US pressures Fiji for Iraqi troops

[DuctapeFatwa]

The United States is urging Fiji to send soldiers to Iraq but is not willing to pay their salaries, US ambassador David Lyon was quoted as saying in the Fiji Sun newspaper.

"While we would very much like Fiji to contribute troops to Iraq peacekeeping duties, and are prepared to provide equipment, uniforms, small arms, transport and logistical support, we are unable to pay salaries or personal entitlements," Mr Lyon said.

Fiji has an army of around 9,000..Mr Lyon suggested Fiji might be able to find the needed funds from an international donor.

He said he was sure Suva was "interested in doing its part for world stability..."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s990509.htm

[jenk]

1. hahahahaha

fiji?

[lumpy]

8. Hahahahahaha

My sides are splittin'

Maybe Monaco ?

[bemildred]

2. Reality is better than anything you could just think up.

[amlouden]

5. boy

are we that desperate?!

[LeftistGorilla]

43. yup...

and pathetic...

[uhhuh]

3. FIJI???!!??

I'm gonna keep rolling this around in my head...Fiji?....hmmm.....FIJI??

....well, I guess, uh.....I mean,...........well............................................................................................................................fiji?

And we won't help pay them,either?............uh.....................
..................FIJI??? WTF?

[shanti]

42. that's exactly what first came into my head!

fiji?? tiny little fiji?? gotta strongarm them all, doesn't he!? :grr:

[MasonJar]

4. Fiji?

This administration is ready to crack. They are so desperate they are presurring Fiji. Wow! How demoralizing to be represented in the world by these brainless twits.

[IndianaGreen]

26. Fiji has a history of cannibalism

Fijians recently apologized to the descendants of an English minister that was eaten by the Fijians over a century ago.

Fiji was in the news a couple of years back when there was a coup trying to depose the democratically elected government. The coup pitted native Fijians with Fijians of Indian descent.

I can't think of no reason why the US would pressure Fiji to sacrifice the lives of Fijians for no darned good reason.

[displacedvermoter]

40. Perhaps V.J. Singh, Tiger Wood's #1 Rival, can pony up some money

to support his nation's efforts in Iraq. I'm sure he'd be pleased to ddo his part, and he can probably afford to outfit a battalion or two of Fijian special forces!

Utter nonsense, are we gonna start calling Fiji "New Asia" now that "Old Asia" -- Japan, South Korea, and India -- have crapped out on us?

[uhhuh]

6. Hey

When are we getting the troops from Monaco? Or Trinidad and Tobego?

[quaker bill]

7. Finally!!

A country we can put the pressure on. Bush* had to work his way down the list of military powers a bit though... Fiji is a true miitary power, - compared to Luxemberg.

[nostamj]

9. doesn't this thread belong in the LOUNGE ???

i mean, FIJI ???

it's got to be from the Onion. please.

the US is begging FIJI for troops ???

next you'll tell me we're cloning an army of *s

next you'll tell me that Elvis wasn't sighted at an Arby's in Albany

next you'll tell me that BatBoy was a hoax (which I know it wasn't 'cause I saw the musical!

FIJI ??????????????????????????????????????

[DuctapeFatwa]

11. My favorite part - They don't want to PAY them - just go get shot for free

:P

[Mikimouse]

21. Now, THAT's an intriguiging thought

"next you'll tell me we're cloning an army of *s"

What would that accomplish, now really! I understand that the TX Air National Guard has no openings right now, so what would we do with them? Of course, there's always political campaigns to work, so I guess the effort wouldn't be a complete waste...er...on second thought...:evilgrin:

[The Sushi Bandit]

10. Well, its official - We are at the bottom of the barrel

Next they will be asking African Bushmen to help us!

PS the president likes the idea of sending "Bush-men" to Iraq.

[hussar]

12. OK here's a shocker I served with soldiers from Fiji

and just so as you know they are awesome soldiers, the best.

I don't know why but it was a tradition in the Brit regiment I served in that these guy's from Fiji joined our mob and I have seen them in action.

I tell you this I would not insult them to their face.

[Eloriel]

20. I believe you, but even so

You've GOT to admit, this is a ridiculous and acutely embarrassing development for "the world's last -- and only -- superpower." No?

No insult meant to Fijians, at ALL. In fact, about now I'd rather like to BE one.

Eloriel

[hussar]

25. I do agree

but don't want to make the Fijians seem worthless they are great people and to put them in that situation would be a crime.

[atreides1]

34. Agreed

I served with a Fijian Infantry Battalion when I was assigned to the MFO, in the Sinai.

