Italy 'to pull troops from Iraq'

[NNN0LHI]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4352259.stm

Italy is to begin withdrawing its troops from Iraq in September 2005, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said. snip

Domestic opposition to Italy's involvement in Iraq intensified after the killing of an Italian agent by US troops in Baghdad earlier this month.

more

[cthrumatrix]

1. shrub is "uniting the entire world" ....................against us

[renaissanceguy]

51. As with everything else, when Europe

takes a step forward, we stay FAR BACK.


http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.19272593

[Hobarticus]

2. Surprised it took them this long...

I thought this had been in the works for some time?

[ananda]

3. why wait?

September?

Why not now? .. Sounds like politics to me.

Sue

[moodforaday]

60. Maybe not only politics

though it does smell of that. But there's also logistics. Italy has about 3000 soldiers in Iraq, that also means plenty of quipment to ship back. And any tasks they were performing need to be transferred to US or other forces.

Or maybe they're giving themselves time to turn around on this.

[bobthedrummer]

4. We need to do the same.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

5. Thank God we still have Micronesia, Tonga, and Palau

to step into the breach.

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. Don't forget Poland!

[SammyBlue]

7. How could we ever forget Poland?

Let's not ever forget Poland.

[Extend a Hand]

8. hahahaha

ROFLMAO!!!

[jdj]

49. thanks for the memories. that was the highlight of the debates.

[fryguy]

53. poland withdrawing 1/2 its troops

fyi - http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1525997,00.html

HOW THE NUMBERS ADD UP

STAYING: US 150,000 (military personnel); Britain 8,850; South Korea 3,600; Italy 3,000; Australia 900 (up to 1,350 by April); Romania 800, up to 900; Japan 600; Denmark 500; Bulgaria 380; El Salvador 380; Georgia 300, up to 800; Mongolia 180; Azerbaijan 150; Latvia 120; Lithuania 100; Slovakia 100; Czech Republic 90; Albania 70; Estonia 50; Tonga 40; Kazakhstan 30; Macedonia 30; Moldova 25


GOING: Netherlands 1,500; Ukraine (1,650 leaving by October); Poland 1,700 (reducing by half)


GONE: Spain 1,300; Thailand 460; Hungary 300; Honduras 370; Dominican Republic 300; Nicaragua 115; Portugal 127; New Zealand 60; Philippines 50; Norway 10

[fertilizeonarbusto]

54. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand

Poland is leaving too. They just announced that they were concentrating on training Iraqi replacements.

[BamaBecky]

59. LOL...LOL...LOL

[antigone382]

64. Actually, Poland is pulling a lot of ITS troops out.

Looks like Poland forgot Poland.

[The_Casual_Observer]

72. Who said anything about troops! I simply didn't want anybody to

forget Poland!

[lonestarnot]

70. OMG! You guys are trying to kill me tonight! n/t

[fryguy]

9. Palau and Micronesia don't have armies....

....the US has the responsibilities under the Compacts of Free Association to defend both countries. So what the hell have they sent over to be part of the "coallition"? Their police?

[underpants]

32. The light bulb is working fine just like we said it would

anyone who says it needs to be changed didn't want the lightbulb to work in the first place. They hate the lightbulb.

[Yavin4]

50. Isn" Palau Where This Season's Survivor is Located?

Was that part of the deal? Send help to Iraq and we'll give your country a season of "Survivor"?

[fryguy]

10. so who's left?

i can't find the list of the "coalition of the willing" on the white house website anymore....

[The_Casual_Observer]

12. Don't forget Poland!

[fryguy]

14. need some wood?

[The_Casual_Observer]

18. It's hard work over there, I saw it on my TV screen.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

46. But it's still "durn good intelligence"

[Laurab]

22. You beat me to it

Twice!!

[NNN0LHI]

17. That was scrubbed months ago

Should be able to find it in Google's cache though? Unless that has been scrubbed too.

Don

Edit: Here is a story about scrapping it:

http://www.bradblog.com/archives/00001140.htm

[Lena inRI]

37. BBC tally of remaining troops. . .

Main international troops in Iraq s of today 3/15/05:

US: 150,000
UK: 8,000
South Korea: 3,600
Italy: 3,085
Poland: 1,700
Ukraine: 1,600
Georgia: 898
Romania: 730
Japan: 550
Denmark: 496
Bulgaria: 450
Australia: 400

Source: Global Security

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4352259.stm

[Mithras61]

40. The Ukraine tally is too high...

They pulled 137 troops out today as the first part of their phased pull-out...

[tavalon]

74. That's because you need to look

under "coalition of the unwilling".

Glad to be of service. ;)

[Arkana]

11. Yes! Finally, some sense from Berlusconi.

I know Italians could give a shit about politics, but still...

[MadisonProgressive]

27. When is Blair going to step up to the plate?

[diamond14]

13. the facade is crumbling.....Italy will leave MAYBE one or two troops

through September....but the BULK of those troops are GOING HOME NOW !!!!


the "September 2005" date was stated at the DEMAND of the chimp....


that date can and WILL BE CHANGED....

[formerrepuke]

15. Those bastards! Time to retaliate against all things Italian...

spaghetti shall now be called "freedom noodles with tomato sauce," lasagna is now to be known as "freedom flat-noodle casserole," and pizza is now "freedom pie."

[diamond14]

16. LOL....Domino's FREEDOM PIE.....ooohhhhhhhhhhh myyyyyy

:hi:

[fryguy]

20. not to mention Antonin Scalia - n/t

[CoffeeCat]

39. ROTFLMAO!!! That was definitely a 9.5! Thanks 4 the laugh! (nt)

[antigone382]

66. LMAO

Garlic bread can now be called "freedom sticks"...and cannolis are "freedom cream sticks."

