More Korean troops for UN chores?
South Korea is considering sending troops to Lebanon to form part of the expanded UN peacekeeping force there. I can’t think of any reason why any country would want to send troops to southern Lebanon and put soldiers in the firing line between trigger-happy Israeli generals and well-equipped Hizbollah fighters. Clearly France had second thoughts about it and then after much persuasion and assurances that it could kill people if need be it had third thoughts.
Korea already has troops participating in one occupation force, albeit hiding out in a quiet part of Kurdistan so as not to cause any controversy at home. Taking part in what will essentially be another occupation force and one that will be expected by Israel to do its dirty work sounds like a really bad plan. Unfortunately, there are people on the left in Korea who seem to think it is a good idea and might even give South Korea a good image in the Arab world. But the good news is that even before any decision has been made the anti-war movement in Korea is already gearing up to oppose the sending of troops to Lebanon and at least 60 percent of Koreans are opposed to the plan.
I’m not surprised. A leftist once told me that Korea should emulate Israel and steer an independent path in a hostile region. Independent?!
“During the Bush administration, from 2001 to 2005, Israel has actually received more in U.S. military aid than it has in U.S. arms deliveries. Over this time period
Israel received $10.5 billion in Foreign Military Financing – the Pentagon’s biggest
military aid program – and $6.3 billion in U.S. arms deliveries.” http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/arms/reports/israel.lebanon.FINAL2.pdf
I wonder how Israel’s aggression was portrayed by the networks here …
Comment by jay — August 29, 2006 @ 4:57 pm