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| Iraq |
| Dutch peacekeeping troops move into Iraq |
| 2003-07-24 |
| Welcome aboard, mates! Good luck, good hunting, and Godspeed. Amid ongoing Iraqi renegade attacks against US troops, the advance party of a Dutch contingent deployed to Iraq as part of the British-led stabilisation force departed for the war-torn nation from bordering Kuwait on Tuesday night. The Dutch Cabinet decided on 6 June to contribute to the international stabilisation force for Iraq and the Parliament backed the deployment on 25 June (Thanks, we won’t forget!) The intention is that the Netherlands will take up active peacekeeping duties in Iraq from 1 August, taking over from US forces in the al-Muthanna province. The transfer of command will be relayed to residents via a local broadcaster. The troops’ priority is to maintain stability in the region and give the local administration the chance to organise itself. Dubbed Sfir, the Dutch contingent will consist in total of 1,100 soldiers, the heart of which will be made up of a battalion of 650 marines. They will be supported by a company of the engineering corps, a field hospital, military police and three Chinook transport helicopters and armoured transports and are expected to remain in Iraq for six months. |
| Posted by:seafarious |
| #5 Do we have any reason to believe that the Dutch will do better here than they did in Yugoslavia? Can we check their orders to see if they're allowed to have live ammunition? |
| Posted by: Annoying Old Guy 2003-7-24 4:11:37 PM |
| #4 to stevey - nicaragua is in central america, not south america. Anon - there are non-trolls here who are NOT right wing. A proud member of the vast 3rd way conspiracy. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-7-24 9:59:11 AM |
| #3 Stevey: Leave the stream of consciousness style for guys like Joyce and Proust. |
| Posted by: Michael 2003-7-24 8:57:48 AM |
| #2 Is it me or isn't dear Stanley mellowing out lately? I'd guess it reads Rb every day, secretly likes it, and may be starting to get influenced. Very soon, it will no longer be a troll, but a productive member of your american vast right wing conspiracy. It's probably not even aware of this fortunate transformation. So sad. |
| Posted by: Anonymous 2003-7-24 4:34:42 AM |
| #1 oh well atleast it wont be only us dying....Nicaraguans are about to get into this mess too....when an American convoy is attacked help comes in seconds...but when the nicaraguans get ambushed it will take days for a response...first they gotta get gas,fix a couple of flat tyres...then read some map....yes we will give them money but the bureaucracy in south America will pockets it |
| Posted by: stevey robinson 2003-7-24 3:19:18 AM |