Romania Vows Not to 'Abandon' Iraq

[ECH1969]

Romania has no intentions of withdrawing its troops from the U.S.-led coalition in Iraq, President Traian Basescu said Saturday, vowing to stay "because it's a dishonor to leave your allies."

In an interview with The Associated Press, Basescu said he empathized with mounting calls to withdraw the country's 608 non-combat personnel in Iraq, including impassioned pleas from the families of those serving.

But "Romania's honor is greater than its feelings," he said.

"An exit strategy is a matter of concern for us, and we are building it with our main allies, the U.S. and the U.K. But the states that form the coalition cannot abandon Iraq as it is now," he said after addressing reporters at a presidential retreat about 60 miles northeast of Bucharest. "We have an obligation to the Iraqi people. We will leave when the local authorities can provide security for the people," he said.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/12/ap/world/mainD8LB6VOO0.shtml

[LynnTheDem]

1. And regardless what the vast majority of IRAQIS want!

But then, they never wanted their country to be invaded & occupied, either.

[MasonJar]

2. Wonder how much is stashed in his Swiss band account.

[Hepburn]

3. This is the FIRST TIME in my life...

...I have EVER been embarrassed to be of Romanian heritage.

I pieliţă meu cap înăuntru şampon. (I hang my head in shame.)

[oblivious]

4. Easy to be honorable when you send others out to do your fighting.

[struggle4progress]

5. Romania is having internal fights about this:

UPDATED: 13:29, July 01, 2006
Romanian PM demands referendum on troops withdrawal from Iraq

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu-Tariceanu on Friday called again for the withdrawal of Romanian troops from Iraq, demanding a referendum on the issue. He pressed his demand at a press briefing for the troops withdrawal from Iraq by making the call in the name of both prime minister and chairman of the National Liberal Party, saying the decision should be up to the Romanian people ...

http://english.people.com.cn/200607/01/eng20060701_279041.html


Romania's Liberals demand debate on Iraq troops
28 October 2006 | 11:54 | Source: Reuters

BUCAREST -- Romania's ruling Liberals will ask parliament to hold a debate on withdrawing its 600 troops from Iraq. The Liberals, headed by Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu, are at loggerheads with President Traian Basescu over Romania's involvement in Iraq, arguing the mission is too costly and should be ended soon. "We have collected a little more than one million signatures (backing the withdrawal)," Bogdan Olteanu, a top Liberal party official and speaker of the lower house, told Reuters. In June, the government unveiled plans to pull out troops by the end of 2006, angering Basescu who said Romania's ally Washington should have been consulted ...

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/globe-article.php?yyyy=2006&mm=10&dd=28&nav_category=123&nav_id=37621

[last1standing]

6. 608 Non-combatant troops.

I hope they enjoy their stay after the US pulls out. Really, I hate to see innocent soldiers die for the benefit of some corrupted politician, but there's not much we can do about that in this case.

[Benhurst]

7. Don't forget Basescu represents

the Dracula Tradition on the world stage.

[wholetruth00]

8. Those Romanians who love this war are among some of the most

atrocious heathens in the world. Just check out their history and their treatment of their own orphans.

[bluestateguy]

9. Romania should stick to gymnastics

nt

[Matilda]

10. Australia will also not "cut and run" - so says Howard.

I'm sure our two countries together will make a huge difference to the final outcome.

:sarcasm:

[DivinBreuvage]

11. Well, it will work out better for them this time than it did in WWII

This time the Romanian government can enjoy the bribe without having to worry about losing hundreds of thousands of dead, and they won't have to switch sides and be occupied when the bottom of the aggressor's barrel falls out. Let this be a lesson to you: some nations can learn from history.

[IndianaGreen]

12. "Honor" is cheap when is not your ass getting shot at

Romania should spend more time with Borat than with Bush.

[bhikkhu]

13. Heckuva job, Romania...

keep up the good work.