To the Point

Has the US Overstayed its Mission in South Korea?

When the Korean War ended 50 years ago, the Korean Peninsula was divided into Communist North Korea and South Korea, an underdeveloped ally of the US. Though today, South Korea is a prosperous and thriving democracy, almost 40,000 American troops are still stationed there. Late last year, smoldering anti-Americanism was inflamed when an American court martial acquitted two US soldiers in the accidental deaths of two teen-aged Korean girls. US troops were also an issue in that country-s recent election. Do American soldiers provide necessary protection against the nuclear threats from the North, or have they overstayed their usefulness? We hear several perspectives from a journalist in Seoul, political scientists who specialize in US-Asian relations, a former ambassador to the region, and an Army spokesman who was himself was the victim of knife-wielding attackers shouting anti-American slogans. Newsmaker: Bush to Oppose Race-Based Admissions in Michigan Court Case By tomorrow, the White House is expected to file an amicus brief with the US Supreme Court, immersing President Bush in the politically charged issue of affirmative action. While the brief would provide considerable weight in the two cases involving the University of Michigan, there are echoes from the fall of Republican Senate Leader Trent Lott. Jodi Cohen, who reports for the Detroit News, explains the President-s dilemma. Reporter-s Notebook: Giuliani to Advise Mexico City on Curbing Crime Rudolph Giuliani is credited for cutting crime in New York City by 60%. Now, a group of businessmen is paying him more than $4 million to do the same thing in a city renown for its corrupt law enforcement. Is cero tolerance what Mexico City needs? Is Giulani worth the $4 million fee? Sergio Sarmiento, political commentator for the press and TV Azteca, has more on the money and motivation behind the anti-crime campaign.