Lithuania 'seriously considering' withdrawing troops from Iraq

[Doondoo]

VILNIUS, Lithuania (AP) -- Lithuania is "seriously considering'' withdrawing its 53 troops from Iraq, a government spokeswoman said Wednesday.

Defense Ministry spokeswoman Ruta Apeitkyte told The Associated Press that the Baltic country was considering not replacing the contingent when its mission ends in August.

It was the first time that Lithuania, a staunch U.S. ally, indicated it would reduce its commitment in Iraq.


http://www.wvgazette.com/section/APNews/News/ap0493n

[displacedtexan]

1. All 50 of them?

Wow, that's gotta sting the BushBots!

Lithuania: 50 troops

[rodeodance]

2. CNN: Denmark to withdraw Iraq troops

Denmark to withdraw Iraq troops
POSTED: 1246 GMT (2046 HKT), February 21, 2007


COPENHAGEN, Denmark (CNN) -- Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen has announced his country will withdraw some or all of its troops from Iraq by August, the Danish Defense Ministry confirmed to CNN.

Denmark has about 470 soldiers in Iraq, serving under British command.

The announcement comes as British Prime Minister Tony Blair announced that he also plans to reduce the number of British troops serving in southern Iraq by the end of the year.

http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/02/21/denmark.iraq/index.html

[rodeodance]

3. "will withdraw some or all "

[UpInArms]

4. wow! look at the size of that "coalition"!

[calimary]

26. The Coalition of the Wilting.

Yep, george. They all have your back. Everybody's behind you. You're "right" and WE got it all wrong. You're a regular Kevin Bacon in "Animal House" (cue those furtive shouts of "ALL IS WELL!!!" as the out-of-control mob stampedes down Main Street).

And I'm sure this will be characterized as MORE good news! YAY! Well, if it's so good over there, WHY CAN'T WE PULL OUT, TOO?????????????

[strizi64]

5. a nice map, check it out

(at the end of 2006)

[rodeodance]

9. Thanks, yes, good map

[gasperc]

6. what both of them!

oh the humanity!

[semillama]

7. In other news, Lithuania has troops in Iraq. N/t

[rodeodance]

8. "Coalition of the Leaving"----I think Keith O said that last night (Brits only

at that point, now 2 more)

[bleedingheart]

10. The Lithuanian President is a former US citizen and a Republican

who is trying to kiss US ass to get money into the country.

here is some info on President Adamkus...

http://www.adamkus.lt/en/biography.phtml

born in Lithuania..emigrates to the US (he was one of the DP's..Displaced Persons)...and he went back after they got their freedom from the USSR.

He also worked for the US government, so he knows how to pull strings..

[rodeodance]

11. Rice says Iraq coalition 'remains intact'

posted by Bigtree in GD


Wed Feb-21-07 08:47 AM
Original message
Rice says Iraq coalition 'remains intact'

and two plus two equals five . . .

Rice says Iraq coalition 'remains intact'

21/02/2007 - 13:58:22 US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today said that despite Britain’s decision to pull some troops from Iraq, “the coalition remains intact”.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today said that despite Britain’s decision to pull some troops from Iraq, “the coalition remains intact”.

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=173426960&p...

[Candide]

12. Definitely a positive sign!!!

Now if we withdrew, wouldn't that be reaaalllly positive???

[rodeodance]

13. Cheney Says British Troop Withdrawal Is Positive Sign

posted in LBN also:

Wed Feb-21-07 07:20 AM
Original message
EXCLUSIVE: Cheney Says British Troop Withdrawal Is Positive Sign

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2891713

Feb. 21, 2007 — British Prime Minister Tony Blair's announcement that British troops will begin withdrawing from Iraq would appear to be bad news for the Bush administration.

But in an exclusive interview with ABC News, Vice President Dick Cheney said the move was actually good news and a sign of progress in Iraq.

"Well, I look at it and see it is actually an affirmation that there are parts of Iraq where things are going pretty well," Cheney told ABC News' Jonathan Karl.

"In fact, I talked to a friend just the other day who had driven to Baghdad down to Basra, seven hours, found the situation dramatically improved from a year or so ago, sort of validated the British view they had made progress in southern Iraq and that they can therefore reduce their force levels," Cheney said.

Dick goes on to equate Murtha and Pelosi with alQaeda and attack McCain.

