http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/03/15/italy.iraq/index.html
It's not clear to me from the couple of sources I've seen whether this is to be a full or partial pull-out, or perhaps a gradual progression from one to the other. For now it seems to be talk of a 'reduction' of troops, but perhaps a full removal is also in the cards.
I'm not sure whether this has been in the works for a while (the war being of course very unpopular in Italy, as elsewhere.) But the timing makes it look as though last week's accidental shooting is going to be unfortunately costly for the (shrinking) coalition.
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- Jean Leloup
- Posts: 2004
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Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
Jean Leloup - original a.net moderator (2001-2005) and still recovering!
RE: Italy To Withdraw Iraq Troops.
Thumbs up, Berlusconi! One more PM whose people never wanted its soldiers to go to Iraq is finally beginning to listen!
Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.
RE: Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
I wonder how many Iraqi's will have to die because of this.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
RE: Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
News tonight said it is a partial withdrawal.
Perhaps a simply protest statement from the Italian PM reference the loss of their agent and wounding of the reporter . . . I didn't hear that it would be a complete withdrawal.
Perhaps a simply protest statement from the Italian PM reference the loss of their agent and wounding of the reporter . . . I didn't hear that it would be a complete withdrawal.
FOR THOSE THAT FOUGHT FOR IT, FREEDOM HAS A FLAVOR THE PROTECTED WILL NEVER KNOW OR UNDERSTAND
RE: Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
| Quoting ANCFlyer (Reply 4): Perhaps a simply protest statement from the Italian PM reference the loss of their agent and wounding of the reporter . . |
For the sake of the Iraqi people, I hope it is just that.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
RE: Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
Will they be sending them to Darfur to assist the French and German troops?
RE: Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
I recently applied to go out to Iraq to work (based Kuwait) as a friend of mine is out there. Up until recently the recruiters (IAPWWS) were screaming for folks but only a few days ago I received an email back saying that they weren't recruiting anymore and in fact were starting to pull workers out.
Cheers,
Rob K
Cheers,
Rob K
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- MD11Engineer
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RE: Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
Actually German military is in Darfur, providing air transport. And for no fullscale UN involvement ask your Chinese and Russian security council members about their vetoes.
Jan
Jan
Je Suis Charlie et je suis Ahmet aussi
RE: Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
| Quoting L-188 (Reply 2): I wonder how many Iraqi's will have to die because of this. |
Why do you ask. Are you referring to the greater ratio of Iraqi deaths that Americans will be responsible for as the coalition erodes?
In my opinion, your statement insults the intelligence of the average reader L-188.....
RE: Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
| Quoting N5176Y (Reply 6): Will they be sending them to Darfur to assist the French and German troops? |
I wasn't aware that anybody was there.
| Quoting Airplay (Reply 9): . Are you referring to the greater ratio of Iraqi deaths that Americans will be responsible for as the coalition erodes? |
Since the US forces don't shoot unless they are shot at or the target is an immediate threat, the answer is no.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
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- clipperhawaii
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RE: Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
At least Berlusconi had the guts to put troops in Iraq and thus fight for what he believed was right. People in the U.S. admire that kind of political courage. Can't say that for Germany's or France's bench warmers.
Thank you.
Thank you.
"You Can't Beat The Experience"
RE: Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
| Quoting ClipperHawaii (Reply 12): At least Berlusconi had the guts to put troops in Iraq and thus fight for what he believed was right. People in the U.S. admire that kind of political courage. Can't say that for Germany's or France's bench warmers. |
Didn't France and Germany decide to not fight for what they thought was not right? There's a similar sort of political courage there, IMHO.
-Mir
7 billion, one nation, imagination...it's a beautiful day
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- sabenapilot
- Posts: 3627
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RE: Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
According to the BBC, Italy is planning a complete withdrawal from Iraq, not a partial one, but will take into account the ability of the Iraqi (or other nation's) forces to replace them, just like the Spanish troops have done when pulling out last year.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4352259.stm
The Italian PM, Mr Berlusconi, has been one of US President George W. Bush's staunchest allies in the US-led war in Iraq. Italy has 3,000 troops in Iraq - the fourth largest foreign contingent.
