I used the term "cutting them loose", but I just meant cutting away our contractual obligation, so that no matter what stupid antagonism (again, Shalakashvili, in former soviet Georgia, who by provocation invited a Russian invasion, that if Georgia were a NATO member as has been proposed) we would have been obligated to defend, each of which could expand into World War 3.

What I mean is, take away the unconditional obligation to war that each of these alliances strangles the U.S. with, and force each of these nations to provide a larger percentage of their economy to pay for their own defense (again, Japan and South Korea are nations very capable of paying for their own defense and keeping adequate military forces to allow the U.S. to leave, and only be called upon to send U.S. troops if some new situation warrants it).
And again, in the absence of treary obligations, we can always choose to defend them if it is in our interest and for legitimate reasons.
And choose not to be obligated to war, if it's something senseless (again, former soviet Georgia).