U.S. Asks 3 Nations to Bolster Iraq Force (Turkey, Pakistan South Korea)

[Barrett808]

BRUSSELS, Belgium - The United States has asked Turkey, Pakistan and South Korea to send up to 40,000 troops total to Iraq as part of a global U.S. drive for help to secure the country still wracked by violence, officials from those nations told The Associated Press.

The request for troops came as U.S. soldiers beat back Saddam loyalists Friday after some of the fiercest, best-coordinated attacks by the insurgents in months. The ambushes near Tikrit killed three American soldiers and wounded two others; U.S. forces later captured 58 Iraqis, the military said. Saddam's defense minister also surrendered to U.S. forces Friday after lengthy negotiations.

The Bush administration's request for troops is aimed at relieving the burden of the 140,000 American troops spearheading the occupation force in a country where U.S.-led forces are coming under frequent attack.

Twenty-six other countries already are providing around 20,000 troops. Three of the countries the United States would like to see contribute - Turkey, Pakistan and South Korea - have not yet made a public commitment.

Others have rejected U.S. approaches, such as Brazil. Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and Secretary of State Colin Powell have indicated they don't expect a large influx of new international troops, saying contributions may not total more than 10,000.

(more)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/6813297.htm

[joeybee12]

1. It ain't enough!

Face it, they're putting off the inevitable--crawling back to the UN!

[FlemingsGhost]

2. Wonder how much cash is on the table...

I bet Senator Kennedy knows.

"The Bush administration's request for troops is aimed at relieving the
burden of the 140,000 American troops spearheading the occupation force in a country where U.S.-led forces are coming under frequent attack."

Excuse me, but didn't G-Dub et al. arrogantly demand such a "burden" could only be properly executed via their infinite wisdom?

[tabasco]

3. The rank & file Pakistani soldier

Is on the side of the Iraqis. They would make an interesting ally.

[David Zephyr]

4. Kennedy's Right. The Bribery With Our Tax Dollars is in Full Sway.

Here's some more on this: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=371527

[madashellwontgo]

5. The press conference of the monkey and the former president

of South Korea, Kim Dae Jung, showed that the Koreans are just a puppet of the US. I was infuriated as the monkey patted Kim on the back all the way through the Rose Garden during the first meeting they had regarding the stance on North Korea. Kim had a slight limp. It seemed like the monkey was patronizing Kim- "it's alright, take baby steps, now go on, you're doing fine." - to show the press that he was somewhat compassionate. (The monkey probably had no clue that Kim was locked up for years for being an opposition leader in S. Korea). What a load of BS. He does this with most of heads of state. All window dressing, but looks really tacky.

The house of cards is falling in the BushCo. They are desperate. Not to say that the S. Korean soldiers are substandard. They are the most well trained--looking down on the guns of 1 million+ N. Korean soldiers. BushCO is buying mercenaries, pure and simple and with the leverage the US has at the DMZ. The monkey is saying that the US soldiers are worth more than the any others. BS!! All life is sacred. Bring our entire GIs home, now and don’t subsidize this fraudulent war!!!

[bpilgrim]

6. you know it is bad when you even have to beg them who have been under

our thumb for years...

i hope they don't ATTACK THEM if they refuse :crazy:

peace