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International News Title: Coalition of the Duped shrinks in Iraq ‘Coalition of the willing’ shrinks in Iraq The shrinking US “coalition of the willing” in Iraq has come to resemble more a coalition of the reluctant, as allies weigh up the costs of continued involvement in an unpopular war against the benefits of backing President George W. Bush for the rest of his second term. Japan is expected to become the latest coalition member to announce a schedule for its withdrawal in a public statement on Tuesday. Italy’s new foreign minister, Massimo D’Alema, met Condoleezza Rice, US secretary of state, last week to discuss the Italian pullout by the end of the year, meaning in effect an end to operations by September. Spain withdrew its 1,300 soldiers from Iraq in 2004 after a change of government. The Netherlands, Ukraine, Nicaragua, the Philippines and Honduras have also pulled out. Only several thousand foreign troops remain along side some 130,000 US soldiers. The UK on Monday confirmed that Iraqi security forces would take over responsibility for security in the southern Muthana province, where Japanese forces were based. British and Australian troops – who provided security for the Japanese as they carried out reconstruction projects – will be redeployed. Analysts say only the UK provided a sizeable military force that actually made a difference in operational capability. Contributions from most other countries had more meaning in terms of political support for the US when the Bush administration failed to win enough backing for a second resolution at the UN. Senior Japanese cabinet ministers met on Monday to discuss a timetable for the withdrawal, increasing the possibility that the pull-out could take place to coincide with a planned visit by Junichiro Koizumi, prime minister, to Washington at the end of this month. Last year, at the start of Mr Bush’s second term, Ms Rice launched a drive to rebuild alliances, particularly in Europe, for the Iraq effort. Ultimately she failed as Mr Bush took on the appearance of a lame duck president, commented Lawrence Korb, senior analyst at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think-tank. But he said countries like Japan could not be accused of “cutting and running” as they never thought over three years ago that they would have to stay that long. Anthony Cordesman, senior analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the changes in the coalition were much more important for the political symbolism than operational reality. The war, he said, had led to serious political problems at home for contributing states as public support steadily deteriorated. “A steady pace of withdrawal and cuts from the coalition of the willing sends a message that the war does not have the support when it started, and nor does the US,” he said. The US said it expected to issue a statement on the status of the coalition last night. The original coalition of the willing, as announced when the invasion began, brought together a disparate group of 44 declared members. But these included many that had virtually no military resources to offer, such as Afghanistan, and others that later broke ties with the US, including Uzbekistan. Diplomats are also concerned that reconstruction efforts will be hindered by the withdrawals as it is not clear how planned joint military-civilian Provincial Reconstruction Teams will be made secure. Japanese ministers have hinted that Japan will offer the US other logistical support, including more transport flights to Baghdad and elsewhere, by the air self-defence force (ASDF), Japan’s version of an air force. The ASDF has three C-130 transportation aircraft based in Kuwait from where it transports goods and personnel to Basra and a base near Samawah, where Japanese ground forces are based. The ASDF does not currently operate regular flights to Baghdad. Australia’s prime minister, John Howard, said on Monday that some of Australia’s 460-member taskforce could remain in Iraq, possibly supporting Iraqi forces stationed at Tallil, a major coalition base near the city of Nasririyah. “We would continue to see a role, albeit a somewhat different role, for our forces in southern Iraq. The operations will be likely to be based in and around Tallil. The primary purpose would be to provide a security reinforcement or back-up for the Iraqi security forces and also an ongoing training role,” he said.
Poster Comment: BWAHAHHAHA..
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#1. To: Jhoffa_ (#0)
Will this war outlast Bush's time in office?
IMO: We don't have the men, money or the willpower to do this indefinately. Honestly, I'd be surprised if it even lasts that long.
Democracy was getting old anyway...
I think it will continue past Bush.
At a billion and a half a week? I don't see how it can..
Democracy was getting old anyway...
I don't see how it can.. We are what 8 trillion or 20 trillion in debt. I think everything is going according to plan. Bush and his controllers want to bring America down. That way they can have their new world order. Replace the dollar with a global currency. Probably the Amero as a first step.
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