***ALERT: AL-QAEDA OPERATIVES VISITED S. KOREA, SCOUTING TERROR OPPORTUNITY***BREAKING REPORT

Chosun Ilbo Newspaper (in Seoul, Korea) in English ^ | 15 December | Chosen Ilbo Paper (in Seoul)

[happygrl]

Again, thanks for being our FReeper eyes in the Far East.

[GOPJ]

bump

[XHogPilot]

From The Korea Times, Mar 2003:
Why Are So Many Muslims Angry With America?
By Joe Joshi
Senior Editor
Most Muslims in Seoul look favorably on American freedoms and political values, but have a strongly negative overall view of the United States based largely on their disapproval of American policy toward the Arab world and the U.S.-led coalition’s war on Iraq.

This appears contrary to the basic thrust of stepped-up “public diplomacy” outreach programs that the Bush administration and Congress have promoted in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. The programs rest on the premise that anti-American views among Muslims stem largely from a lack of knowledge about U.S. values.

But a large number of Muslims attending prayer meetings at the mosque in Itaewon, Seoul said America’s image is slipping because while the current crisis is over Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, the U.S. is on trial in the court of world public opinion for pushing efforts to disarm Saddam Hussein by military force, rather than through slower but peaceful U.N. inspections

Fauziah Bakar, a senior F&B outlet executive here who spent many years in the U.S. after graduating from UCLA, said her attitude toward Washington is hardening, Despite her otherwise good feelings for America, she couldn’t help but voice – almost apologetically – concerns that the United States is a superpower running amok.

Other Muslims praying at the Itaewon mosque, from countries as far-flung as Egypt, Pakistan and Malaysia, suggested that goodwill and sympathy for the United States generated by the Sept. 11 terror attacks have evaporated.

For some, the United States is again – or always has been – the country they love to hate: America the brutal, America the hypocrite, America the implacable ideological or religious foe.

”We pray for America’s destruction day and night,” said Arif Khan, who works at a South Korean factory.

But beyond the zealots and outside the Muslim world, many others are torn between admiration for Americans and things American. They cite democracy, technology, Hollywood movies and then discomforting reality of America the superpower, able and willing to fight alone if need be, despite international opposition to the war in Iraq.

No interview can capture the global range of emotions the United States inspires. But there are common threads. No matter the language, words used these days to describe America are often the same: bent on war, arrogant, bullying, blind to the plight of the poor. At anti-war protests, like the recent ones that brought large crowds onto streets in Seoul, President Bush is lampooned as a bloodthirsty bandit or a cowboy.

Yet attitudes are not always clear-cut.

”I don’t like anything in America, except for the high standard of living and job opportunities,” said Farook el Hussain, a Palestinian computer programmer working near Seoul. “Since the Americans launched an attack on Iraq, my hatred for them has increased.”

War is bad for the whole world, bad for the economy, bad for security, bad for peace,” said S.M. Ali, a Merchant Marine officer who often is in Seoul. He was in Yongsan Electronic Market Monday waving fistfuls of pirated American movies while his Korean girlfriend Helen Kim was trying to make him end the interview.

”We understand where America’s coming from. I don’t like Saddam, he’s dangerous and a little crazy. But Bush needs to be careful… He may be right about Iraq, but that doesn’t mean he’s right about war. He has to listen more to others,” said Kim.

Even Arab-Americans like Sam Aziz seemed angered by Washington’s recent “adventure in Iraq.” He was drinking beer at a restaurant in Seoul and said: “This is going to result in a backlash where hardline Muslims will strike at the heart of America. Why do we want to invite trouble to America?”

Aziz and his Arab-American friends looked favorably on American freedom and democracy, American technological abilities and culture. But when they were asked what the United States could do to improve its relations with the Arab world, they focused largely on what they saw as a general unfairness toward and lack of understanding of the Middle East region, and a particular bias toward Israel in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

”The rights of the Palestinian people for a homeland is the cause of all this problem,” said Aziz. “I am glad Bush is finally talking about a solution to this nightmare.”

joejoshi@koreatimes.co.kr

03-26-2003 18:06

[SaucyCranberry]

Yep, it's placement also allows the mosque to have a view onto parts of Yongsan, as I can see it on the hill in Itaewon from here. Interesting indeed. Thanks for the ping folks, it's a reminder to stay focused.

