South Korea to send troops to Iraq

The Sunday Times ^ | November 10 2003

[knighthawk]

SOUTH Korea confirmed today that it will send thousands of troops to Iraq to help US forces there.

Washington and Seoul, however, differed on the size of South Korea's troop deployment, with Seoul offering to send 3000 soldiers while Washington requested more, said Lee Soo-hyuk, a senior Foreign Ministry official.

The two sides will continue their discussions when US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld visits Seoul in mid-November, said Lee, who led a government delegation to Washington last week to work out details of the deployment.

"After Turkey cancelled its plan to dispatch troops, the United States earnestly wants other countries to send troops," Lee told South Korean news media.

"The United States expects much from South Korea, which is a staunch ally."

South Korea, which already has hundreds of non-combat troops in Iraq, said last month it would send more troops. But it did not disclose the number, type and other details of the new deployment.

Lee said South Korea wants to send troops for "peace and reconstruction" in Iraq, indicating that it wants to dispatch mainly non-combat personnel.

The United States asked for troops fitted for "stabilisation operations," Lee added. Some unconfirmed news reports have said Washington wants at least 5000 South Korean combat troops.

South Koreans are widely divided over the issue. Some say an additional dispatch would boost Seoul's military alliance with Washington, which is vital to South Korea's national security, especially at a time of tensions over communist North Korea's suspected development of nuclear weapons.

Others say the US war in Iraq was unjustified, and oppose another dispatch.

The United States has been trying to solicit large numbers of foreign troops to relieve the US forces in Iraq. But in a major setback to US policy, Turkey on Friday called off plans to deploy about 10,000 Turkish troops, which could have become the third-largest force in Iraq after Britain.

Pakistan and India already signalled they would not send soldiers to Iraq. That forced the Pentagon to announce plans on Thursday to alert an additional 43,000 National Guard and Reserve support troops that they may be sent to Iraq as well.

[knighthawk]

Ping

[pfflier]

The ROK troops in Vietnam were real soldiers. They took no crap and few prisoners. The NVA were scared $hitless of them.

[nathanbedford]

3000 troops amout to about 2% of America's committment in Irak. What does this huge contribution cost us? We have 38,000 troops on the line and nearby in Korea, one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints.

It certainly costs us a great deal of leverage in dealing with the South Koreans. It might cost us freedom of action on the penninsula. We need all the leverage we can get to keep the radical left under control in South Korea so that they do not undermine our negotiations with the north.

Is this measly contrubution worth the cost just so we can report that we have one more nation on board?

[toddst]

Is this measly contrubution worth the cost just so we can report that we have one more nation on board?

I'm guessing the final number of SK personnel will be higher AND perhaps 5,000 will be combat troops. The SK's can't afford not to make a significant committment and risk our reducing US troop levels in Korea IMO.

[CasearianDaoist]

The ROK troops in Vietnam were real soldiers.

Boy, ain't that the truth. Seen them some ROK marines, and let them use their own rules of engagement. The Saddamites will start surrendering in droves.

[zencat]

I lived with two S. Korean room mates in college. Both were in the military (I believe there is a mandatory service requirement). Say what you want about the US protecting S. Korea, but these soldiers are the professional real deal. Three to five thousand of them would be a worthy addition to the coalition.

[SandRat]

OOOOOOo! I can hardly wait for the first bunch of dimwitted terrs to come up against the ROKs, upholding the honor of the "White Horse" Division. He-he-he-he, this could be enjoyable.

[Centurion2000]

In related news

The Korean marines were seen placing orders for pork bellies and bacon grease.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

S. Korea taking a public stand against the terrorists.

Bless our allies.

If you want on or off my Pro-Coalition ping list, please Freepmail me. Warning: it is a high volume ping list on good days. (Most days are good days).

[blackie]

Bless our allies ~ Bump!

[ExSES]

The ROK troops in Vietnam were real soldiers. They took no crap and few prisoners. The NVA were scared $hitless of them.

I would humbly suggest that ROK units be assigned to independent "interviewing teams" which will only be required to reveal what they have discovered (not where their interviewees have gone or how they got there!!!)...

[windchime]

Bump!

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[pfflier]

The terrorists will be terrorized. I'm sure that Amnesty International and the ACLU are ready to rain on that

[ExSES]

The terrorists will be terrorized. I'm sure that Amnesty International and the ACLU are ready to rain on that

I'm sure that the ROK would really "cave" on such concerns...

[PhilDragoo]

God bless our allies bump.

"Only" three to five thousand of these tigers would sanitize this jungle.

Death to terrorists; death to REMFs; death to chickensh!t ROEs.

Lt Col West for Secretary of the Army: no rainbow berets--just results.

[Samuel Lee]

I'm not an American, but I joined this site anyway because I'm a conservative Korean. I have my country's (and your's) best wishes to my heart.

Being born in America and fully aware of the generosity US has shown to us, most Americans tend to think that Koreans are not feeling grateful enough towards US; that ungrateful Koreans always opposes US when they are supposed to be the "staunch ally" Am I right so far?

I mean, I'd feel the same way if I was an American. What do you get by helping?

But then you must understand things are a little different here. US army, not the US itself, despite it's constant efforts to help people, has been bossy here(or, perhaps they didn't intend to but the cultural difference begot a serious misunderstanding). What would you say if a American girl was ran over by a tank? Wouldn't you want whoever did it punished by the law of your country? What if there wasn't much of apologies (in fact, I don't even remember one) about it?


Besides, a country might have different ideas about things and have different policies. Apart from give-and-take, apart from repaying the debt, messing up with other country's policies mean that you are actually messing up with their sovereignty. I'm sure that Koreans will do their best to help US, but it's not just right to coerce us into doing it.

[kidd]

most Americans tend to think that Koreans are not feeling grateful enough towards US; that ungrateful Koreans always opposes US when they are supposed to be the "staunch ally" Am I right so far?

Not on this forum. We recognize that older Koreans are very supportive of the United States and that there is a set of very vocal young Koreans who are anti-US that get a lot of press coverage.

I'm sure that Koreans will do their best to help US, but it's not just right to coerce us into doing it.

Please explain how Koreans are being coerced into helping the US.