[rodeodance]

14. Britain's Iraq war bombshell (posted in Ed.)

Wed Feb-21-07 09:48 AM
Original message
Britain's Iraq war bombshell Updated at 9:48 AM

A MOVE by Britain to begin pulling troops out of Iraq has increased the heat on the Bush Administration and the Howard Government as they grapple with pressures at home to find ways out of the Iraq war.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Washington's most important ally in Iraq, late last night announced a decision to bring home 1600 of his country's troops within months, and to further reduce its presence later in the year.

~snip~

News of the Blair plan came on the eve of US Vice-President Dick Cheney's arrival in Australia today on a state visit that would normally have been expected to be a boon for Mr Howard, but which could now not have been more badly timed.

In Tokyo, on his way to Australia, Mr Cheney said yesterday the US wanted to finish its mission in Iraq and "return with honour", despite the war's growing unpopularity at home and doubts among US allies.

That came after recent comments by senior Japanese Government ministers that the war was a mistake and the US occupation strategy "immature".

more:http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/britains-iraq-war-b...


Status of Coalition of the Willing
http://www.dailycomet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20...

[rodeodance]

15. AP: Status of Coalition Forces in Iraq (Feb 21)

http://www.dailycomet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070221/API/702212810

February 21. 2007 9:12AM

Status of Coalition Forces in Iraq

By The Associated Press

A look at the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq:


ALBANIA: 120 non-combat troops, mainly patrolling airport in Mosul; no plans to withdraw.

ARMENIA: 46 soldiers, serving as medics, engineers and transport drivers, serving under Polish command; mission extended to end of 2007.

AUSTRALIA: Around 1,300 troops in and around Iraq, mostly guarding Australian diplomats in Baghdad and helping train Iraqi forces.

AZERBAIJAN: 150 troops, mostly serving as sentries, on patrols and protecting dam near city of Hadid; no plans to withdraw.

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: Bosnia has 36 soldiers - including three teams of 10 officers and a command team of six - in Iraq........

Posted in GP also:

[rodeodance]

16. REC

[maddezmom]

17. Defense Minister confirms: Lithuania to follow Danes out of Iraq

VILNIUS, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Lithuania is planning to pull its 53 troops out of Iraq following British and Danish troop withdrawal decisions, the defence minister said on Wednesday.

Britain said earlier it would withdraw almost a quarter of its troops from Iraq in the coming months. Denmark, whose soldiers serve under British command, said its ground troops would also leave. The Lithuanians in turn serve under Danish leadership.

"We are planning to pull out the troops because the British and the Danish are doing so," Lithuanian Defence Minister Juozas Olekas told Reuters. He said the troops would stay at least until August, when the Danes are planning to leave.

http://mobile.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L21168955.htm

[rodeodance]

18. 'and the Danes follow the Brits"--- HI HO the Dairy OOOOO............

[rodeodance]

19. August seems to be majic month for Danes. Lith, and the Brits.

[BigDDem]

20. Cut and run!!

Lithuania hates the troops, loves Saddam.

[rodeodance]

24. very smart move by the Danes and Liths! very smart!

[rodeodance]

21. Rice denies US-led coalition in Iraq is crumbling

from lBN also:


Wed Feb-21-07 09:56 AM
Original message
Rice denies US-led coalition in Iraq is crumbling Updated at 9:48 AM

BERLIN (AFP) - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice denied on Wednesday that the US-led coalition in Iraq is crumbling after Britain announced it would reduce its troop mumbers by 1,600 in the coming months.

"The coalition remains intact and in fact the British still have thousands of soldiers deployed in Iraq, in the south," Rice said after talks with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier ahead of a meeting of the Quartet for Middle East peace.

Rice said the British pullout was occurring according to the coalition plan to gradually hand over responsibility for security to the Iraqis.

"It is the plan that as it is possible to transfer responsibilities to the Iraqis, coalition forces would no longer be needed in those circumstances."

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070221/wl_afp/britainiraq...

Status of coalition forces in Iraq
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070221/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq...

[rodeodance]

22. HO HO: "British pullout was occurring according to the coalition plan"

guess the plan is working for them but NOT for the US!

Rice said the British pullout was occurring according to the coalition plan to gradually hand over responsibility for security to the Iraqis.

.......

[rodeodance]

23. Romainia hs 600 troops under Brit command---Wonder if they will follow?

ROMANIA: About 600 troops, most serving in the south under British command, with the rest - a few dozen military intelligence officers - serving north of Baghdad; Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu wants them withdrawn.

[rodeodance]

25. Do you hear the SPLAT? K& R