March 2003: US names "Coalition of the Willing"...how's that working out?

[Human Torch]

Tuesday, 18 March, 2003, 21:38 GMT

US names 'coalition of the willing'

By Steve Schifferes
BBC News Online in Washington

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2862343.stm



The US has named 30 countries which are prepared to be publicly associated with the US action against Iraq.

The state department says more countries have now announced concrete support for a possible US invasion of Iraq than during the first Gulf War.

And it says that there are an additional 15 countries which are providing assistance, such as over-flight rights, but which do not want to declare support.

"I hope that they will all be able to do everything that is possible within their means to support the coalition militarily, diplomatically, politically and economically," US Secretary of State Colin Powell said. The list includes countries which are providing troops, over-flight or basing rights, logistical support or assistance with reconstruction efforts. But the state department admits that only a few of these countries are providing any major military presence in the Gulf, notably Britain and Australia.

Full list of coalition countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and Uzbekistan.

Source: US State Department

[Ouabache]

1. Well Britain is still in it,, but probably just to collect intel on us

I always thought THAT was a major reason for them going along. Clever like a fox, those Brits.

[LeftishBrit]

4. No way... we were not willing!

Tony was willing; but most of us opposed it.

[Art_from_Ark]

2. That's quite a line-up there

Nearly all are extremely small and/or 3rd world countries, and nearly all have since exited, stage right.

[MADem]

3. I thought Coalition of the BILLING was a more accurate description NT