평화군축센터 미분류 2003-09-17   527

10 Reasons to Oppose Sending Troops

1. Sending troops to Iraq is unjust. The United States illegally invaded Iraq for their interest. The invasion was rationalized by the argument that Saddam Hussein developed weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and was a sponsor of terrorism, but the U.S failed to prove it. In addition, it became obvious that they’ve been deceiving the world from the start. That explains the situation turmoil in Iraq still continues although more than 130,000 American troops are deploying there. Disregarding all of these, the U.S government wouldn’t admit their faults and say Iraq is the “central front” in the war against terrorism. Under this circumstance, Korea shouldn’t dispatch troops to Iraq.

2. The U.S has no legal basis of the claim on South Korea’s troop dispatch to Iraq. The ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty indicates that the Parties will consult together whenever either of the Parties is threatened by external armed attack, not when either of them attacks and occupies others. The U.N Charter also prohibits attack and occupation.

3. Korea also has no legal basis for dispatching troops to Iraq. In this regard, sending combatants will be seen as Korean government is supporting America’s illegal preemptive attack and military occupation, which are against both International Laws and the ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty. Korean Constitution and International Laws ban such an invasive action.

4. Korea’s troop dispatch doesn’t help the U.S military in Iraq. Sending troops will aggravate existing conflicts between the U.S army and Iraqi people rather than relieve the situation. The explanation of why American army has been in trouble stems from their occupation of Iraq by force since the war broke out. Now, the best way of salvation for the U.S military is not to beef up the military strength, but to withdraw troops. If military forces will increase, it will necessarily cause more casualties and greater resistance. Sending combatants will worsen the relations between two groups and get the U.S military into deep trouble.

5. Sending troops doesn’t help Iraqis. Iraq’s internal chaotic condition, such as ethnic conflicts among Shiias or between Shiia and Sunni, can’t be resolved by external military forces. Military involvement will rather make the situation worse and bring about radical resistance from the Arabic nationalist. Therefore, the U.S should announce that invasion of Iraq was wrong and set a timetable for pullout of the army. If Iraqis who take on the job to rebuild their country will ask the U.N for help and the U.N organize peacekeeping forces, then we can discuss about Korean troop dispatch, but even in that case, humanitarian financial aids or reconstruction works should be good for Iraqis.

6. Military dispatch will threaten peace in Korean Peninsula. The U.S preemptively attacked Iraq on the ground of eliminating WMD and they’re now considering a preemptive strike on North Korea, too, for the same reason. Sending troops to Iraq is an action to confirm the Bush doctrine of preemptive attack and also undermine rationale of the argument- ‘no war in Korean Peninsula’. Military dispatch is likely to help hawkish neoconservatives and Bush administration come to power. The dovish American groups and peace advocates wishing for Peace in Korean Peninsula watch the development of events now and hope Korean government to make a right decision.

7. Sending troops doesn’t contribute to Korean national interest. There is no link between troop dispatch to Iraq and stable oil supply. Moreover, the plan to benefit in postwar Iraq isn’t workable. While Bush administration emphasizes the responsibility and the role of the entire world for resolving Iraq’s problems, demanding to share the burden of risk, it is trying to remain its position to control over all critical matters which have great effects on postwar Iraq, for instance, oil and Iraqi government formation.

8. Previous dispatch of army engineers and medics on May left a lesson that dispatch has no clear relation with Korean national security. As the U.S intentionally ignored progress which was made at Beijing 3-party talks and just announced North Korea’s touch statement about nuclear weapons possession shortly after Korean government had decided to send troops, it brought about the crisis from May to June. In addition, at Beijing 6-party dialogue, the U.S proposed rather unacceptable conditions and refused to suggest that it will possibly abandon its hostile policy against North Korea. At the same time, Bush administration is building up military blockade such as ‘Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI)’ against North Korea. In a dispute over relotation or pullout of the Second Infantry Division, the U.S has been thoroughly self-interested.

9. In terms of economy, Bush administration shows the same attitude toward Korea. South Korea’s government insisted that previous dispatch and President Roh’s visit to America on May has contributed to improving Korea’s credit rating by protecting the rate of foreign exchange stabilization fund, but Korean economy got damaged by retaliatory tariff, imposed on Hynix semiconductor Inc. The phenomenon that Korea’s national economy has grown worse suggests that Korean government’s foreign policy toward the U.S has excessively related national security to economy.

10. The approach on Iraq’s problem should be considered within the framework of how to end Iraq’s tragic story. Since Korea already got involved in American invasive war, Korean can’t be free from the current Iraqi tragedy. Therefore, Korean role should be found in a way to help democracy for Iraqis rooted as quickly as possible, reducing Iraqi sufferings. Korea should stop discussing about sending troops now and try to recover the order of International Law and restore peace in Iraq.

PSPD

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