Mattis tells soldiers that being ready for war helps stop it
Mattis
"Storm clouds are gathering" over  the Korean Peninsula  Defense Secretary Jim Mattis  declared Friday. And as diplomats try to resolve the nuclear standoff   he  told soldiers that the U.S. military must do its part by being ready for war.
Without forecasting a conflict   Mattis  emphasized that diplomacy stands the best chance of preventing a war if America's words are backed up by strong and prepared armed forces.
"My fine young soldiers  the only way our diplomats can speak with authority and be believed is if you're ready to go "  Mattis  told several dozen soldiers and airmen at the 82nd Airborne Division's Hall of Heroes  his last stop on a two-day pre-holiday tour of bases to greet troops.
 Mattis'  comments came as the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved tough new sanctions against North Korea  compelling nations to sharply reduce their sales of oil to the reclusive country and send home all North Korean expatriate workers within two years. Such workers are seen as a key source of revenue for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's cash-strapped government.
At Fort Bragg  Mattis recommended the troops read T.R. Fehrenbach's military classic "This Kind of War: A Study in Unpreparedness " first published in 1963  a decade after the Korean War ended.
Asked about recent reports that families of U.S. service members in South Korea might be evacuated   Mattis  stressed  his  belief that diplomacy could still avert a crisis.  He  said there is no plan now for an evacuation.
"I don't think it's at that point yet "  he  said  adding that an evacuation of American civilians would hurt the South Korean economy.  He  said there is a contingency plan that would get U.S. service members' families out "on very short notice. "
Mattis  said  he  sees little chance of Kim disrupting the Winter Olympics  which begin in South Korea in February.
"I don't think Kim is stupid enough to take on the whole world by killing their athletes "  he  said.
 Mattis  repeatedly stressed that there is still time to work out a peaceful solution. At one point  he  said diplomacy is "going positively." But  he  also seemed determined to steel U.S. troops against what could be a costly war on the Korean Peninsula.
"There is very little reason for optimism "  he  said.
"Storm clouds are gathering" over  the Korean Peninsula  Defense Secretary Jim Mattis  declared Friday. And as diplomats try to resolve the nuclear standoff   he  told soldiers that the U.S. military must do its part by being ready for war.
Without forecasting a conflict   Mattis  emphasized that diplomacy stands the best chance of preventing a war if America's words are backed up by strong and prepared armed forces.
"My fine young soldiers  the only way our diplomats can speak with authority and be believed is if you're ready to go  [TGT] told several dozen soldiers and airmen at the 82nd Airborne Division's Hall of Heroes   [TGT]  last stop on a two-day pre-holiday tour of bases to greet troops.
  [TGT] comments came as the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved tough new sanctions against North Korea  compelling nations to sharply reduce their sales of oil to the reclusive country and send home all North Korean expatriate workers within two years. Such workers are seen as a key source of revenue for North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's cash-strapped government.
At  [TGT]  recommended the troops read T.R. Fehrenbach's military classic "This Kind of War: A Study in Unpreparedness " first published in 1963  a decade after the Korean War ended.
Asked about recent reports that families of U.S. service members in South Korea might be evacuated    [TGT] stressed   [TGT]   belief that diplomacy could still avert a crisis.   [TGT]   said there is no plan now for an evacuation.
"I don't think it's at that point yet "   [TGT]   said  adding that an evacuation of American civilians would hurt the South Korean economy.   [TGT]   said there is a contingency plan that would get U.S. service members' families out "on very short notice. "
 [TGT] said   [TGT]   sees little chance of Kim disrupting the Winter Olympics  which begin in South Korea in February.
"I don't think Kim is stupid enough to take on the whole world by killing their athletes "   [TGT]   said.
  [TGT] repeatedly stressed that there is still time to work out a peaceful solution. At one point   [TGT]   said diplomacy is "going positively." But   [TGT]   also seemed determined to steel U.S. troops against what could be a costly war on the Korean Peninsula.
"There is very little reason for optimism "  he  said.