At that time the Fijians had three rotating Battalions, one was part of UNIFIL in Lebanon, another was in the Sinai, and the third was in Fiji.

They would rotate the battalions every 6 months.

Hussar is right when he says that the Fijians are awesome, they're some of the toughest soldiers I have ever served with.

And they play Rugby on any surface, and it doesn't bother them.

About the only thing they don't have a high capacity for is alcohol consumption, when a Fijian soldier gets drunk the best thing to do is to leave.

[hussar]

36. Oh yeah alcohol and Fijians don't mix

My tank commander was a Fijian, Joe Luva I would dread it if I was at the bar and he would come and sit next to me.

I saw him knock out a guy with one finger once!

[Zero Gravitas]

37. Right

The Fijian army is very well respected. They are not in a position in invade anyone of course, but they are very well trained and effective troops and have been deployed in numerouse UN peace keeping roles. The UN, of course, actually paid them for their service.

[dsc]

13. This would make a wonderful ad

The visuals are just impossible to pass up.

[enough]

14. kick

.

[JackSwift]

15. Another month and the BFEE will pay their salaries

the Junta is going to be embarrassed beyond belief in Iraq. Oh, and hundreds more Americans and allied will die, not to mention thousands of Iraqis.

[BuckeFushe]

16. This is funnier than a one-armed paper hanger....

trying to wallpaper a domed stadium.

Bottom of the barrel. And to even pressure FIJI, how weird is that. What are they going to do, cut off their military aid?

[Jester_11218]

17. BREAKING NEWS!!!

The US Pentagon announced today that 12 Boy Scouts of America will be deployed to Iraq after they complete their PNAC World Dimination merit badge requirements. They will be added to the coalition and they will assist in keeping the peace in the Bagdad region.

Unfortuantely the 12 scouts from Troop 666 out of Crawford Texas will have to pay for thir own knives, axes and sleeping bags.

Disclaimer: Even though this story sounds very plausable in todays world, it is a JOKE!!!

Peace,
Jesse

[truthisfreedom]

30. heck, break out the girl scouts as well.

and those people who work in soup lines.

[Eloriel]

18. Is it just me?

Or is that REALLY desperate?

Eloriel

[Jacobin]

19. Maybe Rumfilled thinks that the Iraqis will remember that

Fijians were once reputed to, er...uhm.....cannibalize the vanquished!

[Dr Fate]

22. URGING? I thought they were all "Willing" as in "Coalition of the Willing"

UHH-OHH!

Looks like Bush/media LIED to us- ....sighhhh... again....

[Fenris]

23. Why does this part scare me?

About 600 former Fiji Army soldiers are working as mercenaries in Iraq for the British company Global Risk Strategies.

Mercenaries for a corporation? Okay, this "private army" thing scares the shit out of me. When corporations are powerful enough to have armies it's time to re-regulate and confine armed forces to the governments of the world. Anyone see a future of literal corporate warfare?

[DuctapeFatwa]

24. 10% of all the Crusaders in Iraq right now are commercials

And almost 100% of the ones in Colombia.

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

27. Another tiny country joins the "Coalition of the Paid For." n/t

[cliss]

28. ha ha, I'm Laughing!!!

Maybe they should try Borneo! They have headhunters there. I'm sure the locals wouldn't miss a few threats to their own "hide" for a while!!!

[oasis]

29. The Fijians have dark skin which possibly is the reason they are wanted.

Bremer and the Bush gang are attempting baby steps to take the "western face" out of the occupation. But like everything else regarding security and the military, the Bushistas want to do it on the cheap.

[Aidoneus]

44. they also have some experience in the sort

They were involved in UNIFIL in South Lebanon during the Israeli occupation and devastation of Lebanon, though not at all as Israel's puppet attack dog (rather the opposite) as the "W" regime would prefer here.

[spinbaby]

31. How pathetic

Stop bullying Fiji!

[Terran]

38. What's pathetic is

that Fiji even has a military. WTF for?

[montana_hazeleyes]

32. I think I heard

the seven dwarfs are out of work.

[MetaTrope]

33. Fiji's had three military coups the past 15 years

Definitely just the right army to bring stability to the Middle East.

[warrior1]

35. Hmm

thought we were the mightiest nation in the world. Guess not, george.

[PATRICK]

39. They toss a mean pineapple though

Making widows and orphans worldwide. Join the Pipeline Army today.

[yellowcanine]

41. You couuldn't make this shit up.....

Fiji? Might as well ask the Bulgarians and Hondurans to send troops....oh, been there, done that!

[underpants]

45. Please tell me they are going in alphabetical order

and that Fiji is not the "trump card" that they seem to think it is.