Italy Official Hints at Iraq Troop Exit

[NNN0LHI]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041002/ap_on_re_mi_ea/egypt_italy_iraq&cid=540&ncid=1473

CAIRO, Egypt - Italy's deputy premier suggested Saturday that his country could pull its troops out of Iraq (news - web sites) after elections scheduled for January, saying they will no longer be needed when a representative government is in place.

The remarks by Gianfranco Fini, made after a meeting with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, were the first public indication of when Italy might withdraw its 3,000 troops from Iraq.

"Whenever there is an Iraqi government that represents all Iraqis in a free way, there will be no need for foreign troops to remain in Iraq," Fini said through an interpreter.

He didn't say whether he expected the elections — threatened by violence in several parts of the country — to produce a representative government.

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[sundancekid]

1. no surprise here ... the decimation of the "coalition of the bribed"

continues ... but, oops I forgot, there's Poland still isn't there??

[Scooter24]

5. for the love of God!

How could we forget about POLAND!

[Miss Authoritiva]

7. Well, here's how I forgot about Poland.

"Poland did contribute a small number of commandos during the initial fighting in Iraq, helping to secure oil fields and ports in the south. Its troops numbered 200, compared to roughly 225,000 from the United States, 45,000 from Britain and 2,000 from Australia."

"In March 2003, when Bush and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld brought up the work of the Poles, they were scolded by Jerzy Szmajdzinski, the Polish defense minister, who complained that the work of secret units should remain secret. Most Poles opposed the war. "We are happy with the high grades given to Polish troops, but we are not happy with their use for propaganda," Szmajdzinski said."

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/politics/ny-ustrue013990561oct01,0,3908192.story?coll=ny-lipolitics-print">Newsday

Moreover, since last Spring, the Polish government has been warning the US that it will be withdrawing its troop. And let's not forget the Polish president's wonderful line about Poland "being taken for a ride" over Bush's WMD claims.

[leftchick]

10. you summed that up quite nicely Miss!

I had forgotten about the "ride" comment! Gawd, aWol* is such an embarrasment!

[Bluebear]

2. Oh no, now they'll want to boycott pizza and Chef Boy ar Dee

[struggle4progress]

8. Menus would be shorter if everything were called "Freedom"

[illuminaughty]

9. Fetishcheney afraido on the menu

Sorry. I don't want to give the assholes any ideas, but I'm sure we could count on seeing things like those Italians eat "Spaghetti with no balls" etc.

It just kills me how in this great land of democracy we boycott or make fun of those who have the sense to disagree with us.

[madrchsod]

3. some of those troops

in iraq are guarding the historical sites from looters,to bad they are leaving but goods news for all the scum who trade in historical objects..

[Leilani]

4. One of the Italian Woman Hostages who was released

gave an interview yesterday, & said the war was wrong, & the foreign troops should get out.

She said the war has been devastating to Iraq & its people, & would take decades to fix.

She was there before the war, & said she wants to go back to help the Iraqi people.

[Eye and Monkey]

6. Well, Chimpie forgot Poland, perhaps soon he can forget Italy, too.