Bush's Incredible Shrinking "Coalition"

[tinknocker44]

Bush's "Coalition of the Willing," that motley crew of cajoled and pressured mostly minor nations that provided token troops to send to Iraq along with the U.S. juggernaut during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, is looking decidedly smaller today.

Since 2004, 17 countries, which had sent a total of 10,500 troops have pulled out entirely and brought everyone home. These include Italy, which at one point had the fourth-largest contingent of troops in the coalition (3200) and Ukraine, which had 1650 troops in Iraq, and also Iceland, which at one point had sent 2 soldiers, making it the smallest member of the invasion force.

Of course, the coalition was always much less than it appeared. Initially, the White House had announced that Costa Rica was a part of the coalition, but it had to drop that claim when Costa Rica pointed out that it has no army. LOL

Most of the other countries in a coalition that at one point purportedly numbered 48 actually barred their soldiers from engaging in combat. Poland was the biggest of these, with 2500 troops in Iraq at one point, but with nobody fighting. Indeed, the only countries that actually supplied combat troops to do any fighting alongside U.S. forces were the U.K., which initially sent a force of 45,000, Australia, which sent 2000, and Denmark, which sent 300. Today, at a time that Bush is adding American troops, Britain's troops in Iraq are down to just 5500, with most slated to be gone by year's end. Poland's non-combat contingent is down to 900, Australia has pulled out all but 628, and Denmark has 460.

Gone altogether along with Italy, Ukraine and Iceland are the Netherlands, Spain, Japan, Thailand, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Hungary, Nicaragua, Singapore, Norway, Portugal, New Zealand, Philippines and Tonga.

That is to say, the U.S.-led "coalition," in addition to the severely attritioned Britain, Australia, Poland and Denmark, is down to just 23 countries. But of these, only two are providing troops in four digits--the U.K. and South Korea, which has 1200. The other 17 members, which include Rumania, Georgia, El Salvador, the Czech Republic, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Mongolia, Albania, Lithuania, Slovenia, Armenia, Boznia-Herzegovena, Estonia, Macedonia, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Bulgaria, are only providing a grand total of 2278 soldiers--none of them in combat roles.

This is quite a grand coalition our president has assembled!

It's also a coalition that will scatter like chaff in a storm if the Bush administration follows the advice of Vice President Cheney and attacks Iran. At that point it will be the Coalition of One.

It must make the men and women of the U.S. military feel good to have all those allies with them as they drive their bedraggled Humvees through the IED-strewn streets of Iraq.

Especially when they know that most, if not all, of these coalition members only joined because they were threatened with aid cut-offs or bribed with promises of arms supplies and loans.

The problem for the Bush administration is that many of the members of this "Coalition of the Willing" were never really willing. Their governments may have been, but their people were not, and a number of governments--for example those in Italy and Spain--fell in large part because of popular rage over their countries' involvement in Bush's Iraq fiasco. Unlike in America, the voting public in these countries was able to force their governments to change course and get out.

There's a lesson there.

Maybe after the Brits and the Ozzies leave Iraq, Americans will see the light and demand that the U.S. leave the coalition too.

Then maybe Iraq can start to recover from its long nightmare.



http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/8270

[glennac]

My gosh Tink, you must be having a climax over this news. :D Don't have a stroke in the process.:D :D :D I hate to throw cold water on your news flash but there are signs pointing to a contanment of the violence with more Iraqis willing to help our troops id the bad guys.

[geerair]

My gosh Tink, you must be having a climax over this news. :D Don't have a stroke in the process.:D :D :D I hate to throw cold water on your news flash but there are signs pointing to a contanment of the violence with more Iraqis willing to help our troops id the bad guys.The Pentagon doesn't share your optimism:

Three months into the new U.S. military strategy that has sent tens of thousands additional troops into Iraq, overall levels of violence in the country have not decreased, as attacks have shifted from Baghdad and Anbar provinces, where American forces are concentrated, only to rise in most other provinces according to a Pentagon report released yesterday.

Despite the early drop in sectarian killings, data from the Baghdad morgue show them returning to pre-suge levels.

Suicide attacks more than doubled from 26 in Janurary to 58 in April.

Overall violence has increased in most provinces, particularly in the areas of Baghdad province, Diyala and Ninewa provinces.

In Diyala's restive capital of Baqubah, U.S. and Iraq forces have been unable to diminish rising sectarian violence contributing to the volatile security situation.

