Ukraine Orders Troops Out of Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/01/10/ukrainetroops.shtml

Ukraine's outgoing President Leonid Kuchma ordered officials on Monday to draw up plans to withdraw the country’s contingent of troops from Iraq in the first half of 2005.

A spokeswoman said Kuchma had given the order during a meeting with his defense and foreign ministers, Reuters reported.
Officials in Ukraine hinted at the plans to withdraw troops earlier in the fall, as a disputed presidential election was taking place.

The report came as the former Soviet state remained in limbo on Monday after its Central Election Commission announced that presidential challenger and former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich brought yet another complaint against the Dec. 26 vote that his opponent, the western-leaning Viktor Yushchenko, was said to win.

The commission was set to certify the results on Monday and confirm Yushchenko’s victory, but Yanukovich’s new challenge held up the declaration.

more

[shadowknows69]

1. The coalition of the leaving n/t

[VegasWolf]

10. The coalition of losers? n/t

[BlueEyedSon]

2. Don't forget Poland!

[Been Fishing]

3. Take the U.S. with you!

Please!!!

[Walt Starr]

4. It's nice to see Democracy reigning in the Ukraine

too bad it died here.

[NYC]

5. There was a question whether or not they could afford to withdraw.

Apparently, they need $11 million.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1135807

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=540860&C=europe

Defense Minister Alexander Kuzmuk said the withdrawal of Ukraine’s 1,600 troops stationed in southern Iraq would cost $11 million and that the armed forces currently lacked such funds.

[daleo]

6. It seems hard to believe they have the funds to stay, but not leave

It kind of runs counter to intuition, although it may just be a veiled way of saying that the U.S. won't put up the money to help pay for Ukrainian troops to leave, the way they probably did when they arrived. I suppose the Ukraine government will just have to find the money someplace else - maybe Putin will lend them a few rubles.

It sounds like Bush was doing a Hotel California on the Ukrainians - you can enter but never leave:

Relax said the nightman
We are programed to receive
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave

[liberal43110]

12. Did we really pay for their deplayment to Iraq?

[Osamasux]

13. We paid for several countries. I'm not sure if there's was one.

Bush was just desperate to give the illusion of a coalition.

[Robbien]

14. We paid for all of them, even the Brits

Every soldier there is there on our dime.

[leesa]

24. Remember when Cheney took the trillions stolen from the DOD and went

EVERYWHERE trying to get support for their foolish wars. You didn't think they were just having tea together, did you?

[LynnTheDem]

7. 9 of their Ukraine troops killed in Iraq yesterday.

Final straw.

[anarchy1999]

8. Coalition, what coalition? Gone.

n/t

The Ukraine? They dare to leave us now? Oh heavens, it can't be true.

[underpants]

9. (private in the back of the formation) I have drawn up a plan!!!

Let's all go over and get on the plane and get the hell out of here.

[bluestateguy]

11. I like Ukrainians

They know tyranny when they see it: they now realize that the war in Iraq is doing more to promote tyranny than to stop it; and they didn't take any bullshit when a fraudulent election was held.

[LevelB]

15. Finally!

Freedom is on the march!

B.

[sonicx]

16. Where's Rambo when you need him?

[Jesus H. Christ]

17. I bet Bush wasn't expecting that.

Ha ha. But I'll bet freepers are pissed.

[number6]

18. coalition shrinkage

.. :smoke:

[Osamasux]

19. They must be using Preparation I

[fshrink]

20. If elections hadn't been rigged, or if

democratic leaders had fought, you could have replaced "Ukraine" by "US".

[TankLV]

21. Duja Dobra!

Way to go my fellow Ukrainians!

And don't forget to Remember Poland! - all 5 of em!
Don't forget Poland!

[Jerseygirltoo]

22. Say Goodbye to Poland

According to this BBC article Poland will be leaving sometime in 2005 also.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[thegreatwildebeest]

25. We'll see if this holds up...

We'll see if this will hold up in the face of Yuschenko's victory. Both candidates are basically dupes of either America or Russia. If Yuschenko does take office, its up to debate whether or not he will reverse this order and keep them in Iraq.