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Odysseus
Joined: 01 Feb 2003
Location: Earth
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 Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 12:46 pm Post subject: South Korea to send 3,000 troops to Iraq... |
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| SEOUL, South Korea - South Korea finalized plans Wednesday to send 3,000 troops to Iraq as Asian governments expressed optimism for peace and the U.S.-led reconstruction following Saddam Hussein capture... By HANS GREIMEL, Associated Press Writer |
I thought South Koreans were opposed to the US led Iraq invasion. I'm quite surprised at the support that Korea is affording Bush. I'm back in the States now and wondering if Koreans are up in arms over this development.
On the day of the invasion I was in Insa Dong with a friend when a reporter asked if I was an American. He wanted to know my feeling about the invasion and proceeded to interview me. As i expressed to the reporter, I thought it was wrong and I still think it is wrong.
This recent action by Korea is surprising to me. I wonder what Bush is giving them in return for their support? |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 1:18 pm Post subject: |
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From my discussions with Korean friends, what I gather is that they feel 'blackmailed' into sending troops. They think after last year's display of anti-Americanism they have to send troops in order to keep the alliance.
I'm not vouching for the truth of this. It's just what I understand my friends think is true.
A second, and very interesting point is that its in their 'national interest' to send troops so they can get reconstruction contracts in Iraq. To be honest, this one sends chills up my back. There seems to be some cold calculating going on trying to figure out how many dead (Korean) bodies are worth the dollars in profit. |
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Cthulhu
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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| It was worth the cost for Korea in Vietnam, so why not now? Sad. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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Something similar. I was chatting with a Japan girl online the other day. Just about random stuff.. then I mentioned that they captured Saddam. First thing she says is:
japangirltotigerbeer (1:42:57 AM): then what your president do though?
japangirltotigerbeer (1:43:11 AM): he still wants us to send our ji-ei-tai? |
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SuperFly
Joined: 09 Jul 2003
Location: In the doghouse
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| Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2003 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Blackmailed or not, those are some tough S.O.B.'s I feel sorry for any Iraqis that run into the ROK forces. |
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W.T.Carl
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 8:42 am Post subject: |
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| There was NO blackmail-- The chaebol want to get their share of the rebuilding contracts. A blind man could see this!!!!!!!! |
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Bulsajo
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 9:22 am Post subject: |
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| W.T.Carl wrote: |
| There was NO blackmail-- The chaebol want to get their share of the rebuilding contracts. A blind man could see this!!!!!!!! |
Good call, Carl. The chaebol have been active in the middle east for a long time, working on large infrastucture projects in the region. Ever heard of the Libyan water canal/pipeline?
My father-in-law spent a year and a half in Saudi Arabia about 25 years ago, working on a large project for Hyundai. He was just average-joe-construction-worker then: they were pretty much confined to barracks when not working, no real holidays (no conjugal or family visits or time off in Korea during the entire time)- sounded like a hard-labour prison-sentence. But of course the pay-off was the relatively big salary.
Do the Korean govt. and the chaebols really want more lucrative middle east contracts? Well, duh- no blackmail neccessary. |
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Tiger Beer
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 9:25 am Post subject: |
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| W.T.Carl wrote: |
| There was NO blackmail-- The chaebol want to get their share of the rebuilding contracts. A blind man could see this!!!!!!!! |
Yes very good call. I'm going to say that to my Japanese friend next time she makes a comment about 'Bush' sending Japanese to Iraq as well. I'll tell her that her President is doing that for her own countries economic prosperity. |
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