By Anthony Faiola and Joohee Cho
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, October 18, 2003; Page A19
TOKYO, Oct. 18 (Saturday) -- South Korea pledged on Saturday to dispatch additional troops to Iraq and to send $200 million to help rebuild the country in a plan that bolsters U.S. efforts to establish a broader coalition.
South Korean officials did not specify how many troops would be sent or what their precise mission would be.
"The government will decide on the number, characteristics and timing of the dispatch after considering the U.S. request and public opinion," Yoon Tae Young, a spokesman for President Roh Moo Hyun, told reporters in Seoul, the capital.
Earlier this year, the country sent about 670 medical and other non-combat personnel to Iraq, in addition to earmarking $60 million for reconstruction.
The decision on Friday came after months of hand-wringing on the issue by Roh, whose decision appeared to be heavily influenced by the unanimous adoption this week of a U.N. Security Council resolution on Iraq. The resolution called for the establishment of a multinational force led by the United States, and appealed to U.N. members to provide troops and money to help support the occupation of Iraq.
The decision also follows a pledge by Japan to send a small contingent of troops and $1.5 billion for the reconstruction of Iraq.
Roh had linked any decision to send troops on a softening of the U.S. position on the nuclear standoff with North Korea. Although President Bush on Friday ruled out a formal treaty with the North Koreans, he notably left the door open to address the North's security concerns.
For South Korea, and especially Roh, the decision to pledge more troops represented a significant step toward shoring up the somewhat strained alliance with the United States. Radical student groups recently vandalized a U.S. military installation in South Korea, and anti-American protests are common. But Roh was buoyed by recent polls that showed that while the vast majority of South Koreans opposed sending troops without U.N. support, 70 percent supported the idea with U.N. backing.
"This was a very difficult decision for President Roh," said Lee Jungmin, professor of International Relations at Seoul's Yonsei University. "But it was perhaps the most positive thing he's done in foreign policy front ever since he became president this year."
Cho reported from Seoul.
I've read reports of the troops ranging from 3,000 to as high as 10,000
troops. You know, that UN Resolution is turning out to be really useful,
and it's not even a few days old.
"If scientists and inventors who develop disease cures and useful technologies don't get lifetime royalties, I'd like to know what fucking rationale you have for some guy getting lifetime royalties for writing an episode of Full House." - Mike Wong
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
I've read reports of the troops ranging from 3,000 to as high as 10,000
troops. You know, that UN Resolution is turning out to be really useful,
and it's not even a few days old.
I think the French have rethought their obstructionist attitude.They will now only harang the USA, not oppose them directly.Their head is still hurting from butting heads with the US.
The backlash has been fearsome, severely hitting the French economy. The very real possabilty of being frozen out of Iraq, and the dawning realization that GWB is going to do it HIS way, because he is a different kind of politician than Clinton, is finally sinking in. The train is leaving the station, and France doesn't want to be left behind. The French can deal with slimy turds like Saddam, so dealing with GWB is still doable. The stench of the French makes for them dealing with unsavoury turds easier. (When everyone stinks, nobone stinks
Realpolitic at it's best/worst.
Hmmmmmm.
"It is happening now, It has happened before, It will surely happen again."
Oldest member of SD.net, not most mature.
Brotherhood of the Monkey
EmperorChrostas the Cruel wrote:I think the French have rethought their obstructionist attitude.They will now only harang the USA, not oppose them directly.Their head is still hurting from butting heads with the US.
The backlash has been fearsome, severely hitting the French economy. The very real possabilty of being frozen out of Iraq, and the dawning realization that GWB is going to do it HIS way, because he is a different kind of politician than Clinton, is finally sinking in. The train is leaving the station, and France doesn't want to be left behind. The French can deal with slimy turds like Saddam, so dealing with GWB is still doable. The stench of the French makes for them dealing with unsavoury turds easier. (When everyone stinks, nobone stinks
Realpolitic at it's best/worst.
It strikes me that you have no clue.
The French economy has not been hurt at all by their opposition to the war. In fact, if anything its strengthened ties with its major trade partners. So they get cut out of the rebuilding process... A rebuilding process that was almost 100% sold off to American contractors before the war was even begun. So how the hell would it hurt the French economy not to support it? They wouldn't get royalties on the word "French" in Freedom Toast or Freedom Fries anymore? Get a grip on reality for once. There is more than one trade sphere in the world, and the US is not at the centre of them all. France might have been disappointed to lose a lot of shiny contracts after the 1991 War, but its not losing sleep over not having any rebuilding contracts, I mean, lets face it, there's always another tinpot dictator to install, prop-up, then oust and bill the nation for your services. Something which France has been doing well since the early 1900's.
According to the latest reports, the United States made a plan three months ago to minimize its forces stationed in northern Iraq by designating Korean combat troops to go there after next March.
Mosul, a city in northern Iraq, has been mentioned as a possible destination for Korean combat troops, to replace the U.S. 101st Airborne Division.
