Ukraine parliament: Withdraw Iraq troops

[MadisonProgressive]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6811536/

KIEV, Ukraine - The Ukrainian parliament on Tuesday called for an immediate withdrawal of the nation’s peacekeepers from Iraq.

Ukraine, whose 1,650 troops are the fourth-largest contingent in the U.S.-led military operation in Iraq, had previously expressed its intention to withdraw this year.

On Monday, President Leonid Kuchma ordered the foreign and defense ministries to develop a plan for withdrawing Ukraine’s troops from Iraq within the first half of 2005.

The parliament, during a live television broadcast, called on Kuchma to immediately issue a decree on withdrawal of the troops.

[XNASA]

1. Thank god for Poland.

:eyes:

[MadisonProgressive]

2. You didn't forget Poland!! Congratulations!

[XNASA]

5. How could I?

I had pierogis last night for dinner.

[knight_of_the_star]

3. Wait for it

They'll be next, just watch

[NoPasaran]

7. They've already announced it

Monday, October 4, 2004

Minister’s revelation surprises Warsaw

BERLIN In a surprise announcement, Poland said Monday that it would withdraw its troops from Iraq by the end of 2005, leaving the U.S.-led multinational forces the task of finding replacements to fill a crucial security role in south-central Iraq.

Jerzy Szmajdzinski, Poland's defense minister, said in an interview with the daily Gazeta Wyborcza that the withdrawal of the 2,500 troops should coincide "with the expiry of United Nations Resolution 1546 of the Security Council." Once the troops are withdrawn, South Korea will be the third-largest contributor of soldiers to Iraq.

Resolution 1546, passed unanimously by the UN Security Council in June, declared the end of the occupation of Iraq and endorsed a "fully sovereign and independent" interim government to serve from June 30 until elections in January of next year. The multinational forces in Iraq operate under a UN mandate that is scheduled to expire at the end of 2005, when a permanent Iraqi government is in place.

Szmajdzinski's announcement surprised Poland's allies inside NATO and even its own diplomats.

http://www.iht.com/articles/541866.htm

[ohioliberal]

4. And the draft just keeps getting

closer and closer because of the idiot Texan.

[Tempest]

6. This is VERY interesting

Considering Bush's $65 million candidate won the Ukraine election.

[daleo]

8. We will see if it really happens

As you say, $65 million is a fair chunk of change. Bush will want something in return. If not troops in Iraq, then influence over the pipelines through the Ukraine that carry Russian oil. But as for the troop withdrawal, I will believe it when I see it.