“Blaming U.S. Won’t Help” – Korean Government

With the kidnapping incident in Afghanistan showing no signs of letting up, there are heated debates among Koreans over the U.S.’s role in rescuing the hostages.

However, the Korean government is cautious, saying that demanding the U.S. to do more will not only fuel anti-U.S. sentiment in Korea, but may divide the country.

Ruling majority says U.S. should do more-

Politicians from the ruling camp urge America to take the initiative in solving the issue.

Former S. Korean president Kim Dae-jung sent a letter to U.S. President Bush, which read: “As an ally, the U.S. should toil over ways to help in the release”; via the U.S. embassy in Korea. The former president also sent a similar letter to Afghan president Hamid Karzai.

Former Uri Party head Jeong Dong-yeong sent a public message to President Bush, saying, “Mr. President, I am appealing to you to help with the release as if the hostages were all American citizens.”

Thirty-three lawmakers from the ruling camp, including Woo Sang-ho, Cho Jeong-shik, and Choi Jae-seong, issued a statement that read: “In the past, the U.S. has exchanged al-Qaeda prisoners for American abductees. The same should be applied to the Korean abductees because a staunch ally protects its partner-country’s citizens as if they were their own.”

Former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan, however, said in a press conference, “Abductees in Afghanistan have nothing to do with anti-Americanism. To politicize cases like this is inhumane.”

He also said, “Korea, the U.S. and Afghanistan should consult with each other to ensure the swift release of the hostages. We are negotiating with hostage takers. If we are divided, we will lose in our struggle.”

Is the U.S. sitting on its hands, or should we stop blaming them? –

Netizens are divided; some say that the solution is in U.S. hands, but it is sitting idly; while others say that while we need to use our friendly relationship, we should refrain from an attitude in which we are quick to blame the U.S.

A netizen by the name of “Frog” said, “America prodded Korea into deploying its troops to Afghanistan despite domestic opposition. Now, Big Brother is sitting back and watching.” A netizen named “Hulk” said, “If American citizens were taken hostage, would the U.S. ignore the issue?”

Office worker Park Jin-seok (28) said, “Last year the U.S. exchanged its abducted journalists for POWs. But this time it is doing nothing.”

Netizen “Hush Puppy,” however, said “Why should the U.S. rescue Korean hostages? If Americans were taken hostages, would Korea come to their aide?” Another netizen said, “There shouldn’t be any negotiations with terrorists!”

College student Kim Hye-mi (25) said, “There is no part for America to play. If the Taliban’s demands are met, the terrorist group will take advantage of the situation and kidnap more innocent people in the future.”

Meanwhile, 40 women’s groups, including Korea Women’s Associations United, held a press conference in front of the KT building, urging the U.S. to take the lead in freeing the hostages.

Korean government says “Stop passing the buck to the U.S.”-

The government made it clear that blaming the U.S. would not be of any help in solving the issue.

In a briefing Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Cheon Ho-seon said, “The Afghan government holds the key to this case. Over-emphasizing the role of other countries will prevent cooperation among the concerned parties.”

Cheon stated, “The Korean government wants active and flexible responses from related countries, but no other government holds more sway than the Afghan government.”

The Korean government is worried about those who put the blame on the U.S. Exchanging the hostages with POWs is a complex issue directly linked with not only America’s war on terror, but with the position of the Afghan government. So it is not something the U.S. can deal with arbitrarily.