BULGARIA & UKRAINE leaving Iraq; others may follow

[Bluebear]

Meanwhile, freepers scratch heads over what to boycott from Bulgaria.

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VIENNA, Austria - Two of America's allies in Iraq are withdrawing forces this month and a half-dozen others are debating possible pullouts or reductions, increasing pressure on Washington as calls mount to bring home U.S. troops.

Bulgaria and Ukraine will begin withdrawing their combined 1,250 troops by mid-December. If Australia, Britain, Italy, Japan, Poland and
South Korea reduce or recall their personnel, more than half of the non-American forces in Iraq could be gone by next summer.

Japan and South Korea help with reconstruction, but Britain and Australia provide substantial support forces and Italy and Poland train Iraqi troops and police. Their exodus would deal a blow to American efforts to prepare Iraqis to take over the most dangerous peacekeeping tasks and craft an eventual U.S. exit strategy.

"The vibrations of unease from within the United States clearly have an impact on public opinion elsewhere," said Terence Taylor of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Washington. "Public opinion in many of these countries is heavily divided."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051201/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_crumbling_coalition_1

[Bluebear]

1. Is Poland still there? nt

[ContraBass Black]

6. Poland pulled out the day after "Don't forget Poland!" eom

[Nikki Stone 1]

2. At this point, the US needs every damned body on the ground

We laughed earlier at the small (nominal) number of troops these nations sent, but now, I'm afraid for the US troops on the ground.

[Bluebear]

3. Oh, well, stay the course.

:sarcasm:

I am very worried as well. Especially if we are the only ones left there. Talk about marked targets.

[Nikki Stone 1]

5. And to think that little bastard said "Bring it on"

May he never be forgiven for that statement.

[NNN0LHI]

4. This means the US will not have to protect and feed them any more

It should free up some US soldiers for other duties.

Don

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

7. The Americans should lead the parade out.

Having been defeated by the "failed insurgency".