Koreans Killed in Iraq / To Ski or not to Ski / Odds and Ends
BREAKING NEWS!
According to this breaking story, the Korean Embassy in Iraq is investigating whether two korean business contractors were injured early today in Tikrit. According to Embassy, there are approximately 30 Koreans currently in Iraq. They are looking into whether two foreigners injured in an attack at a highway near Saddam’s hometown of Tikrit were Korean.
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Reuters has identified the two injured foreigners as possibly Korean Contractors: One of the victims was slumped motionless inside the car and was receiving no medical attention. U.S. troops were trying to revive the second victim. Locals said the men were believed to be Korean contractors, but this could not be confirmed.
UPDATE
According to Yonhap: Two Koreans killed, two others wounded from insurgents’ attack in Iraq
UPDATE
Yonhap update: Identity of wounded Koreans released. Dead not yet named. Apparently they worked for a Korean electric company.
UPDATE
Yohnap again updates: The victims are from Omu Electronics in Seoul’s Guro Industrial Complex.
LATEST
Yonhap reports that a midnight emergency meeting of the National Security Council was held to brief the president on the attack and to draw up counter-measures for dealing with the attacks.
Reuters carries the latest and posits that the attack will have major political ramifications for South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun.
TO Ski or Not to Ski
Here’s another reason why it may not be a good idea to hold the Winter Olympics here:
Odds and Ends
It’s a slow Sunday night in Pusan. Other Korea bloggers are gathering in Seoul. I thought I would just drop a few lines on a few amuzing things.
Hey, Buddy, Want to Buy a Cheap Presidential Wristwatch?
The Korea Times talks about 2,000 wristwatches given by President Roh to visiting foreigners. The watches cost the government 32,000 won (about $27) each, more than those given by former presidents Kim Dae-jung and Kim Young-sam which were valued at around 10,000 to 20,000 won. That’s nice. Vist a foreign head of state and get a $27 watch. Well…At least they didn’t get an $8 -$16 watch from past presidents. What exactly does a $27 watch look like? We will never know because the presidential office did not release details of the gifts fearing the circulation of imitations. Now, I really want to know what a knockoff of a $27 watch looksl like.
Latest on Troop Dispatch
According to the Korea Times, the government survey team supports sending combat troops to Iraq. Rep. Song Young-gil of the Uri Party initially showed strong opposition to the dispatch of combat troops to Iraq. However, he now says "I have come to the view that South Korea should actively participate in the Iraq rehabilitation project,” he said, adding that the Iraqi people’s welcoming stance towards the Koreans seems genuine." But…but…but… didn’t two anti-war and anti-dispatch people from the Citizens’ Action Against Troop Dispatch to
Iraq
and Corea Peace Solidarity say that over 86% of Iraqis were against the dispatch of troops based on their survey of 131 people in Iraq? Oh dear…who can we believe in these dark times? Who can we trust?
More on Lee Seung-yeop
In this Korea Times article, it seems that S.Y. Lee has made his bed and will have to lay in it. The 27 year-old whining slug said "I will not go to the U.S. if they treat Korean baseball as equal to the level of their Class-AA league,” Lee told Yonhap News Agency. "I would rather stay at the Samsung Lions if I fail to make a move to the U.S.” This little bit of nationalism was addressed by Kevin over at IA. Again, Lee! Listen up. KOREAN BASEBALL IS NOT EQUAL TO THE MAJOR LEAGUE!!! IT IS NOT EQUAL TO TRIPPLE-A BALL!!! I would be shocked and utterly stunned if you asked any one of the Americans that play on Korean baseball teams whether they wanted to come to America to play Tripple-A ball or stay in Korea, and he said, "No thanks, man. I’m Ok. I’ll stay in Korea because it’s the same as AAA ball back home, if not equal to the Big League, but thanks for asking." Looks like Lee will be staying in Korea. You know, I wish there was some way to convince a team to let him start in the Majors just so I could watch Schill, Johnson, or some other pitcher just flame his ass repeatedly. As I have said before, he is not going to get what he wants, because he doesn’t deserve it.