The government has decided to send 400 peacekeepers to Lebanon, reports MBC.
The internal decision to accept the UN request for troops was made after a recent survey of the local situation and discussions with relevant ministries.
The size of the deployment will reportedly be battalion-strength, with the bulk of the battalion composed of infantry with some engineers and medics thrown in for good measure.
Accordingly, the government plans to submit a motion to the National Assembly OKing the deployment.
Well, I’m sure this will make the new UN General Secretary very happy. Not to mention it’s probably a good move on Korea’s part.
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Imagine that - a government seeking approval from its legislative body before deploying troops! (yes John Yoo, I’m talking to you, good luck with the Germans)
This Daily Telegraph column from a week ago, from their “Defence Editor” the well-known military historian John Keegan, predicts an imminent renewal of the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opi.....do0302.xml
Don’t know that I agree with him but I think his theory ought to be of intense interest to ROK citizens, if anybody has translated it.
He takes particular note of the importance of the bunker/cave system built up by Hezbollah over the 6 years prior to this summer’s war. I suspect that the Hezbollah were mere beginners compared to the bunker/cave system built up by the North above the DMZ during the last 50 years. I wonder if Koreans (both north and south) made a note of the similarities in the two situations?
The specifics of the deployment should prove to be of intense interest; for example, will the Korean battalion be located adjacent to any French ones?
“Peretz: French UNIFIL commanders say will shoot at IAF overflights”, Israeli newspaper article dated 17 October
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/775387.html
John Keegan is usually right, so hopefully we will see the first test of Korea’s mettle since Vietnam.
I’m expecting them to withdraw once casualties exceed 5.
‘i’m expecting them to withdraw once casualties reach five.’ mark the expat
i wonder why the koreans waited till some 10,000 of them died in vietnam. perhaps you’re confusing korean resolve with reaganite cowardice during the marine barracks attack in lebanon.
pawikirogi:
Actually, Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger aborted the missions to retaliate against the terrorists - citing relations in the Arab world. I wouldn’t pin that on Reagan being a coward. Reagan wanted to “blow shit up” (initally) as did the Frenchies - but you know how OIL and MONEY work in the world of polotics.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1.....ks_bombing
On a personnal note, friends and co-workers have said in the past that ROK troops are pretty bad-ass (ass-kickers). I didn’t worke with ROk troops when i was enlisted, so I can only assume the troops would be good to go - but the polotics involved may scratch the operation if they take casualities. Civilians an poloticians being pussies and all about bodycounts. (See current Iraq War.)
Another ominous article about the Hezbollah-Israel “Mexican standoff”, again from a Brit newspaper (Times of London):
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/a.....28,00.html
>>Hezbollah’s missiles back in Lebanon
A BBC report yesterday said Hezbollah is not only rearming, it warned that UN troops will be attacked if they “interfere.” I wish them all well.
The Vietcong would rather fight the Americans than the Koreans. They would leave nothing alive when they cleared a village and the bush for that matter.
“i wonder why the koreans waited till some 10,000 of them died in vietnam.” –nulji the expat
It was actually about 5,000, but who’s counting?
Anyways, that was Korea…this is Corea. Very different.
Of course they will over-state. Its the game of big dick little dick. Are you not used to that yet?