Some very, very tough dudes are heading to the UAE to train the kingdom’s Special Forces:
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill on sending up to 150 combat troops to the United Arab Emirates in January for a two-year mission to help train the Middle East country’s special forces.
In a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, the Cabinet members endorsed the troop dispatch, which Seoul officials say will promote national interests and further boost military and economic ties with the oil-rich country.
[...]
The UAE requested the troop dispatch in August, expressing hope that it wants to train world-class special warfare troops with assistance from South Korea.
The Koreans will be based in Al Ain, which seems like a rather nice place. Definitely a step up from Arbil, Bagram and the Lebanon. It even has two ice hockey teams.
Something I learned today — UAE troops have been operating in Afghanistan. And for quite some time, apparently:
Oh, and some ROK Special Forces promotional stuff:
{ 61 comments… read them below or add one }
The UAE recently kicked out Canada’s forces, which were using that country as a base for supplies and operations for Afghanistan. They were miffed because we wouldn’t allow our nationally-subsidized airline, Air Canada, to suffer competition from their nationally-subsidized airline. The UAE base was important for the Afghanistan mission of the Canadian Armed Forces, and the Canadians were forced to shut it down with virtually no notice because the UAE chose to link a trade dispute to a military matter. The UAE has now pettily, and again, suddenly, implemented a visa requirement for Canadian citizens; previously, short stays did not require visas. Well, this Canadian, at least, has no plans to visit.
Why would anyone, actually, want to visit the UAE?
No, really! I want to know why someone would want to visit there…
Ummm…. Dubai is in the UAE?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Dubai
setnaffa asks:
Well…if a fuck-faced retard who links to websites like BibleGateway.com like setnaffa isn’t there, why the hell not.
As much as I applaud Seoul’s committment to get ROKA’s NCO corps some much needed real-world combat experience, Seoul may wish to reconsider. The LA Times reports that among the 200 or so organizations planning to protest the G20 meeting this week is a groups of former navy commandos who’re threatening to set fire to cars and oil tankers over demands for bigger pensions!
There is a delicious irony to military types joining supposed lefties in protesting against the 2MB government. But maybe something’s in the water: Seoul’s NPA estimates that Korea experiences about 12,000 protests every year….the most of any country in Asia, by far.
Not bad for a country of 50 million. Not bad at all.
And since everyone else is getting into the naming game for Korea, let me add mine: “Korea — the Berkeley of Asia.”
DLB
C’mon DLB. There isn’t as many protests at Cal anymore…. you guys are just surviving on reputation alone!
True dat, brah! Now, everyone’s focused on their future careers. But there’s still regular protests over tuition, er, “fee” increases, so the activist community is managing to stay busy. Plus, the student body is now 50% Asian, and Asians don’t protest.
Unless, of course, they’re in Seoul!
Bandae!
DLB
What’s there for them Asians [Americans] to protest about? They are going to get a degree from Cal (happy parents) and it’s a lot cheaper than Stanford or USC….
Yeah, but our football team is a heart-breaker! And they’re playing Oregon this weekend! Gawd!
DLB
Losing to the Ducks? Yeah, get in line…
:::
Robert,
Thanks for the video. I’ve read in several places that the ROKSF compare very favourably with anybody’s specops groups. Plus the music rocked. Anyway, I was glad that the video pointed out the female operator – I was concerned to think the lads might have started a little makeup competition.
Good, let North Korean trains Iranian and South Korean to train the Arabs.
Forget the training, I’d use the special forces to go after pirates in the region. Last week Seoul paid out some more ransoms to free an oil tanker.
What, put the troops in harm’s way?? The local mandarins will never do it as long as Uncle Sucker and his running dogs among the Anglo-American peoples (actual and honorary) are willing to give them a free ride.
No free ride, jerk. Just ask the 5000 Koreans who died in Vietnam.
I don’t disparage the sacrifices made by all the individual Koreans who fought in VN, but face it Pow Pow: they were equipped and paid by Uncle Sam, who also paid for the modernization of the entire ROKA as part of the deal – the troopers were basically the 30 pieces of silver paid over by ROKGOV in order to keep their game in play and, thus, the (very small) exception that proves the rule.
