Bush's reluctant occupation partner (South Korea)

[Robbien]

By Lawrence Smallman

Wednesday 30 June 2004

. . .

But the truth is the Iraqi people don't want us there — it is that simple. Yes, I blame the militants for what happened . But I also blame George Bush for pressuring South Koreans to go against our will."

Unlike other occupation forces involved in Iraq, South Korea's leaders have not focused on the war in moral terms. Rather, the nation's participation has been presented as a necessary evil.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a government official told the United Press International on Monday that "a major factor behind our final decision is stability on the peninsula".

If South Korea sends troops, the government argues, the Bush administration is likely to moderate its "axis of evil" inflexibility in dealing with North Korea. In other words, Korean soldiers must go to a war because of regional political considerations.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/89374B4D-C9AE-496C-966E-98B25D116E91.htm