U.S. and Iraq civilian deaths have also increased from this time last year.

[tinknocker44]

Of course, the coalition was always much less than it appeared. Initially, the White House had announced that Costa Rica was a part of the coalition, but it had to drop that claim when Costa Rica pointed out that it has no army.

That is funny Glen. It was another lie by the Dumbyas or just plain stupidity. You pick.

Theres nothing funny about other Countries Government being smarter than ours.

[bb]

The Pentagon doesn't share your optimism:

Three months into the new U.S. military strategy that has sent tens of thousands additional troops into Iraq, overall levels of violence in the country have not decreased, as attacks have shifted from Baghdad and Anbar provinces, where American forces are concentrated, only to rise in most other provinces according to a Pentagon report released yesterday.

Despite the early drop in sectarian killings, data from the Baghdad morgue show them returning to pre-suge levels.

Suicide attacks more than doubled from 26 in Janurary to 58 in April.

Overall violence has increased in most provinces, particularly in the areas of Baghdad province, Diyala and Ninewa provinces.

In Diyala's restive capital of Baqubah, U.S. and Iraq forces have been unable to diminish rising sectarian violence contributing to the volatile security situation.

U.S. and Iraq civilian deaths have also increased from this time last year.

Colonel Geer to the rescue. lol

[acmanko]

What's is even more amazing is how Bush's base supporters have been flocking to Hillary.:D

[chillbilly]

What's is even more amazing is how Bush's base supporters have been flocking to Hillary.:D


Oh really? And who would that be?

Really manko, you must supply at least a modicum of fact and at least a name or two to substantiate your rhetoric...don't ya' think?

[chillbilly]

Colonel Geer to the rescue. lol

LOL Yeah really. Geer supplies a news article and claims it factual.
Worse yet, he plagiarizes it and claims it as his own.

[geerair]

Colonel Geer to the rescue. lolActually, Colonels and Generals at the Pentagon. Their report, not mine.

[tinknocker44]

Actually, Colonels and Generals at the Pentagon. Their report, not mine.


Well Geer you cant expect them to get this info at Faux their still giving Anna Nicole updates.

[geerair]

Well Geer you cant expect them to get this info at Faux their still giving Anna Nicole updates.Yeah, covering the important news like Nicole and Hilton trumps Pentagon reports over at "We Report, You Decide."

No wonder the conservlican sheep here are so poorly informed. :rolleyes:

[d_griff]

Their governments may have been, but their people were not, and a number of governments--for example those in Italy and Spain--fell in large part because of popular rage over their countries' involvement in Bush's Iraq fiasco. Unlike in America, the voting public in these countries was able to force their governments to change course and get out.



Then maybe Iraq can start to recover from its long nightmare.


italy and spain left b/c terrorists threaten them,so they tuck their tail and run.. you do remember 3/11 dont you??you know the train bomb??one threat and they high tail it like b@tches,they can allow the terrorists to dictate their foreign policy,we will as well,but in a different way;)
you should move to spain with the rest of the cowards..or maybe better yet. France

[chillbilly]

LOL

Yes, unfortunately the cut and run mentality is alive and well here in ARP.

[geerair]

italy and spain left b/c terrorists threaten them,so they tuck their tail and run.. you do remember 3/11 dont you??you know the train bomb??one threat and they high tail it like b@tches,they can allow the terrorists to dictate their foreign policy,we will as well,but in a different way;)
you should move to spain with the rest of the cowards..or maybe better yet. FranceLet's see:

190 killed in the Spain train attack.


3560 U.S. killed and counting in the optional Iraq excursion.



Looks like Spain came out way, way ahead on this deal.

[chillbilly]

I'm sure if you're counting and keeping a running tally of body bags, it would appear that way.
Military campaigns are not evaluated and judged by experts in the fashion that a novice like you would evaluate them.

[show me the money]

democracy to the middle east.

Attacking the Taliban or Al Kyda is like attacking the SS as a means to destroy Nazism. LOL

Democracy in the middle east? You must be kidding?

Islam is a religion in which one must submit to the state, to a ruler. or be killed. Muslim will say they submit to Allah, their god, and he is the God of Abraham.

Let's just see if that is true. The God of Abraham called himself Yahuweh or I Am. He through progressive revelation in the scripture revealed himself. He gave us free will to come to love him, we reject or accept his love, by following his will for our lives. If we love him, and do his will, we will be with him for eternity. If we reject him we will be stuck in the time cycle of eternity and live in the Abyss where there is darkness, tears, and the nashing of teeth.