A well-informed diplomatic person in Seoul said Wednesday that the United States set up a plan three months ago of replacing the 101st Airborne with Korean combat troops after next March. The source also said that it seemed Korea had no choice of selecting other regions, such as Nasyriah.
The source said that he heard this information from an American government official. Analysts warn, though, that a dispatch by March would put a tremendous burden on the Korean government, because it is right before the National Assembly elections.
With Cheong Wa Dae actively gathering public opinion to finalize the dispatch matter, its Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Yoo In-tae made a frontal attack on the political line of the National Security Council. Yoo has been publicizing his anti-dispatch position in recent weeks, while the council is in favor of sending the troops.
Yoo provoked hot debates last month, when he said that it was "a grim truth" that South Korea is a sovereign state, and therefore should not always follow what the United States asks it to do. He also said that it is hard to understand why the United States would ask South Korea, part of a divided nation, to send armed troops when there were plenty of other countries that were better off.
Cheong Wa Dae said that the government would continue to give careful attention to the trends of public opinion, and constantly meet with economic, media and academic experts, as well as pro-dispatch civic groups and women's rights organizations. It opened an online discussion room at people.go.kr, and is receiving opinions from the Internet users under the title, "What factors should be taken into account before deciding on the dispatch issue?"
"If scientists and inventors who develop disease cures and useful technologies don't get lifetime royalties, I'd like to know what fucking rationale you have for some guy getting lifetime royalties for writing an episode of Full House." - Mike Wong
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
Oh yes that Article was from October 8th, 10 days ago.
"If scientists and inventors who develop disease cures and useful technologies don't get lifetime royalties, I'd like to know what fucking rationale you have for some guy getting lifetime royalties for writing an episode of Full House." - Mike Wong
"The present air situation in the Pacific is entirely the result of fighting a fifth rate air power." - U.S. Navy Memo - 24 July 1944
Yeah, those French who are now Green Card holding members of the US economy and business sectors.
And all the whinges within that article are from hospitality related industries. So the US isn't buying French wine. The simple fact that people in the US think that Californian wine would go to show that the majority wouldn't have the requisite intellect to have bought French wine in the first place.
Tourism. Yet another big loss. Especially as its the US and Britain. Britain, whose people if they want to go to Europe have to go through France anyway.
It strikes me that France is merely taking the piss at this point, much the same way as any other nation would if the US released press statements saying that noisy obnoxious tourists were no longer going to visit their nation.
The simple fact that people in the US drink Californian wine would go to show that the majority wouldn't have the requisite intellect to have bought French wine in the first place.
weemadando wrote:The simple fact that people in the US drink Californian wine would go to show that the majority wouldn't have the requisite intellect to have bought French wine in the first place.
Actually, I hate to break it to you, but there are many California vinyards these days which produce a superior product to their French counterparts. But why do I bother with the facts? Most people in other countries think that all American wine comes in boxes and all American beer is Budweiser and Miller Lite.
"Carriers dispense fighters, which dispense assbeatings." - White Haven
| Hyperactive Gundam Pilot of MM | GALE | ASVS | Cleaners | Kibologist (beable) | DFB |
If only one rock and roll song echoes into tomorrow
There won't be anything to keep you from the distant morning glow.
I'm not a man. I just portrayed one for 15 years.
Also, because (a) it doesn't have to be imported and (b) it doesn't have the prestige of a French label, Californian wine of equal quality costs about fifty cents on the dollar to an equivalent French wine.
"Carriers dispense fighters, which dispense assbeatings." - White Haven
| Hyperactive Gundam Pilot of MM | GALE | ASVS | Cleaners | Kibologist (beable) | DFB |
If only one rock and roll song echoes into tomorrow
There won't be anything to keep you from the distant morning glow.
I'm not a man. I just portrayed one for 15 years.
Iceberg wrote:Also, because (a) it doesn't have to be imported and (b) it doesn't have the prestige of a French label, Californian wine of equal quality costs about fifty cents on the dollar to an equivalent French wine.
And NZ and Australain wines are better than both of them
Via money Europe could become political in five years" "... the current communities should be completed by a Finance Common Market which would lead us to European economic unity. Only then would ... the mutual commitments make it fairly easy to produce the political union which is the goal"
Stuart Mackey wrote:
And NZ and Australain wines are better than both of them
Out of curiosity, where did the vines come from? And yes I know it's suppose to be climate that makes the wine.
"This cult of special forces is as sensible as to form a Royal Corps of Tree Climbers and say that no soldier who does not wear its green hat with a bunch of oak leaves stuck in it should be expected to climb a tree"
— Field Marshal William Slim 1956
Stuart Mackey wrote:
And NZ and Australain wines are better than both of them
Out of curiosity, where did the vines come from? And yes I know it's suppose to be climate that makes the wine.
Probably from NZ or Aussie, but the vine type would have been chosen for what it could produce and its quality under certain conditions. Actual origin of vine type was probably irrelivant.
Via money Europe could become political in five years" "... the current communities should be completed by a Finance Common Market which would lead us to European economic unity. Only then would ... the mutual commitments make it fairly easy to produce the political union which is the goal"
