Bush's Iraq coalition shrinking

[leftchick]

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/breaking_news/10936384.htm

WASHINGTON - Sometimes it's hard to know who your friends are - even if they're helping you fight a war. President Bush, who hopes to coax more Iraq support from European allies next week, used to boast that some 50 nations had joined the United States in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Today, a public listing is nowhere to be found.

One thing, though, is clear: The coalition is shrinking. "I expect to see the coalition countries begin paring down their forces as they complete their contributions," Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told the House Armed Services Committee this week.

While a current list of coalition countries - those helping out in Iraq with troops, equipment, monetary or political support - is not easy to come by, there is a public listing of the countries that have actual troops in Iraq. These 20-plus countries, which have combat and support forces in Iraq under the command of Gen. George Casey Jr., make up the multinational force.

<snip.

"They're anticipating what is coming down the road," Goure said. "It's an acceptance of the fact that countries are going to be withdrawing."

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. You forgot Poland

[liberal N proud]

2. Don't forget Poland!

Poland, you know that Polish country!

[LSparkle]

3. Maybe Honduras/Nicaragua will send troops back

now that Negroponte's leaving ...

[rodeodance]

4. oh heck--maybe Vatican City will help out!! (not on your life)

[Wilms]

5. HELP IS ON THE WAY!!!!!

I think Armenia is still planning on sending 40 troops. :eyes:

[gratuitous]

6. Doesn't anyone want to play anymore?

Geez, a simple open-ended commitment without ascertainable goals or milestones, and the next thing you know, everyone wants to go home!

It's a good thing Stupidhead is our Commander in Chief. He doesn't know the meaning of hopeless.

[mogster]

7. Norway has ten staff officers in Iraq

The Norw. defense minister is constantly under political attack because of this (and other reasons).

If you look at * 's much precious 'coalition', you'll find that it is supported by some national politicians only, not by the people in the countries contributing.

But, ten officers.
So that * can use our country's name in his speeches, to bolster the numbers.

What a funky world! :D

[Al-CIAda]

8. I wonder if Bangladesh still has those monkeys they offered?

[yellowcanine]

9. The Original COTW and Troop Numbers

1 USA 130,000
2 United Kingdom 9,000
3 Italy 3,000
4 Poland 2,460
5 Ukraine 1,600
6 Spain * 1,300
7 Netherlands 1,100
8 Australia 800
9 Romania 700
10 Bulgaria 480
11 Thailand 440
12 Denmark 420
13 Honduras * 368
14 El Salvador 361
15 Dominican Republic 302
16 Hungary 300
17 Japan 240
18 Norway 179
19 Mongolia 160
20 Azerbaijan 150
21 Portugal 128
22 Latvia 120
23 Lithuania 118
24 Slovakia 102
25 Czech Republic 80
26 Philippines 80
27 Albania 70
28 Georgia 70
29 New Zealand 61
30 Moldova 50
31 Macedonia 37
32 Estonia 31
33 Canada 31
34 Kazakhstan 25

[yellowcanine]

10. I am betting Albania and Moldova hang in there.

[LeaderlessResistance]

11. Bush Hopes To Coax More Iraq Support

"Maybe U.S. Citizens will wake up after millions of jobs are lost, after they have their homes and cars repossessed, after they can’t pay the minimum on their credit cards, after their kids are drafted for invasions of Iran, Syria, and Lebanon." Kurt Nimmo