GI Korea in As Samawa

I recently read an interesting article in the New York Times about the Japanese Self Defense Forces’ (SDF) operations in the southern Iraqi city of Samawa. I remember Samawa quite well from when I was in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. My unit rolled into the city after the Marines had secured it from the fanatical Fedayeen and foreign fighters. Many Marines died to secure the city from these terrorists. When we rolled into town the civilians all came out of their homes and cheered us on and encouraged us to take Baghdad which we did days later. Some people were even waving American flags. It was really amazing and something I will never forget.

Entering Samawa During The War. Yes Saddam Had English On His Road Signs. It Made It Much Easier For Us To Get To Baghdad. Notice The Crowds Of People Down The Road To Greet Us.

Here Is A Picture Of Me Driving By In My Bradley On My Way To Baghdad And What Do I See A Kid Waving A US Flag Just Outside Of Samawa.

The Japanese in As Samawa

Samawa is a Shia town sitting in the middle of the Iraqi desert along the Euphrates River. This town has obviously been long neglected, rundown, and desperately in need of a second chance. The Japanese are currently deployed to Samawa in hopes of delivering that second chance by providing humanitarian aid. However, the amount of humanitarian work they are delivering is being closely scrutinized by the local populace. Here is some passages from the article:

“When we heard the Japanese were coming,” said Muhammad Abdul Hadi, 28, owner of an electronics shop along the Euphrates, “we believed the gates of paradise had opened to us. We dreamed of big projects that would transform Samawa into a luxurious gulf city. We know that Japan is a technologically advanced country, matching America. But what they have done so far any Iraqi contractor could do.”

Even Iraqis who call such dreams unrealistic are hoping that Japan will bring fundamental changes.

At the General Hospital here, Dr. Hassan al-Daghir, 51, a general surgeon, said he expected Japan to build a new power station, a water treatment plant and a sewage system for the whole city.

At the Samawa Secondary School for Girls, recently renovated by the Japanese, Nahla Abdul Ridha, 51, a chemistry teacher, said: “The school is now beautiful. But we have not seen anything significant in the rest of the city. We wanted to get some of the Japanese technology so that our children would feel proud about living here.

Ahmed Jawad, 28, owner of the Madina al Munawara electronics shop, said: “The Japanese said they came here for humanitarian work, but where are the big projects? The truth is that they are helping the Americans occupy Iraq.”

In an interview, Ghazi al-Zargani, 34, the local representative of the Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr, whose followers have staged uprisings against American forces, said Mr. Sadr’s organization had regarded the Japanese troops in a positive light because “Japan was also occupied by the United States and suffered devastation in Hiroshima.”

“But,” he added, “since they have done little to help the people here, we are now re-examining whether they are a humanitarian or military force.”

The Japanese have taken ads on television and in newspapers to underscore the noncombat nature of the Japanese troops. They have been extremely cautious about being associated with the American-led military campaign, avoiding, for instance, being seen in public with other countries’ forces.

Outside Iraq, Tokyo has been strengthening its military ties with Washington. It has committed itself to the United States ballistic missile defense shield and, in jointly developing and producing parts for the system, is likely to overturn a longstanding ban on arms exports.

In a further shift away from pacifism, there is growing consensus inside Japan to revise its peace Constitution, including Article Nine renouncing war, and its Self-Defense Forces. Mr. Koizumi has said he wants the forces to be recognized as a real military, and the United States, which wants Japan to carry a greater share of America’s military responsibilities, has urged Tokyo on. In August, Secretary of State Colin L. Powell said Japan would be unable to fulfill the role of a permanent member of the Security Council unless it revised Article Nine.

“It’s understandable that the Japanese have to take care of their ties with the United States by sending a small force here to tell the American government, ‘We are with you,’ ” said Naji Jabbar Kashi, 49, a philosophy professor at the Muthanna College of Education and a playwright. “But I hope the Japanese won’t forget us. They rarely leave their base nowadays. We don’t see them very much. Did you see the open gutter outside my home? The Japanese forces need to do something big, so that they will be remembered long after they leave here. They could build a power plant, or sewage system or maybe even a subway.”  [New York Times]

The Japanese appear to me to be hiding inside of their base in order to not have any casualties inflicted on their forces. Is this because the Japanese government doesn’t want any protests happening back in Japan against the deployment but at the same time appear to be supporting Washington.

Koreans in Iraq

From reading this article from the Chosun Ilbo I feel Korea may use this same tactic in order to avoid casualties to prevent protests from happening back in Korea against the deployment. Here is an exerpt from the article:

Military authorities originally had diverse plans to provide leisure opportunities for the men on base, but with priority being placed on urgent missions like building the base, conditions to ensure the men’s leisure time are still deficient. Even as of early this month, most of the men’s day was spent constructing the container barracks and protective barriers and covering the base area with gravel to reduce the amount of dust. During that time, the dust that comes up to your ankles and mid-summer heat of 50 degrees were the worst “enemies” of the men of the Zayitun Unit. Capt. Lee Shin, commander of the 1st company of the engineering battalion that has been in Iraq since May building the base facilities, frankly discussed the difficulties of that period. “In summer, the sun doesn’t go down until 9:00 at night, so while we were working more than eight hours a day, we once had 23 out of 110 company members get sick on the same day with diarrhea, vomiting and exhaustion,” he said.

As leaving the barracks is strictly controlled, the unit plans to complete construction of two welfare center structures by the end of this month. The center will be equipped with physical training facilities, karaoke rooms, PC cafes, convenience stores, Laundromats, a PX, and other comfort facilities.

Notice no mention of any actual reconstruction duties. I feel that if a government is so concerned about protests back home then don’t send your soldiers to begin with. Iraq needs people actively engaged in rebuilding the country. Not people just sitting around in bases playing Star Craft at a PC Bang in the camp waiting to return home.

What Korea Should Do In Iraq

The article in the Chosun focuses heavily on making improvements on the Korean forward operating base (FOB) and little on any restruction work to help the people in the Kurdistan region. The Kurdistan region is not in need of reconstruction because the area was free of sanctions and rule of Saddam Hussein. However, the place could use improved highways and bridges which Korea is especially adept at making. The improved infrastructure would improve transportation encouraging more trade and give the Koreans something that will stand for along time in the region that Koreans can be proud of. Plus I can personally vouch that the Kurdish people are really great people and deserve and will be extremely appreciative of the aid that Korea can provide them. The ROK military is highly professional and capable of conducting such reconstruction missions if they are allowed to.

Defense Secretary Rumsfeld recently visited the Zayitun soldiers, the first foreign troops he has visited in Iraq, to thank and encourage the Zayitun soldiers for their efforts in Iraq. Obviously Secretary Rumsfeld understands the potential the ROK forces can have in helping Northern Iraq.

Conclusion

I know, I’m being pessimistic but I really feel the Zayitun soldiers will probably spend most of their days wasting away on their FOB waiting to go home because President Roh apparently didn’t really want to send the soldiers to begin with and will probably do everything possible to prevent casualties which means keeping the soldiers locked up on their camp. The Koreans really have a chance to upstage their Japanese rivals in providing tangible and memorable aid to a desperate country much like many nations did for Korea in their time of need. I just hope the Korean government accepts their relevance in the world and is committed to the Zayitun mission in Iraq. I really feel the Korean government and the people don’t realize how much power and influence they have internationally because they always fall back on were a small country syndrome. Korea has an opportunity to demonstrate their power and influence in helping to rebuild Iraq. If anything is learned from the Japanese experience in Iraq; the worst course of action the Koreans can take is to do nothing.