Franz-Stefan Gady: How the Deep State Stopped Troop Reductions in North Korea – July 11, 2018

Journalist Franz-Stefan Gady joins Scott to discuss his recent article, “How the ‘Deep State’ Stopped a US President From Withdrawing US Troops From Korea”, about President Carter’s efforts to demilitarize and denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, before being stymied by an intelligence report claiming that North Korea’s military was much stronger than previously thought. Once the report made its way to congress, Grady explains, there was very little political will to follow through with Carter’s wishes, and he was only able to see through a small troop withdrawal. Grady applauds this reduction as a good thing, but thinks that removing the remaining troops too hastily would be a mistake. He explains that U.S. troops mainly act as a “tripwire,” ensuring that if the North were to attack, America would sustain casualties, and would have to respond militarily. This deterrent acts as a stabilizing force against North Korean aggression. Gady supports efforts at diplomacy, but ultimately is skeptical we will see a lasting peace.

Franz-Stefan Gady is a Senior Editor at The Diplomat and a Senior Fellow at the EastWest Institute. He has reported from all over the Middle East. Follow him on Twitter @HoansSolo.

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