Korean MPs want Iraq plan scrapped

[SoCalDem]

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/23/1087845005801.html?oneclick=true

Korean MPs want Iraq plan scrapped
June 23, 2004 - 8:05PM


Fifty South Korean lawmakers have filed a motion in parliament calling for the scrapping of the planned dispatch of more than 3,000 troops to Iraq following the killing of a Korean hostage.

Kim Sun-Il, a 33-year-old translator, was found beheaded and dumped on the road from Baghdad to Fallujah after South Korea refused to yield to a demand by the Islamic militant kidnappers for ending the deployment.

"In these circumstances where lives of innocent people like Kim Sun-Il are seriously being threatened, it is impossible (for the troops) to engage in peaceful work for reconstruction," the motion said.

"The dispatch of troops must be put off and all the preparations for it must be suspended."

snip

[DarkPhenyx]

1. Not so wise on their part.

Yes, I know we aren't supposed to be there, and neither are they, however...this would set a very bad precedent.

[slor]

2. The "very bad precedent" is...

the concept of pre-emptive war. Pulling out troops or refusing to send troops to a worsening situation, caused in large part by the presence of said troops, is simply smart and humane thinking.

[DarkPhenyx]

3. Not in this case.

Let's try and not have so myopic a view of reality that we miss other important issues, ok?

[slor]

4. I'm the one being myopic?

You want more troops in, as the only way to fix the situation, while the vast majority of Iraqis want foreign troops out now, and have even said that occupation is the reason behind the terrorists attacks, and I am the one being myopic? Methinks the pot is calling the kettle black. Please try and remember that your solution is the only one tried so far, and it has failed. Or have you been decided that the * "view of reality" is the only reality, and that things are going great?

[DarkPhenyx]

7. yes, on this subject...

...you are being extremely myopic. Horribly, tragically and terminally so.

Let just say that the SK's had pulled their troops out. Postulate all the possible outcomes from that. What are the long term consequences for such an action?

remember, failure to consider the long term outcomes is what got us into this mess to begin with. That and greed.

Things are not going great. Don't be stupid, and please stop putting words in my mouth. Anyone who has paid even the least bit of attention to my opinions knows I am against this as much as anyone.

[chenGOD]

9. At the moment South Korea currently has...

about 700 engineer corps in Iraq. They have not yet deployed any of the additional troops.

The long term consequences here seem to involve a) a bunch of American and Korean conservatives getting pissed off at the "betrayal of the Korean-American alliance" and b) a government respecting the people's wishes. Since the vast majority of the South Korean people do NOT want this deployment to take place.

What do you think the long term consequences might be?

[DarkPhenyx]

10. Let's see...

...increased kidnappings and beheadings because this type of thing obviously works. the spread of such tactics to a more global theatre resulting in an increased danger to people of all nationalities. Gee...I sure wouldn't want to step on anyones toes so I guess your consequences trump mine. Thanks for sharing.

[Bandit]

14. Let me see if I understand your arguement

You say .."increased kidnappings and beheadings because this type of thing obviously works"
Well if this obviously works and their demands get met why would they continue with their beheadings? They get what they want but continue with their demands? Something just doesn't compute.

[DarkPhenyx]

18. OK, let me try this slowly so you can keep up.

First, S. Korea isn't the only group they want out. Not all of the groups are foreign either.

Second, Iraq isn't the only place in the world where we are confronting extremists.

[toopers]

12. The government is not in place to support the people's wishes.

It is in place to protect the rights of the population.

[chenGOD]

16. A government is supposed to represent the people...

no?

[Capt_Nemo]

11. Yeah, right...

Not doing the right thing because the terrorists might think they
are successfull, without noticing that to persist in the wrong track because it makes you look like a tough guy, IS actualy boosting the
terrorists recruitment.

So "staying the course" as you advocate is just playing right into
the terrorists hands, the very thing you most fear.

[NNN0LHI]

5. It appears pretty black and white to me

The imported, US appointed government wants the foreign occupiers to stay in Iraq, and most Iraqis want the foreign occupiers to leave.

Don

[DarkPhenyx]

6. Nothing is ever black and white.

You know that as well as I do.

[whosinpower]

8. Government is supposed to protect their citizens

They should of been working harder towards this end before Kim was murdered.

In fact, they should of agreed to pull out on the one hand...and on the other work with security in Iraq to find these criminals - bait and switch. Military intervention - retaliatory bombing campaigns - none of this is effective against these people - it only inflames the situation.

[sidpleasant]

13. They should get a new vote

The Korea Times reported yesterday that the US didn't tell the South Korean government of Kim's kidnapping for several days; the news was not shared until after the SK Parliament voted on Friday to send 3000 troops to Iraq. The vast majority of South Koreans are, according to news reports, opposed to this deployment. The driving forces behind it are the huge Korean companies like Hyundai who want a piece of the Iraq spoils.

[Dardi]

15. 50 MPs

out of 299. That seems to be an important detail.

[dArKeR]

17. South Korea reels after hostage is beheaded in Iraq

REUTERS , BAGHDAD AND SEOUL

South Koreans reacted with shock and anger yesterday to the beheading of a hostage in Iraq by militants who killed him after Seoul refused their demand to withdraw its troops and scrap plans to send more.

US soldiers found the decapitated body of Kim Sun-il on Tuesday, five days after he was seized in Fallujah, west of Baghdad, by a group led by militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

The group killed 33-year-old Kim, who had been shown in a video pleading for his life, after Seoul stood firm on keeping 670 South Korean medics and engineers in Iraq and on plans to send 3,000 troops to join US-led forces there.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/06/24/2003176276

pic
http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/photo/2004/06/24/2003138502