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S. Korean Troops Volunteer for Iraq Duty
yahoo ^
| 2005 2/5
| SOO-JEONG LEE
Posted on 02/05/2004 12:11:57 AM PST by serurier
S. Korean Troops Volunteer for Iraq Duty
SEOUL, South Korea - Driven in part by large financial bonuses, about 18,000 South Korean soldiers have volunteered for a mission to help the U.S.-led coalition rebuild Iraq (news - web sites), a military official said Thursday. South Korea (news - web sites) has plans to send as many as 3,000 troops to Iraq as early as April in a mission making South Korea the biggest coalition partner after the United States and Britain.
Parliament must still approve the dispatch, but all major parties have said they would support it and the military is already preparing by soliciting volunteers and training soldiers as Arabic translators.
On Thursday, the military said 18,000 soldiers have already applied for service and that more applicants were expected before Tuesday's deadline. Volunteers will be winnowed after parliament approves the dispatch.
"I think soldiers want to build experience abroad, and especially among young soldiers, there is a willingness to experience something new," army spokesman Col. Ha Doo-chul said.
Ha added that the high salary for Iraq duty is also a motivating factor.
A sergeant sent to Iraq can expect monthly pay of $1,100, compared to the $15 he would make back home under mandatory military service.
The new dispatch of 3,000 troops to the northern Iraqi oil town of Kirkuk is to include special forces and combat-ready marines. It would come in addition to 460 South Korean military medics and engineers already operating in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah.
The dispatch is unpopular with the public, but President Roh Moo-hyun has backed the move as a show of support for South Korea's top ally, the United States.
TOPICS: War on Terror
KEYWORDS: allies; allysouthkorea; iraq; multinational; southkorea
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Bless S. Korean Forces !
1
posted on
02/05/2004 12:11:58 AM PST
by
serurier
To: Steel Wolf; archy; yonif; Severa; risk; Ragtime Cowgirl; LaDivaLoca; Calpernia; bentfeather; ...
Freedom will win !!!
2
posted on
02/05/2004 12:12:53 AM PST
by
serurier
(We come here for the freedom of the world)
To: serurier
Wonderful news!
THANK YOU SOUTH KOREA!!!
3
posted on
02/05/2004 12:18:43 AM PST
by
radu
(May God watch over our troops and keep them safe)
To: serurier
Good for them! I welcome then and wish them well and safe.
4
posted on
02/05/2004 12:20:09 AM PST
by
Fledermaus
(Democrats are just not capable of defending our nation's security. It's that simple!)
To: serurier
But I'm sure Kerry will think they are "fradulant" not really a part of the coalition.
5
posted on
02/05/2004 12:20:41 AM PST
by
Fledermaus
(Democrats are just not capable of defending our nation's security. It's that simple!)
To: serurier
God BLESS the South Koreans. I don't believe they are all in it for the money. Not when they would be putting their lives on the line.
This would give them some acutely useful resources for defending their own land.
I like it. Hope Parliament okays it.
I don't think the world has seen the mettle of the South Koreans yet. And God bless the memory of Harry S[toutheart] Truman for giving them the freedom "yesterday" so they could stand up and volunteer today.
God bless and keep our soldiers and allies' soldiers safe, wherever they serve in the world.
6
posted on
02/05/2004 12:23:25 AM PST
by
GretchenEE
(The woman who walks with God always gets to her destination.)
To: Fledermaus
SOUTH KOREA Soldier are hero of freedom world !
7
posted on
02/05/2004 12:28:01 AM PST
by
serurier
(We come here for the freedom of the world)
To: GretchenEE
Thank you very much , South Koreans soldier fight , for freedom of the world .
8
posted on
02/05/2004 12:34:08 AM PST
by
serurier
(We come here for the freedom of the world)
To: serurier
The ROK's were some of the toughest troops in the Vietnam war.
9
posted on
02/05/2004 3:13:46 AM PST
by
Jaxter
("Vivit Post Funera Virtus")
To: serurier; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; TEXOKIE; Alamo-Girl; windchime; Grampa Dave; ...
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
bump
11
posted on
02/05/2004 6:41:36 AM PST
by
Valin
(Politicians are like diapers. They both need changing regularly and for the same reason.)
To: GretchenEE
re: I don't think the world has seen the mettle of the South Koreans yet.)))
We certainly have not seen it. Perhaps, eventually, someday, maybe, perhaps--we'll get a look.
Better extremely late than never.
12
posted on
02/05/2004 6:44:58 AM PST
by
Mamzelle
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
NON-UN-ilateral, ping for our S. Korean allies ~ Bump!
13
posted on
02/05/2004 8:59:02 AM PST
by
blackie
(Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
NON-UN-ilateral, ping for our S. Korean allies ~ Bump!
14
posted on
02/05/2004 9:00:59 AM PST
by
blackie
(Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
To: serurier
ROK troops are pretty hard-core, too.
To: cateizgr8
ping :)
To: serurier
Bump!
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
To: Mamzelle
Please kindly take a moment to read serurier's reply at #8.
19
posted on
02/05/2004 12:30:57 PM PST
by
GretchenEE
(The woman who walks with God always gets to her destination.)
To: GretchenEE
Skoreans have sent a grand total of 700 non-soldiers to Iraq. I believe we've sent more US civilians to open JC Penney's (and other civilian help and enterprises) in Baghdad than that.
Those 700 also arrived long after the fall of Baghdad.
3000 troops, this late in the game? Well, better late than never.
20
posted on
02/06/2004 7:47:53 AM PST
by
Mamzelle
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