WASHINGTON – The United States could fight an old-fashioned war against North Korea if necessary, even while newer forms of conflict against terrorists and extremists continue, the Army’s top officer said Thursday.
Asked whether the United States would be prepared to fight if war broke out between South Korea and North Korea, Gen. George Casey replied, “The short answer is yes,” then added that “it would probably take us a little bit longer to shift gears” away from the type of counterinsurgency fighting that now occupies the Army.
Casey said his usual rubric for how long it would take the Army to gear up for a new “conventional” war is about 90 days. That doesn’t mean it would take 90 days for the U.S. to effectively fight the North’s million-man army, he said.
“We’d move forces as rapidly as we could get them prepared,” Casey said during an appearance at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
North Korea has threatened war following condemnation of its underground nuclear test this week, and the United States has a long-term commitment to South Korea’s defense.
“This is a combat-seasoned force” that can pivot quickly, Casey said.
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“This is a combat-seasoned force” that can pivot quickly, Casey said.
While I am not a huge Casey supporter and have issues with the way he handled the war in Iraq I whole heartedly agree with this last statement here. The US Army is a battle hardened combat force that in many regards would probably welcome fighting a stand up conventional fight for a change. Another take on that would be that hopefully having learned the lessons in Iraq our forces are gonna be much better at crushing a nasent insurgency then they were going into Iraq. North Korea’s military forces in terms of equipment is a joke and I really feel bad if those boys come south of the DMZ as the ROK’s K-1s are gonna have a field day shooting up the Norks type 59s, T-62s, T-54s, and for God’s sake T-34s. I can’t imagine that the fuel to keep those tanks running will last long especially as the combined air forces in the regions are going to play merry hell with their supply lines. I can just see some of the A-10 guys grinning ear to ear now. If Dear Leader is suicidal enough to send his army south he is gonna get a lot of it shot to hell and then there is going to be no one to guard the palace anymore. Hell the people just may help with his demise once they see food heading their way and not being diverted to Dear Leader and his cronies!