Spain to cede Iraq base to U.S.

[Judi Lynn]

Spain to cede Iraq base to U.S.
By CNN Madrid Bureau Chief Al Goodman
Monday, May 10, 2004 Posted: 11:49 AM EDT (1549 GMT)


MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- Spain has said it will cede its military base in Iraq to the United States between May 15 and 17.

Defense Minister Jose Bono declared Monday that all Spanish troops could be out of Iraq sooner than the May 27 pullout date previously announced, officials told CNN.

Any remaining Spanish troops in Iraq after May 17 -- and until their departure -- would continue to be stationed at the base in Diwaniya, south of Baghdad, even though the base will be under U.S. control, the defense ministry spokesman said.

The announcement of the transfer of base control to the Americans came a day after Bono made a surprise visit to his remaining troops in Iraq.
(snip/...)

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/05/10/iraq.spain/

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Just one week away. Remember how much assurance _Bush took from having Aznar on board?



That's all he really had going on. Blair and Aznar. They were the biggies.


Surfers form a giant peace sign in the sea at the Queenscliff Beach, Sydney, on Sunday. Australian Prime Minister John Howard has firmly backed the US hardline that Iraq must be forcefully disarmed to stop terrorists gaining weapons of mass destruction despite opinion polls showing over 70 per cent of Australians oppose joining a war without UN backing. — Reuters

[54anickel]

1. I could have sworn there was an earlier article that stated they were

already completely out. :shrug: