Seoul Will Send Iraq Troops

Chang Young-dal, chairman of the Assembly’s National Defense Committee, urged Seoul to press for the planned troop dispatch to Iraq despite the redeployment of part of United States Forces Korea (USFK) to the Middle Eastern country.
``Given the current situation, the withdrawal of the plan for an additional ROK military dispatch to Iraq would be the worst option for Korea,’’ Chang said in an interview with The Korea Times on Tuesday.
The four-term lawmaker went on to say, ``With the troop dispatch bill already passed in the National Assembly, the South Korean government would have no excuse for failing to send the additional 3,600 soldiers to Iraq.’’
His remarks came a day after the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry announced the U.S. decision to shift about 4,000 troops of the U.S. Army’s 2nd Infantry Division to Iraq, possibly stalling Seoul’s plan to send its own forces.
<more>
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/nation/200405/kt2004051918594111990.htm

Security fears emerge as US troops prepare to quit S.Korea
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=563221

"urged Seoul to press for the planned troop dispatch to Iraq"

That's a lot different than actually agreeing to send troops.

But I think the evolving geopolitical story is interesting:

NK is alleged to be an evil threat, so US must keep troops in SK. But Rummy sold NK nuclear technology. But NK is a nuclear threat. But US needs troops in Iraq, so US plans to relocate 3000-4000 troops from SK to Iraq. Meanwhile, the "coalition" is evaporating. So US pressures SK to send troops to Iraq.

I'm getting the impression that the Administration can barely put together two coherent sensentences on foreign policy.

I was just commenting on the headline itself.

Sorry for the confusion.

:)

Let's get the story right.

<Chang also stressed the USFK’s redeployment would not seriously lower the security level in Korea, saying, ``U.S. Forces in Japan will be strengthened to fill the gap left by GIs leaving South Korea.’’>

It is not likely that Japan would tolerate additional American ground troops on its very valuable real estate. Replacement and contigency troops come from Hawaii and the west coast.

The interesting thing about this story is that the withdrawal from Tongduchan was originally styled as a strategy to give those forces a more meaningful tactical role than the "sacrificial lamb" or "trip wire" in any offensive taking place in the area of the DMZ. The way I understood it, it was supposed to be a removal to a base further in the south. Now we see it for what it is, another stop gap, for the overcommited US Army, which we are repeatedly told has enough troops to accomplish its missions around the world and in Iraq. This is hogwash.

They are just as much flunkeys to US marching orders as are the old fascists in s. Korea. What a disgrace and shame to the Korean people. Hopefully the Democratic Labor Party grows in influence and can lead government in the future and establish an independent, neutral foreign policy.

This bill to send troops was passed under the previous National Assembly, which of course was controlled by the conservative GNP. The troops were originally to have been sent in March, and I just read an article in the Korea Herald today where the troops will not be ready to go now until August.

You have to give them some time, the first year of the Roh Moo Hyun administration was spent fighting the Assembly. Now that the Uri party has a majority, they will be able to push for reform.

And speaking of the DLP:
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2004/05/20/200405200038.asp