'm wrong but i just don't see how several of these stadums will pay for themselves once the Wordl Cup is done. South Africa may just end up with a billion dollar hangover when this is all done.
They are still a poor country...perhaps the money could have been better spent/
Among my favourites:
1) David can slay Goliath when one compensates for a lack of talent with superior effort.
2) Contests are more often won in practice. (admittedly a variation on Sun Tzu)
3) Life isn't always fair. Sometimes the good guys don't win. Sometimes cheaters prosper. You should still display sportsmanship.
The first world cup of soccer to be held on the continent of Africa is currently being held in South Africa. Soccer is probably the most global of all sports in participation and appeal. North America has been a laggard on this front until very recently.
That South Africa has emerged from Apartheid as a leading African nation is a wonderful thing. Living standards across Africa are poor but less so in South Africa. Hosting the World Cup after so many years of being banned from most sporting competitions sends a powerful message.
South Africa scored the first goal of the tournament in their 1-1 draw with Mexico. The symbolism and spirit cannot be denied. This World Cup might be more momentous than the 2002 World Cup in Japan/korea in terms of the effect upon the host nation.
However much i appreciate sports, it's also true that too many people overestimate the impact of sport in an economic sense. Many taxpayer dollars have been squandered in its pursuit.
Montreal's Olympic Stadium now sits mostly empty as a white elephant to the folly of the 1976 games. It was finally paid for 30 years after the Olympics at a total cost of 1.6 billion dollars.
So what will South Africa do with 10 similar stadiums?
Several first round games have been played in front of sparse crowds. So how many bums will fill the seats when the World Cup is not being hosted?
Perhaps i'm being overly negative but while sports provides important life lessons, it usually doesn't truly change the nature of a city hosting it. While Winnipeg's social pride was wounded when they lost the Jets of the NHL, getting an NHL team back will not result in a sea change. Winnipeg will still not be Toronto even if they end up having a better hockey team.
I hope i'm wrong but i just don't see how several of these stadums will pay for themselves once the Wordl Cup is done. South Africa may just end up with a billion dollar hangover when this is all done.
They are still a poor country...perhaps the money could have been better spent/
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks.....poor Leafs fans!
The New York Rangers ended a 50 year streak of futility when they captured the Stanley Cup in 1994.
Tonight the Chicago Blackhawks won Lord Stanley's mug to end a 49 year streak of futility.
This leaves the Toronto Maple Leafs with the longest drought at 43 years. During that period of time, 23 Cups have been won by teams that did not even exist when Toronto last celebrated. Included in that list are such notable hockey hotbeds such as Carolina, Anaheim and Tampa Bay.
No point really.....other than the LEAFS SUCK!!!
Congrats to Chicago!
Tonight the Chicago Blackhawks won Lord Stanley's mug to end a 49 year streak of futility.
This leaves the Toronto Maple Leafs with the longest drought at 43 years. During that period of time, 23 Cups have been won by teams that did not even exist when Toronto last celebrated. Included in that list are such notable hockey hotbeds such as Carolina, Anaheim and Tampa Bay.
No point really.....other than the LEAFS SUCK!!!
Congrats to Chicago!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
The Helen Thomas Era Ends
Helen Thomas's career has been long and distinguished. She began covering President elect Kennedy in 1960 and has covered every President since. It was well known that she was no friend of Republicans and no friend of Israel, still admiration for her was nearly universal. Her seat in the press gallery was directly in front of the President and she was a formidable adversary for any politician.
The end of her career was a rather sad spectacle. At the age of 89 she attended the White House celebration of Jewish Heritage month and inexplicably told a rabbi that the Jews should "get the hell out of Palestine" and "go home." She suggested that they return to Poland, Germany and America.
Germany and Poland were countries in which many Jews were born and raised for generations. It is also the case that the most notorious Nazi death camps were also situated there.
Helen Thomas was a teenager during Kristallnacht. She was an adult when Hitler invaded Poland. Throughout her entire life (and before) Jews lived in Palestine. During her long life, Jews ceased to be a significant part of the population of many Arab countries.
It could be said that these facts should lead to her condemnation as she should have really known better. However it is also the basis for some forgiveness. What she said was very offensive. However she is almost 90 now. I couldn't help but feel some sympathy for her as Ari Fleischer (Bush Administration) and Lanny Davis (Clinton Administration) eviscerated her publicly and disavowed their past friendship and respect.
If you were lucky enough to have a grandmother who was deep into her 80's, would you be embarrassed if she said something off colour or would you smile knowing that she has lived a life worthy of respect?
I once attended a military dinner where a number of retired officers attended. An old man barked at me and asked me if i was Japanese. I smiled and said "No sir, I'm Korean. We were fighting the Japanese behind the lines." A somewhat less old man came up to me and apologized for the old major's tone with me. I told him that no apologies were necessary. That "old man" was a decorated veteran of the Italian campaign and deserved respect. Sure he might have gone a little batty but I chose to cut him some slack. He had earned it.
Helen Thomas was right to retire. She probably should have done so earlier. Lanny Davis and Ari Fleischer should stand down. There is no valour in beating up on an old woman. They should throw her a big party to celebrate her retirement and honour her life. She deserves it.
The end of her career was a rather sad spectacle. At the age of 89 she attended the White House celebration of Jewish Heritage month and inexplicably told a rabbi that the Jews should "get the hell out of Palestine" and "go home." She suggested that they return to Poland, Germany and America.
Germany and Poland were countries in which many Jews were born and raised for generations. It is also the case that the most notorious Nazi death camps were also situated there.
Helen Thomas was a teenager during Kristallnacht. She was an adult when Hitler invaded Poland. Throughout her entire life (and before) Jews lived in Palestine. During her long life, Jews ceased to be a significant part of the population of many Arab countries.
It could be said that these facts should lead to her condemnation as she should have really known better. However it is also the basis for some forgiveness. What she said was very offensive. However she is almost 90 now. I couldn't help but feel some sympathy for her as Ari Fleischer (Bush Administration) and Lanny Davis (Clinton Administration) eviscerated her publicly and disavowed their past friendship and respect.
If you were lucky enough to have a grandmother who was deep into her 80's, would you be embarrassed if she said something off colour or would you smile knowing that she has lived a life worthy of respect?
I once attended a military dinner where a number of retired officers attended. An old man barked at me and asked me if i was Japanese. I smiled and said "No sir, I'm Korean. We were fighting the Japanese behind the lines." A somewhat less old man came up to me and apologized for the old major's tone with me. I told him that no apologies were necessary. That "old man" was a decorated veteran of the Italian campaign and deserved respect. Sure he might have gone a little batty but I chose to cut him some slack. He had earned it.
Helen Thomas was right to retire. She probably should have done so earlier. Lanny Davis and Ari Fleischer should stand down. There is no valour in beating up on an old woman. They should throw her a big party to celebrate her retirement and honour her life. She deserves it.
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