Korean Job Discussion Forums

[kimchi_pizza]

I'm very interested in military history throughout the world, from Alexander to Roman Empire to World War 2 and the ongoing problems in Iraq.

Though the thought of "occupation" is a feared concept in any country, but is it an all-together evil or bad thing? Think of the positive changes invading or occupational forces have brought about.

From personal experience, I was in Bosnia in '96 and felt like I was traveling back in time to steam locomotives and sawmills. Though our (U.S.) help came late, we still made some difference as well as the Russian, Italian, German, French, etc. forces I literally bumped into in Sarejevo.

U.S. helped moderize Japan following the war and made a HUGE impact. But in Iraq, they are obviously resisting U.S. occupation but isn't even that helping them to stand up for themselves and build their own identity and nation? The U.S. resisted the British monarchy and look what it helped the U.S. become by resisting.

Then again, look at opposite end of the spectrum with Hitler and his occupation of other countries. Positive changes....?

What changes did soldiers bring to Korea during and after the war? In '93 I saw a lot of changes in just a year, but that was more due to U.S. hiphop culture and MTV than soldiers.

Right now I being invaded by a hangover, no lessons learned here! I need more coffee...

[RACETRAITOR]

The Japanese during the occupation felt bad and knew they deserved it, so they didn't struggle too much and allowed Macarthur to modernise them. A pretty nice reward, and all they had to pay up was the results of inhumane medical experiments conducted in Manchukuo.

Korea's occupation was interrupted by a war. Iraq's occupation was unwelcomed and generally considered a mistake.

[kimchi_pizza]

Korea's occupation was interrupted by a war. Iraq's occupation was unwelcomed and generally considered a mistake.[/quote]

In Iraq, it didn't seem that way at the get-go. I wonder what T.E. Lawrence(Sp?)-"Lawrence of Arabia" say about what's going on over there?

[Dan The Chainsawman]

TE Lawerance would say, "Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggghhh Bloody pothole!" crash....

[kimchi_pizza]

[RACETRAITOR]

[lastat06513]

The rest of the world is calling the US "intervention" in Iraq an "occupation"

But the US is calling it "reconstruction" and "nation-building" and that the "boots on the ground" are doing nothing more than a mere "police action" that requires some "selective targeting" to get "undesirables" out of the country, but unfortunate for the civilian population, "collatoral damage" is being incurred


huh.............

[bixlerscott]

Like the OP, I too was in Bosnia during 1996 for the IFOR mission. This little old world country was torn the hell up and in a 3rd world state of being with 18 to 20 hour work days, 7 days a week to feed the troops some chow. It was a very very difficult year for me.... The place had bullet holes everywhere and land mines strewn about the fields and road sides. No utilities, little technology, and no modern anything, but I did have a great deal more American made goodies in my sack than I do today in modernized Korea. I was thrown back to a old world time of ages by gone by.... I miss the commoderie of my fellow soldiers or co-workers. I miss my old drinking buddies and feel so isolated in a little dong of blue collar working class Korean people where 5 day markets are the highlight of the action where no one speaks English, where I never see another Westerner, and where the locals see me as a real novelty. It's awkward, but is real Korea. Still I prefer city places (Busan and Seoul) where I might connect with other speakers of English, do more, see more, be more, and experience more culture and arts. I will definitely opt for city living if I stay in Korea.

My Army days were the days I think about everyday still today as they hold a special place in my heart...