Now Allah says: All must submit, follow the 5 pillars of Islam or taste hell's fire. He says that 999 out of a thousand will go to hell by predestination. He says that the greatest service to Allah is war Jihad. He says it is ok to terriorize, murder, rape, enslave, comit insest, bestiality, pedophila, and genocide. He says that in his creation story the first thing created was the pen, the sun sets into a muddy puddle, an eclipse occurs when the sun falls from it's chariot. He says if anyone who questions Islam will leave it, and these must be killed.

What do you think? http://www.prophetofdoom.net/

I think Bush has commited a great blunder, I pray for our soldiers, who are misguided in their mission.

[glennac]

http://www.prophetofdoom.net/[/URL]

I think Bush has commited a great blunder, I pray for our soldiers, who are misguided in their mission.

That's a great link money. Everyone should read it.

[geerair]

Now Allah says: All must submit, follow the 5 pillars of Islam or taste hell's fire. He says that 999 out of a thousand will go to hell by predestination. He says that the greatest service to Allah is war Jihad. He says it is ok to terriorize, murder, rape, enslave, comit insest, bestiality, pedophila, and genocide. He says that in his creation story the first thing created was the pen, the sun sets into a muddy puddle, an eclipse occurs when the sun falls from it's chariot. He says if anyone who questions Islam will leave it, and these must be killed.

What do you think? http://www.prophetofdoom.net/I think the J/C god sounds just like Allah.


Slavery, murder, rape, incest, genocide.............Yep, that is the J/C god alright.

[glennac]

I think the J/C god sounds just like Allah.


Slavery, murder, rape, incest, genocide.............Yep, that is the J/C god alright.


Geer you are crazy. No where in Christianity can you find rape, incest, genocide, murder, etc. justified or encouraged. It is in the Muslim religion. Maybe you are one in incognito. You like their justice system from your previous post like wanting to destroy a kid for life for taking a candy bar off a desk in a principle's office. Yes you are a closet Muslim for sure.

[acmanko]

the Old Testament is full of stories about rape ,murder, incest and slavery. may be you should read it

[show me the money]

anyone. The only people Israel was commanded to literally wipe out were the Cananites. The Cananites were the most vile people in the sight of God.
There was only a few thousand of them at that time. Israel didn't obey and let some of them run into the desert, for the rest of the OT these folks were a thorn in the side of Israel.

Maybe God knew something like the future, and wanted to save them some pain.

If you could have killed Adolf Hitler, and the rest of the Nazi's before they had a chance to become a world power would you?

That is exactly what God was doing.

Other than that incident Israel all conflicts were when they were at war, most of the time they were attacked first.

[geerair]

anyone. The only people Israel was commanded to literally wipe out were the Cananites. The Cananites were the most vile people in the sight of God. Hmmmmm..........that would be genocide.

Of course, then there was the time god got all riled up and drown all but eight or nine of the world's human population. :eek: :eek:

Talk about genocide!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

[acmanko]

I guess you overlooked Cain murdering Abel. and who was it whose daughters raped him whilst he slept. It's possible you do not hav ea vivid enough imagination. God did not destroy Sodom and Gamorrah because they played horseshoes with bypassing men, they had their way with them. youknow they analyzed them

[glennac]

Hmmmmm..........that would be genocide.

Of course, then there was the time god got all riled up and drown all but eight or nine of the world's human population. :eek: :eek:

Talk about genocide!!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Geer, when refering to the beliefs of Christianity you should only refer to the New Testiment not the Old. The Old Testiment was the old religion of the Jews not the new religion of the Christians. Christians follow JC teachings. No where you will find murder, rape, etc. in the New Testiment. Don't confuse or mix the two. They are different.

[Carnak]

and who was it whose daughters raped him whilst he slept.

That was Lot and his daughters, when S & G were destroyed, they thought the whole world was destroyed.

[acmanko]

That was Lot and his daughters, when S & G were destroyed, they thought the whole world was destroyed. Who is "they"

[Carnak]

Who is "they"

"They" = Lot's Daughters

They thought they were the only people left in the world, meaning Lot was the last man on Earth, so they figured they better get fruitful and multiply

[Carnak]

is that enough "they"s for you :)

[acmanko]

yea, I was thinking you meant the population of S&G. my bad