National Opinions On the Verge of Division Again Over Troop Dispatch Issue

Political circles are in dilemma of whether to accept the US demand for sending additional troops to Iraq.

The ruling and opposition parties are now taking cautious positions on the issue, taking into account the fact that political circles were in the swirl of heated debates on non-combatant troop dispatch to Iraq in last March and April, which resulted in stark divisions in public opinions. Cheong Wa Dae has clarified its position that it would make a final decision on that matter after reviewing opinions of the Korean public and the United Nations.

Cheong Wa Dae is striving to seek a solution for how to deal with the troop dispatch issue. It has paid a keen attention to opinions at home and abroad and reactions from Korean political circles.

Moon Hee-sang, presidential chief of staff, told reporter Saturday, “President Roh has been briefed on the issue. It will take some time for the president to make a final decision on the issue after gathering various public opinions and assessing which will be in the best interest of Korea.”

“Although there are various factors to determine whether to send additional troops to Iraq, among them, what position the UN will take will be important for our final decision.

A final decision will be made according to the UN decision on whether to prescribe dispatched troops as peace-keeping forces (PKF),” he added.

If dispatched troops are prescribed as PKFs, the government will have a justifiable cause to send additional troops to help international peace keeping efforts in Iraq and to soften the public anger over the issue.

For its part, the opposition Grand National Party, which supported the troop dispatch in April, is also holding back its position, urging President Roh Moo-hyun to clarify his intentions first.

However, attention is focusing on how Choe Byung-yul will convey his position concerning a recent U.S. request that South Korea send additional troops to help U.S.-led reconstruction efforts in post-war Iraq. GNP chairman Choe Byung-yul is now visiting the US, and is expected to hold an informal meeting with US Secretary of State Collin Powell to discuss the issue during the meeting. “The US is highly likely to ask Chairman Choe for a parliament support to send additional troops to Iraq. Anticipating such a US demand, Chairman Choe has received various advises from experts on how to respond to the demand,” a senior GNP official said.

Meanwhile, close aides to Chairman Choe said that it would be very unlikely for Choe to immediately offer a positive answer to the demand.

Before flying to the US, the opposition leader said, “I`m not in a position to clarify my position on the troop dispatch issue at a time when the president hasn’t clarified his position yet.” Reportedly, Choe has demanded repeatedly the government take a clear position on the issue before his visit to the US, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade declined to give a specific message to the GNP.

For its party, the ruling Millennium Democratic Party is also taking a cautious stance on the issue. MDP Officials said that its supreme council meeting would be convened on Sept 15 to discuss to make the party’s formal position.

MDP chairman Chyung Dai-chul said the ruling party would positively consider sending additional troops to Iraq as members of the U.N. peacekeepers and is in agony over how to deal with the thorny issue.

However, MDP officials said that it is likely that lawmakers will be divided over the issues as they did in March over the same issue.

“The dispatch of combat troops cannot be tolerated, as it ultimately damages national interests and our image advocating peace,” said Rep. Kim Sung-ho of the MDP who is a member of the MDP`s new party faction, voicing his opposition to send troops to Iraq.

On the other hand, lawmaker Namgung Seok, another key figure in the new party faction, expressed his support for a troop dispatch by saying, “Allied nations should help each other get out difficulties. If South Korea is facing a security threat, the 37,000 US troops stationed in Korea will take risk of their lives to defend our country.”