S. Korea Approves Sending Troops to Iraq

[Newsjock]

edit: adds link
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/7943107.htm

Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea's parliament on Friday approved a plan to send 3,000 troops to Iraq in addition to 465 military medics and engineers already there.

The troop dispatch bill was approved in a 155-50 vote.

The dispatch would make South Korea the third-largest contributor to coalition forces after the United States and Britain.

[fearnobush]

1. I could only wonder, how many hundreds of thousands of

S.Korean protesters we will not see in the media.

[dArKeR]

2. S Korea decides to send 3,000 troops to Iraq - Protest pic link

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/02/14/2003098704

[chenGOD]

3. I just saw people demonstrating in a subway station today.

They've had the table out every weekend for the last 2 months, and every weekend the number of people helping out gets bigger and bigger. They do it in front of the bigger universities as well and I'm sure other subway stations as well.

I fear that it will take more than a few dead South Koreans to change politicians minds here though. If they voted for this right before upcoming general assembly elections (to be held in April), then I guess they're not too worried. I wonder how much longer the "50-year US-South Korean military alliance" (as quoted from the Taipei Times article in post #2) will continue to be a "key factor" in decisions invoving national security (ie buying American made military goods, and sending South Korean troops to US warzones).

[CRK7376]

4. THere were 3

busloads, about 60-70, Korean National Police down at one of the Hangang Park soccerfields, on the north side of the river near the Banpo bridge this afternoon rehearsing Riot Control actions. I fully expect lots of email warning messages to stay alert and away from all Korean government buildings, universities and military installations early nest week. Large scale riots, probably not, still too cold for that, but there will definitely be protests.

[chenGOD]

5. Ehhh, they have more riot cops than they know what to do with...

I feel sorry for those riot police. Apparantly that particular service is one of the more brutal out of the "civil services" that Korean men can perform if they are not accepted in the military.

I always like those warnings on AFN (I'm not military, so I don't get the e-mails) about staying away from those locations. I've been to a few demonstrations, and they're pretty mild stuff. I did get caught in one back in '96 where the tear-gas was flying fast and thick. Not fun at all.

Anyways, it's good that the kids are still involved and getting out there. The message is sure to grow. Plus I read in today's Herald that the bill has a provision to withdraw the troops early if the government feels it's warranted.

[CRK7376]

6. Maybe

the riots will grow and the people of Korea will demand their government bring their troops home. You can sever two years in the military or two years in the National Police Force. I feel for the kids pulling their duty guarding US/ROK installations and government buildings. Bored out of their minds and walking rather short beats or standing in formations for their tour of duty each day.

[dArKeR]

7. Link to protest pic. sorry me no server. Most of them are in suits!

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/13/earlyshow/saturday/main600283.shtml

[chenGOD]

8. ermmm...check the link?

It goes to some form of diet recommendation?