Article

2004-04-22 Iraq-Jordan

Men with Chests: Members of U.S. coalition reaffirm support

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Posted by Dragon Fly 2004-04-22 7:35:16 AM|| || Front Page|| [3 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Well, Spain are doubling their Afghanistan troops. So, I guess they must be friends.

Posted by Anonymous4426 2004-04-22 8:05:21 AM|| 2004-04-22 8:05:21 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Here are the military forces, pre-Spain and Honduran coitus interruptus:

Countries With Units in Iraq

Country
Current
Peronnel
United Kingdom 11,000
Poland 2,400
Italy 2,700
Ukraine 2,000
Spain 1,300
Netherlands 1,100
Australia 1,000
South Korea 700
Romania 700
Bulgaria 470
Denmark 496
Thailand 460
Honduras 370
El Salvador 360
Hungary 300
Dominican Republic 300
Nicaragua 230
Singapore 200
Mongolia 180
Azerbaijan 151
Norway 150
Latvia 121
Portugal 128
Lithuania 105
Slovakia 105
Philippines 96
Czech Republic 80
Japan ~75
Albania 70
Georgia 70
New Zealand 60
Estonia 55
Kazakhstan 29
Macedonia 28
Moldova 24
TOTAL 26,500

(source: Global Security www.globalsecurity.rg)

That doesn't include about 1,500 non-US foreign contract personnel from, among others, France, Spain, UK, Denmark, Russia, Ukraine, China, Germany, South Africa and Belgium, or another roughly 1000 NGO personnel of various non-US nationalities. There are about 1000 US NGO employees and about 5000 US civilian contractors currently present. Pray for all of them.

Sofia the Librarian

Posted by Sofia 2004-04-22 2:58:47 PM|| 2004-04-22 2:58:47 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 I believe Rhodesians are in demand too. Something about 6 Troop, 2Cdo, I guess. At least when they get kidnapped, there's no gov't to bribe/threaten, swear at, etc. These guys just found another war with intelligent people who really dont care.

Posted by rhodesiafever 2004-04-22 4:07:44 PM|| 2004-04-22 4:07:44 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 I heard that Albania would be upping their troop levels to compesate for the loss of our Central American contingent. (Perhaps they'll re-apply for Spanish Colonial status, too?)

Posted by eLarson 2004-04-22 4:45:29 PM|| 2004-04-22 4:45:29 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 eLarson - I heard that too; there's an official statement from the Albanian Foreign Minister on Monday that they now have 71 troops there and that they would "readily" send more. I don't know how many they could in practicality send - the entire armed forces consists of only 44,000 personnel - but it's nice to have friends, especially from a Moslem country.

It's interesting how many majority Moslem non-Arab countries have been generally supportive of the WOT and US action in Iraq. Perhaps proximity to sand or oil somehow breeds rabid, spit-flying, irrational fanaticism?

It would also be extremely interesting to see the Rhodesians in Iraq. Executive Outcomes, anyone?

Sofia the Librarian

PS my father, a general contractor, sent me a Caterpillar 75th Anniversary pin in honor of St Pancake. I've been wearing it all day, thoroughly confusing my lefty coworkers.

Posted by Sofia 2004-04-22 5:30:10 PM|| 2004-04-22 5:30:10 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 I wonder if it is goodwill built up from defending ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. Either way, it's good to have them aboard.

Posted by eLarson 2004-04-22 10:00:31 PM|| 2004-04-22 10:00:31 PM|| Front Page Top

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