But, now he said, after speaking to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair he concluded that public opinion in both countries favoured a troop withdrawal. Lately domestic opposition to Italy's involvement in Iraq intensified even further after the killing of an Italian agent by US troops in Baghdad earlier this month.
Mr Berlusconi has said the US must accept responsibility for the shooting of secret service agent Nicola Calipari by US troops in Baghdad on 4 March.
When the Italians will be gone by autumn, the US lead 'coalition of the willing' will be composed of:
-) countries which traditionally feel strongly related to the US: the UK and Australia
-) countries which are heavily depending on the US for their own national security: South Korea, Japan
-) eastern European countries showing their new alliance with the US to their frightening next door neighbour Russia: Poland, Ukraine, Georgia, Romania, Bulgaria
I suggest it is time to rename 'the coalition of the willing' into 'the coalition of the opportunists'.
[Edited 2005-03-16 09:04:42]
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4352259.stm
The Italian PM, Mr Berlusconi, has been one of US President George W. Bush's staunchest allies in the US-led war in Iraq. Italy has 3,000 troops in Iraq - the fourth largest foreign contingent.
But, now he said, after speaking to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair he concluded that public opinion in both countries favoured a troop withdrawal. Lately domestic opposition to Italy's involvement in Iraq intensified even further after the killing of an Italian agent by US troops in Baghdad earlier this month.
Mr Berlusconi has said the US must accept responsibility for the shooting of secret service agent Nicola Calipari by US troops in Baghdad on 4 March.
When the Italians will be gone by autumn, the US lead 'coalition of the willing' will be composed of:
-) countries which traditionally feel strongly related to the US: the UK and Australia
-) countries which are heavily depending on the US for their own national security: South Korea, Japan
-) eastern European countries showing their new alliance with the US to their frightening next door neighbour Russia: Poland, Ukraine, Georgia, Romania, Bulgaria
I suggest it is time to rename 'the coalition of the willing' into 'the coalition of the opportunists'.
[Edited 2005-03-16 09:04:42]
RE: Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
All this is just political propaganda, next month we will have regional elections and Berlusconi knows that most of the Italians want a complete withdraw from Iraq...he is just giving them a reason to vote for him. I wouldn't trust him! He often says one thing an the next day says the opposite!
CIAO
Simo
CIAO
Simo
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- curlyheadboy
- Posts: 849
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RE: Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
| Quoting Simo82 (Reply 16): All this is just political propaganda, next month we will have regional elections and Berlusconi knows that most of the Italians want a complete withdraw from Iraq...he is just giving them a reason to vote for him. I wouldn't trust him! He often says one thing an the next day says the opposite! |
Oh, you beat me on this!
If God had wanted men to fly he would have given them more money...
RE: Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
| Quoting L-188 (Reply 10): Since the US forces don't shoot unless they are shot at or the target is an immediate threat, the answer is no. |
I guess Iraqi babies might vomit on you and Italian journalists might try to interview you. And how about Canadian troops in Afghanistan? Were they an immediate threat too?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A63401-2004Sep30.html
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0411/S00025.htm
http://www.iraqbodycount.net/database/
http://www.prisonplanet.com/us_says_...lled_in_iraq_checkpoint_error.html
http://webdiary.smh.com.au/archives/000794.html
And please don't further insult our intelligence by comparing the people that died under Saddam. Is it OK to kill innocent people if you're the US?
RE: Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
| Quoting L-188 (Reply 10): Since the US forces don't shoot unless they are shot at or the target is an immediate threat, the answer is no. |
Yeah, right. Yesterday they shot an Iraqi General who was just walking. In the eyes of the US soldiers of course he was carrying a 50mm machine gun on an armoured tank so they killed him. Damn! They were wrong. He was just walking home.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200503/16/eng20050316_177079.html
RE: Italy To Withdraw (some) Iraq Troops.
>>>And please don't further insult our intelligence <<<
It seems you've already done that.
It seems you've already done that.
You're only as good as your last departure.