The Pentagon has issued a kinder syllabus for Ulchi Freedom Shield. The tanks remain parked. The soldiers will practise being pleased.
The annual drills with South Korea still start on Monday. They no longer rehearse stopping an attack. They rehearse not causing one by accident of tone.
Washington had already ordered the exercises scaled back. Commanders had warned that North Korea was taking notes from Ukraine. It is a sequel with the battles cut for runtime.
Units have been handed a card of safe remarks. One line praises the weather. Another praises the idea of praise.
