By I like how this decision had nothing to do with helping the people of Afghanistan, it was all about “US pressure”:
In response to U.S. pressure, the government wants to boost the civilian support unit in Afghanistan and could send troops to protect them.
At a session of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs, Trade and Unification Committee that day, Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan said the government plans to dispatch at least 130 civilian specialists to Afghanistan for reconstruction “and is also considering sending police or military troops to protect them.”
Yu said the government plans to boost the medical, vocational and police training programs of the Provincial Reconstruction Team. [Chosun Ilbo]
Don’t think this doesn’t mean ROK Army troops are not going to be deployed either:
On the dispatch of troops, Yu said, “Currently, Korean civilians are under the protection of the U.S. military. But if the PRT is expanded, we’ll need to protect our workers on our own.” He added Korea is “not thinking” of sending combat troops there.
I have been saying this for a while but there should be no Korean troops sent to Afghanistan for reasons I have outlined before. I have to wonder if the “US pressure” to get Korea to deploy troops has more to do with the politics of making it look like the international community is sending more troops to Afghanistan?
12:39 pm on October 27th, 2009 1
You hit the nail on the head. Its the politics of making it look good.
The Koreans will do as they did in Iraq. Spend their time building a compound and then defending it from attack. Most likely in a safe area.
Good duty if you can get it, and a decoration to boot. Bragging rights somewhat with a cough.
12:05 am on October 28th, 2009 2
So the much maligned Roh Mu Hyun government which sought to limit Korean involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan without pissing off the Americans too much (even though it still did), did the right thing? Now that Iraq and Afghanistan have turned into a disaster, an American nightmare, it could have been a disaster and a nightmare for Korea as well.
Iraq and Afghanistan are lost causes for America, it was smart and it was in best interest for Korea to stay out of it.
1:46 am on October 28th, 2009 3
Just proves my point… Better people than you and yours are those rough men with guns on that thin red line…We'll do it. We always have, we will for as long as we can, because taking the fight to the enemy and killing him is the right thing to do.
That said, I think that the ROK combat units would do quite well in either theater.
2:32 am on October 28th, 2009 4
You might kill a lot of them (both men, women, children, elderly, dogs, cats, and plants). But at the end of the day it goes back to the same old result. What have you got other than burned out, bombed out landscapes full of angry people who hates your guts, along with your empty bankrupt and bills full of credit card debts?
Korea was smart enough to know that Iraq and Afghanistan were another Vietnam, a quagmire. US never learned their lesson.
3:23 am on October 28th, 2009 5
Typical korean. Foreigners saved your country in WW2, the korean War and in the 90's with the IMF and you koreans still act like selfish, arrogant turds…typically korean.
Foreigners should've never helped korea because in reality, korean do little to help anyone else with very few exceptions.
If the world needed an enema, korea would be the place to stick in the tube!*
*Adapted and modified from "Do or Die Men"
3:43 am on October 28th, 2009 6
Too bad we never learned to leave korea alone.
I'm sure the DPRK would be much better with the ROK as a part of it, rather than the present situation.
Past time to pull out of korea. Talk about a quagmire
Maby Obama will get us out of korea. I can hope
9:35 am on October 28th, 2009 7
Typical Americans. Kill the natives and bomb the hell out of them and call it "helping them".
Have you even occured to you, they don't want your so called "help"? And how many Americans really, I mean really care about Iraqis and Afghanis? So don't give me that BS that you're helping these people for their own good. You're doing it for your own selfish reasons.
10:07 am on October 28th, 2009 8
Good RANT "tom".
Too bad you don't have a point to make. Just ranting at americans.
Koreans are much better at doing things only when it is in their own best interest. That is why you rant so at americans. Trying to save a little korean face.
Typical korean. I hope we will take your advice, and stop "helping" korea soon. It is obvious that YOU don't want american help. We should wipe our hands of your country. Korea needs to stand on it's own—for a change
10:33 am on October 28th, 2009 9
We should just figure how many we would like them to send, then just send that many from the 2nd ID. This way Korea could keep there boy scouts in Korea where they are safe. About 8,000 should do fine.
11:28 am on October 28th, 2009 10
It was time to leave after the US invaded Afganistan and closed all the Al Qaeda training camps and killed a few thousand. Why we decided to stick around and build a country where one never existed before is beyond me.
12:55 pm on October 28th, 2009 11
Na, about half the U.S. force currently assigned to korea should be sent. Korea doesn't need or want them. Don't replace them either!
Draw down in korea is past due.
1:13 pm on October 28th, 2009 12
We're helping people for our own interests. Not a darn thing wrong with that. But having been there- as you haven't- on the pointy end, I can tell you that we put our own lives at risk to keep those uninvolved (for the most part) at as little risk as possible.
You're way out of your lane, tommy boy. Your alligator mouth is overshooting your mickey mouse arse.
But that's normal for people who can't take care of themselves to resent those who are stronger than they are- those who put themselves at risk to protect even their detractors.
Of course, what else should we expect in this dreadful "age of the common man"…
1:23 pm on October 28th, 2009 13
"You’re way out of your lane, tommy boy. Your alligator mouth is overshooting your mickey mouse arse.
But that’s normal for people who can’t take care of themselves to resent those who are stronger than they are- those who put themselves at risk to protect even their detractors."
Ouch!
1:24 pm on October 28th, 2009 14
Why not send all of them? I think Afghanistan is a perfect place for the tough GI Joes. They can play with their guns over there without restrictions, kill and torture some locals and pretend that they're helping them. They love you guys over there. It's funny how you can't defeat the people whom you have vastly underestimated. You guys have a bad habit of underestimating the locals that you hate.
1:32 pm on October 28th, 2009 15
Tommy boyo-
What do you know of torture, fighting, or risk? Anything?
I bet you have never even been in a fist fight.
Go play with the girls where you belong. The men of the tribe- to include YOUR tribe- will protect you.
Not a damn thing wrong with the average ROK troopie, either. They have done fine in the past- they could do it again.
1:37 pm on October 28th, 2009 16
That's because you guys were supposed to be "helping" these people whom you consider savages. That's why America stayed. Anymore stupid questions?
1:40 pm on October 28th, 2009 17
Ahhh Tom, I sense a spark of jeolosy and a lot of inadequate feelings about yourself in your comments.
Didn't make the cheerleader squad two years in a row? It must be heartbreaking.
1:40 pm on October 28th, 2009 18
We helped some. Killed some others- the ones that needed killing.
Even Allah hates them. No sleep lost here. Do you like those goat buggerers because they hate civilised peoples and do their best to kill them anywhere they can? Please, go talk to them. See you on You Tube as you get your head sawed off.
1:48 pm on October 28th, 2009 19
"you guys were supposed to be 'helping' these people. My guess from your comment is that 'you feel' we should have stayed. I wasn't for it, nor am I now.
Could you be more specific as to how 'you' would have done it differently? I would have been long gone years ago.
'Stupid questions' always seem to draw 'stupid responses'.
10:06 pm on October 28th, 2009 20
I have nothing against ROK Army troops but the fact is that even if deployed they would not be allowed to do anything that could cause casualties by their government. So if they are sent it is for nothing more then a political show much like with the ROK troops in Iraq.
7:57 am on October 29th, 2009 21
I really want Korea to send fighting units to Afghanistan this time. Not just for protection role but to engage in fight with the talebans.
I bet Korean army is just waitting for the chance.