Everyone knows that North Korea is pretty much run by a nutjob, and that starvation and other pressures could lead to a need for a nice diversionary war at any time. Everyone knows that south of the famous Demilitarized Zone, American soldiers keep constant watch, doing their one year tours unaccompanied by families.

Wrong. I must have slept through last year or something. Seems that last year, Sec. of Defense Gates changed all that and ok’d making the tour of duty to Korea two to three years WITH family members. So yes, American spouses and kids can visit the pretty Korean temples and orphanages now.

And be sitting ready to be invoked as “needing rescue” if the North Koreans get restive. (Read that as batshit crazy for anything that increases rations.) I guess putting actual military members in “harm’s way” is not sufficient. Now, families can be there, too. My dad, dead many years now, was a Korean war vet. He had nothing good to say about the place, somewhat understandably. And I am pretty sure he would have no good opinion of sending military dependents there.

And yes, I know, I had my first child as an active duty member of the U.S. Army in Berlin, Germany, way back in the bad old Cold War days before the Wall came down. Not exactly a catbird seat of security there, either. And for the record, no, I did not think THAT was a good idea either. How did I miss this; why was it not splashed all over the papers? Someone tell me why this attracted no notice?

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