S. Korea Leader Apologizes in Hostage Case

[steely]

SEOUL, South Korea - President Roh Moo-hyun apologized to the country Wednesday after the beheading of a South Korean hostage in Iraq but said Seoul's troop dispatch was needed there to help rebuild the country.

"I am very sorry and deeply regretful that this tragedy happened, although all the people and the government wished and prayed for the safe return of Mr. Kim Sun-il," Roh said in a brief speech carried live on television.

The president also condemned terrorism as a "crime against humanity" and pledged his government's "determination to deal sternly with it together with the international community."

Roh rejected the kidnappers' accusation that South Korea's plan to send 3,000 additional troops to Iraq would hurt Iraqis. The captors had threatened to kill Kim Sun-il, a 33-year-old South Korean working in Iraq, if Seoul did not cancel the deployment _ a demand that South Korea rejected.

"The South Korean plan to send troops to Iraq is not to engage in hostilities against Iraqis or other Arab people but to help reconstruction and restoration in Iraq," he said.

http://www.comcast.net/comcast.html

[steely]

1. Touchy issue, and I understand the gravity, but

I can't help wondering if the S. Koreans aren't sorry they all don't speak Spanish. if you catch my drift

[KeepItReal]

2. What if "hostilities" decide to visit the South Koreans in Iraq?

Just because the South Koreans are there for peaceful purposes does not mean the "insurgents" and "foreign-fighters" (Bushspeak) see it that way.

I hope he won't need to, but I have a feeling that he's gonna be apologizing for South Korean troops being killed and wounded not very long after they hit town in Iraq. No amount of security can guarantee them safety.

[alcuno]

3. I have a prediction - Something will happen and the SK troops will be

needed elsewhere. The SK deployment has been one slow walk up to now.

[chenGOD]

4. I agree somewhat....

Although this looks like Presidnet Roh is serious, the troops were originally scheduled to be deployed in March...now they are saying that the first group will be leaving in August.

I hope that the Roh govt. will come to it's senses and stop the troop deployment.