Troop Dispatch to Iraq, a Campaign Issue

As the Iraqi crisis mounts, dispatching Korean troops to Iraq has become the most critical issue in the last round of this election campaign period.

The “Citizens’ Emergency Movement for Anti-Iraq Troop Dispatch,” composed of 351 non-government organizations including the Korean Confederations of Trade Union (KCTU), held a press conference on April 8, asking for a reversal on the decision to dispatch Korean troops to Iraq. The movement is directed to the congressmen who initially consented to the troop dispatch.

“In order to save our youths’ valuable lives and secure national interests, dispatching troops to Iraq should be discussed again from the starting point,” asserted Chu Mi-ae, the chief election campaign camp of Millennium Democratic Party (MDP). He further suggested the four leaders talk to the Acting President Goh Kun, Chief of Grand National Party Park Kuen-hye, and Chief of Open Uri Party Jung Dong-young.

“We will suggest the reconsideration of additional troop dispatch as our public commitment for the upcoming general election, and officially deal with this problem after the formation of the new seventeenth National Parliament,” says Jang Jun-hyung, spokesperson of MDP’s election campaign camp.

On April 7, Open Uri Party’s Chief of Operation Department Kim Jang-su stated the party’s opinion that “The current bloodshed in Iraq has not reached a level that necessitates us to alter our existing course of policy.”

“We’ve made our decision on whether or not to send our troops to Iraq based on our relationship with the U.S. The decision cannot be easily altered as risk has been increased,” says Sin Ki-nam, chief executive of the Open Uri Party. “The schedule of dispatch, type of the troops, and its organization don’t need to be changed.”

Open Uri Party’s executives are anxious that their major supporters, consisting of non-governmental organizations and progressive electorates, may oppose troop dispatch and cease support of the Uri Party. If anticipated conflicts were to arise, differences between the views of the party and candidates who object to additional troop dispatch could result in internal rifts within the party.

Grand National Party has expressed concerns that altering the dispatch decision may be detrimental to national interests, including the demise of Korea’s relationship with the U.S.

“The dispatch bill has been passed through the national assembly and is already finalized. Only the decision of army post is left,” remarked Park Keun-hye, the chief of GNP. “The essential point cannot be argued again.”

In his daily comment, GNP spokesman Han Sun-kyo stated, “Through investigation and preparation for the conditions and security levels of army post in Iraq should be required. Government should prepare safety countermeasures for the sake of the soldiers and Korean civilians in Iraq, in order to reduce the uneasiness of the people.”

“In the state of a full-scale civil war, troop dispatch can result in casualties. Like the Spanish terror incidents, our citizens will be exposed to the dangers of terrorism. I will submit the bill to nullify the dispatch decision when the new national parliament is established,” stated Kim Jong-chul, the spokesperson of Democratic Labor Party.

Sung-Won Park Seung-Heon Lee swpark@donga.com ddr@donga.com