[tubavil]

A Korean National Policeman guards the entrance to the Korean Muslim Federation Central Mosque in Seoul

South Korean police say they have stepped up security "substantially" at embassies of Islamic countries and other Muslim facilities in the country.

The increases come as some fear Islamic locals could be the target of retaliatory violence from last week's terrorist attacks in the United States.

http://www.stripes.com/01/sep01/ed092201d.html

[tubavil]

http://www.korea.net/koreanculture/artsandculture/islam.html

The first Koreans who were exposed to the Islam religion were poor farmers who moved to Manchuria in the late 19th century. The first Korean Imam (chaplain) was elected and the mosque was built upon the establishment of the Korean Federation of Muslims in 1955. Later in 1967, the Federation was officially registered with the Korean government as the Korean Society of Islam. The Central Mosque was dedicated in 1976 in Itaewon, Seoul, with the assistance of several Islamic countries including Saudi Arabia. Currently, there are seven mosques and about 30,000 Muslims in Korea.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Forwarding these articles on to US military intelligence for USFK. They I am sure already have these, but just in case.

IMHO, this is a serious situation, a possible security threat to our troops and our allies and US civilians alike, and of course I had been eyeing these buzzards as they strolled up and down Itaewon. Probably planning out which shops in Seoul to bomb and planning their escape routes.

[Recovering_Democrat]

Yep. I would suspect as much. We're rooting out the S.O.Bs here in the USA, much to the chagrin of the DNC, ACLU and even some whackjob "conservatives" handwringing themselves to death over the Patriot Act. So now, the bastards are looking for innocents to murder in Allied countries.

[bonesmccoy]

bttt... of course... I am a fellow "recovering democrat"

and I've been recovering for several years.

It's a regular 12 step program (lol)

[InShanghai]

People are fooling themselves if they don't think China gives aid to the Mohammedans, too.

There's a few Arabs here in Shanghai. Some look quite shady & try to pass off counterfeit US $100 bills. I think the policy here is don't ask, don't tell...

[piasa]

blast from the past fyi

[Cindy]

Thank you Piasa.

Your post is a reminder that the war against terrorism truly is global.

[Cindy]

A bit off topic...here's a sampling of news of interest which occurred in N./S. Korea:

English.CHOSUN.com: "EXPLOSION KILLS TWO, INJURES THREE" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "An explosion of three plastic tanks filled with surfactant occurred at 5:10 p.m. on Thursday at a Neo Energy Korea factory in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, killing two and injuring three including two Pakistanis.") (Updated September 30, 2004) (Read More...)

"CHANNEL NEWS ASIA.com (AFP): Seoul - NERVE GAS CHEMICAL SHIPPED TO NORTH KOREA FROM SOUTH: OFFICIAL" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: "More than 100 tonnes of a toxic chemical that can be used to make deadly nerve gas were exported to North Korea by a South Korean businessman via China, the government said. The ministry of commerce said the businessman exported 107 tonnes of sodium cyanide between June and September last year to an importer in Dandong, China, on the border with North Korea, without government approval. The unidentified Chinese company re-exported the shipment to a North Korean trading firm, the ministry said in a statement.") (September 24, 2004) (Read More...)

FOX NEWS.com (AP): "NORTH KOREA MIGHT HAVE TESTED NUKE" (September 12, 2004) (Read More...)

MENEWSLINE.com - MIDDLE EAST NEWSLINE: London - "NORTH KOREA MARKETS TAEPO DONG-2 MISSILE" (ARTICLE SNIPPET: ""Iran wants an ICBM and China and North Korea are already helping in the development of engines," a senior intelligence source said. "North Korea could eventually reach a deal to sell the Taepo Dong-2 to Iran."") (August 26, 2004) (Read More...)