US Military Discovers Sovereignty, But Only for Itself
A South Korean special counsel team, investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law bid, searched a Korean Air Force Master Control & Reporting Center at Osan Air Base. The US Forces Korea then reportedly protested, citing the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), because the search somehow 'lacked consultation'. The special counsel denies any SOFA violation. One might recall how often
the US military consults before operations in other nations, or the numerous instances of immunity granted under SOFA agreements globally for US personnel accused of crimes, often sidelining local justice. So, a sovereign nation investigating its own former leader on its own territory is a breach of protocol when it inconveniently brushes against US interests. Yet, calls for accountability for US
military actions abroad are often met with diplomatic stonewalling. This isn't about sovereignty; it's about hierarchy. Who gets to define 'rules-based order' when it always benefits one party?