That and the fact the US has picked up half their defense tab ever since. What has that extra GDP not spent on defense capability over the years translated to in terms of development elsewhere?
“thus, the (very small) ”
I want to whack you in the head in person someday and yell at your daughter and tell her she’s half Korean and tell your wife what you really think of Koreans.
apparently preoccupied with very very very small whatever it is.
One can only guess.
Name the place and time, pissante, and I’ll let you take your shot – just remember, I believe in strict reciprocity.
PS I may be in California sometime next Spring, so I’ll even come to you — if you’ve got the guts.
wjk is in CA?
He’s not in AL hell anymore?
man is still a man. And you’re old.
and it bothers you more than anyone your daughter is half Korean and your wife is Korean.
I have great health insurance.
Damn, sorry I opened that can of worms.
How are those Korea special forces guys supposed to do any photo events without being barechested in snow? I don’t see this happening.
But do you have funeral expenses insurance and surviver’s benefits? Wait, I forgot you don’t need the latter; you’re the guy who can’t even get laid in Itaewon with a couple of Benjamin’s spittled to your forehead
is that where you met her, Itaewon with Benajmins stuck to your forehead?
Interesting.
Yeah, I do have life insurance, and someone will benefit, but I don’t expect to use it.
Oh, so you’re going to pussy out, eh. Why am I not surprised?
wjk, you’ve once again crossed a line, thus proving you have no place on this board.
Well, you’ll have to wait til I get out of moderation purgatory for the zinger; but in the meantime please do try to work up some original material; you’re boring me.
Thanks for the support, Nigel
; but each of the wife and daughter could trash this little yellow (i.e., cowardly) weasel unassisted, so his bad manners are really laughable.
wjk — Generally speaking, even in online trashtalking, wives and daughters are “no go” areas.
Ok.
But, I have to say.
Spermer is reading too much into it.
Not using it does not mean you will win, old man.
I have a right to call you a pussy as well.
USA!
USA!
oh well
Seek help, or help us by performing fellatio on the shotgun.
“Spermer”
At last, a glimmer of originality. I like it.
Now, open wide and say “Ahh” – unless you’d prefer a load of whitener for your complexion.
I can’t stand you, Sperwer, but that was hella funny!
Lebanon (except for Hezbollah land) is much better.
51 C temp and 96% humidity! Booze and whores, mate. The Saudis can’t get enough of either. Same too for the Brits and Russians apparently because gobs of ‘em come to enjoy the weather. Amazingly, more tourists visit the UAE than visit Korea. If the Koreans were smart they’d dump whoever is running their tourism campaign and hire the blokes running UAE’s. Sitting between Japan and China and a short flight from SE Asia… Korea’s struggle boggles the mind.
WJK,
You still haven’t learned to function in blog society? With all of your experience (and our recommendations)? Man, I’m disappointed, but as a Mets fan, I suppose it’s expected.
Sperwer,
Don’t tell me, among your other talents, you play for the other team? But as Pawi notes, that was funny, and I thank you. But really, your homoeroticism on display is a little disturbing.
AaronM,
I see you continue to mince your words.
Add me to the list of people who think going after a man’s kid and wife just because a guy may not like the father and husband (while bringing up age at the same time) is a bit low and shouldn’t be tolerated.
Prickly Pear:
It’s ontologically impossible for me to play for the girls team.
Oh, but you meant THAT “other” team.
Only as a pitcher.
No, seriously, but if what was said struck you as homoerotic I think you need to have your sexual compass re-calibrated.
“Now, open wide and say “Ahh” – unless you’d prefer a load of whitener for your complexion.”
my initial charge was your jackass attitude of white western supremacy and endless even illogical put downs of everything Korean. Thus, my
relevant pointer.
there’s nothing wrong with my complexion.
and I reserve comments about your un-loading practice, since that will probably pull the last straw.
