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| Iraq-Jordan | |
| Allies Consider U.S. Request for Troops | |
| 2004-05-15 | |
| The United States is quietly pressing its allies to send more troops to Iraq, but it's getting a lukewarm response amid escalating violence and public outcry over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners. Washington asked Albania to increase the size of its 71-soldier non-combat unit patrolling the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, and the Albanian government is receptive, Defense Ministry spokesman Igli Hasani confirmed Friday. "Albania is ready to respond to such a request" and had already offered additional troops, Hasani said. He said the mostly Muslim country, a staunch U.S. ally, may boost its contingent to 200 soldiers if parliament approves. Denmark will extend the mission of its 496 troops in southern Iraq by six months, and Norway will maintain a small military presence after it pulls out its main contingent next month. The Philippines is sending 45 more soldiers and police to strengthen its humanitarian effort, restoring the total to its original 100. "Our government has made a very categorical statement on this matter - that we stand pat on our commitment to the coalition," said Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, the Philippines vice chief of staff. Most other allies appear far more cautious, given worries over mounting coalition casualties and disgust over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by some U.S. troops. Even Britain, the United States' chief ally with 7,500 soldiers, has said only that it is keeping its troop levels under constant review. And Poland, which has 2,400 troops and commands a multinational force in south-central Iraq, says its soldiers will stay "as long as needed and not a day longer." Thailand's Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Palangun Klaharn, said the United States has not yet requested more troops, and that its 443 troops are expected to wrap up their mission in Iraq in September. The Dutch are considering whether to extend the stay of their 1,300 soldiers beyond June 30, when an Iraqi administration is due to take power, but there is no talk of sending more troops. Although the conservative government in the Netherlands had leaned toward an extension, one party in the ruling coalition has broken ranks, saying it will support keeping soldiers in Iraq only if there is broader United Nations involvement and a greater handover of power to the Iraqis. Japan has agreed to replace 500 non-combat troops on a humanitarian mission in southern Iraq. But it has no plans to send additional forces; opposition at home has grown because of the escalating violence and the kidnappings of five Japanese citizens by insurgents. The five were released unharmed. The Czech Republic, which has 120 military police officers in Iraq, has no plans to send more personnel or extend the mission, Defense Ministry spokesman Vladimir Sticha said Friday. Nor does Slovakia, which has 105 soldiers in Iraq, or Bulgaria, whose infantry battalion of 454 soldiers has come under heavy fire in recent weeks. Hungary is prepared to keep its 300-member transportation contingent in Iraq through year's end - its current parliamentary mandate. But as attacks on coalition forces increase, so have calls from opposition politicians to bring the troops home. Hungary's leading opposition group, the Fidesz-Hungarian Civic Party, is pressing the government to recall its troops unless the United Nations takes over responsibility in Iraq by June 30. Recent polls show that eight in 10 Hungarians oppose keeping the troops in Iraq. But the leadership won't budge, government spokesman J. Zoltan Gal said. "This is not a government which adjusts its policies based on the result of opinion polls," he said.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #3 perhaps Kurdistan would like their army to be well-outfitted and brought south for maneuvers? Could always train them at Incirlik, right, 'Rat? |
| Posted by: Frank G 2004-05-15 1:27:38 PM |
| #2 ...You gotta admit, if somebody named J. Zoltan Gal says something, you listen... Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2004-05-15 12:57:45 PM |
| #1 I was unaware that Albania had that many troops with us. It's oddly ironic that our detractors refer to all our allies as âbought and bribedâ. A reasonable observer would note that many of our detractors have been bought, bribed and subverted by a large selection of some pretty nasty killers throughout the last century. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2004-05-15 3:54:43 AM |