“Now, open wide and say “Ahh” – unless you’d prefer a load of whitener for your complexion.”
my initial charge was your jackass attitude of white western supremacy and endless even illogical put downs of everything Korean. Thus, my
relevant pointer.
there’s nothing wrong with my complexion.
and I reserve comments about your un-loading practice, since that will probably pull the last straw.
Hey, don’t desist on my account, tonto; your lilliputian ad hominems are, after all, all you’ve got.
PS: I really like dubu-kimchi with ice cold dong dong-ju or makkeolli, thiough
Oh, and I also really like this Korean produced authentic Irish salad dressing:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8711750/Thousand%20Ireland%20Dressing.jpg
(from the failblog.org – somewhere I’m sure you could find your own special place in the human subject category)
strom thurmond
That’s why you’re so upset? You’re the product of one of the old goat’s miscegenetic dalliances? Still got the (unelectrified) kelvinator out on the porch, too, uh? How many chromosomes did you say you have?
#41,
That’s funny that you mention that – on my first flight, as a budding naval aircrewman, I had to ask several crewmates where the relative bearing grease was – yep, I bit, hook, line and sinker….but I still maintained my winning disposition.
I don’t think WJK’s from a state which allows divorce between siblings.
All the banter of Dr Pissypant’s facial obscured Wedge’s gem at 24. Nice one, sir.
Other than putting videos on youtube what feats are attributed to the ROK’s SFs? Handing ransoms to Afghanis and Somalis is all I can come up with.
If I were looking to hire some military trainers from Asia I’d talk to Singapore.
#50: I once talked to a real SF guy, I mean an American SF guy, and he said the Korean SF guys were great at taekwondo demonstrations and other photo ops that end up on gay blogs in the West, but in terms of real, un-hyped ability to take out bad guys when the going gets rough? Let’s just say if you’re a Korean under the loving care of the Taliban you might pray that a duffel bag full of benjamins is a key part of the plan to save your ass.
Uh oh, looks like the white guys are feeling threatened again.
re# 52 (pawikirogii)
I hint a bit of resentment towards “white guys” ????
I am white and I don’t feel threatened at all.
But then I am Australian, and I don’t care what happens in the USA – and feel that if Korea wants to secure more “oil deals” with UAE and think that sending special OP troops there to train the Arabs will ensure that – then so be it.
p.s. – btw – when I click on your name – it is a 404 site. Your blog is in the trash can.
Resentment? Here we go again with the ‘i-take-your-women’ song and dance. Pathetic
‘i-take-your-women’ song and dance.????
I don’t know what you are on.
If you are korea (with resentment towards white guys) – I don’t want “your” women.
I don’t need a “princess” for a gf.
-pathetic!
to give them a free ride.
Well actually South Korea did get a free ride when it came to defense spending. From the end of the Korean War to the 1980s, the tanks, fighters, warships, etc that were used by the S. Korean armed forces were provided to S. Korea with little or no cost as part of US military aid. Put it simply, during the above period, S. Korea invested little or none of its own funds for its defense.
It’s interesting that the normally closed UAE government let BBC film its detachment in Afghanistan, which IMO is a sensitive issue for them. (They did keep it quiet and low key for the past two years)
I guess they are coming to terms with letting the world know about the deployment.
these are very sick individuals.
I take your woman,
you and your male kind are gay,
your culture sux,
Here, whiten your skin.
Think thrice before wedding these assholes.
Rescue you?
From what?
Wedge,
How did you know the person you were talking with was really SF?
Isn’t every guy in the army after a few beers doing hush-hush “black ops” and he could tell you all about it but then would have to kill you?
Just curious if there is a question you could ask someone to test their bona fides.
@Wedge
To the extent that this may be true, it’s likely a function of the lack of real combat experience, not aptitude or attitude. Back in the day, I don’t think the ROK had any special forces per se, just certain elements of ROKMARINES; the Blue Dragons I knew were the real deal.
The special forces of the ROK were strictly in information gathering–their favorite method of asking questions were from helicopters gang plank style. Whether they answered or not–the guy or even gals–were asked to leave the said helicopter around 200 feet off the ground going about 70 miles per hour.
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