[lonestarnot]

71. Ewwwhooo Welcome to DU formerpuke!

:evilgrin: :party: :toast: :bounce:

[chadk]

86. ROTFLMAO 5x...

That really is very funny! And hey, are you really a former repuke? Though I have not made posting more than you do, I say welcome to DU! :hi: :)

[NYC]

90. Freedom wine will be confusing.

Will it mean French or Italian?

[Sequoia]

98. That's funny, you guys stop making me laugh at work!!!!

Ha, ha chimpster. You're going dow-w-w-wn!!!!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

19. Bush and Gannon now busy hiding salamis in the White House

stocking up in preparation for the upcoming boycotts of Italian products.

[StaggerLee]

23. LOL

Priceless

:)

[tavalon]

75. Snarf!!!

I've been off the computer for about two weeks and I forgot my most important lesson - never, ever drink anything while reading DU. Ouch, my nose..............

[lumpy]

21. Public opinion counts in Italy?

About time.

[Ganja Ninja]

24. Here's a link to the Freeper thread on this.

There's only a few replies right now. It should be good for some laughs once they scrape their brains off the ceiling.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1363371/posts

[Selteri]

34. You're right, once they got going it is quite entertaining

including the statements "The terrorists won"

I guess they don't bother to read the news... kneejerks.

[Ganja Ninja]

36. Here's a winner!

"The are not with us...so they are against U.S."

Thats what happens when you sic your death squads on your allies.

[trekbiker]

35. funny freeper post...

DUers are peeing in their pants over this. It's a shame that Berlosconi finally gave into the Anti-Americans Peaceniks!

[President Kerry]

81. FUCK YOU freepers

chickenhawk fascists

[thefloyd]

45. This is not because things are going bad

. The Iraqi Army can handle anything. I am pretty sure the Iraqi army can defeat the Huns of Germania

[BrightKnight]

84. This one resonated

"America is ... reliable and courageous. The rest are panty-waists (sp?)."

They have such an inspired and nuanced worldview.

[thereismore]

25. Payback time, chimpy! Who's left? Poland, Slovakia. Anybody else? n/t

[leftchick]

26. AND... it looks like the UK could be right behind them....

<snip>
But, he said, after speaking to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair he concluded that public opinion in both countries favoured a troop withdrawal.

"In September we will begin a progressive reduction of the number of our soldiers in Iraq.

"I spoke to Tony Blair about it, and public opinion in our countries is expecting this decision," he told Rai.

He said the exact numbers would depend on the Iraqi government's ability to deal with security.

[rodeodance]

28. whow--you know he is up for election in a few months

[Ganja Ninja]

29. We'll be down to an army of one in no time. n/t

[thefloyd]

42. Thanks for my first chuckle of the day.

[Frederik]

61. Blair is going to lose

the election if he doesn't provide at least a timeframe for withdrawal.

[President Kerry]

82. as he should

[concord]

62. "In September" ...

What's so magical about September??

[Boo Boo]

63. Don't know if there's anything

magical about September, but there is something odd about September 11: it is the day that the democratic government of Chile was overthrown.

[Sequoia]

99. Well, as Barney Fife would say:

http://cloud.prohosting.com/ttatwavs/Barney/911.wav

[Imalittleteapot]

30. Novel idea.

Italy listens to the people. Bush should take a lesson from Berlusconi.

[Lena inRI]

31. Bravissssssssssssssimo Bella Italia! n/t

:bounce: :toast: :party:

[earth mom]

43. I feel the exact same way! BRAVISIMO!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[chomskysright]

77. KICK!

[rocktivity]

33. SEPTEMBER??? What's Italian for "big freaking deal?"

Has Berlusconi been advised that Bush plans be in Iran by then?

:headbang:
rocknation

[Tempest]

38. It's too late for Berlusconi

Between his business scandals, supporting Bush's folly in Iraq and the attempted assassination of the journalist, his political career is over.

[Justitia]

41. Someone please refresh my memory about Italian troops

I actually thought there was a significant number pulled back, after a single incident causing multiple deaths. I remember reading something to the effect of "the largest number of Italian casualties since WWII (25?) in combat situation"?

Am I confusing this with another incident? And Italy did NOT pull back?

Also - didn't Poland already say they were withdrawing also? In spite of the "don't forget Poland" assertion?

Thanks!

[Walt Starr]

44. Why those PASTA EATING SURRENDER MONKEYS!!!!!

Looks like I'll be using PATRIOT dressing on my salad which I eat with PATRIOT bread in the PATRIOT restaurant!

[anarchy1999]

47. There goes the "Coalition".............

Condi and Karen, what are you going to do now?

Bouncy Ball said it best in another thread. "WE ARE SCREWED"!

Boy Howdy, are we ever.

I don't give Junior the credit though, I give it to '41 and all his crew and minions.

[leftchick]

48. related article... uh oh... There Goes Poland!!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1525997,00.html


Ranks begin to thin in coalition of the willing


~snip~

A bigger headache for the coalition is the reduction of the two main contributors to the central area south of Baghdad, a volatile insurgent area. Over the weekend, the first 150 Ukrainian troops packed up and headed home, with the remaining 1,500 to follow over the next six months.

The move leaves the Poles, the lead force in the area, badly exposed and they, too, have signalled that they are halving the size of their 1,700-strong force and changing the mission.

Jerzy Szmajdzinski, the Polish Defence Minister, said last week that Polish forces increasingly would concentrate on training Iraqi troops, with the aim of handing over security to them. But there are fears that this approach may be premature as the insurgency continues to make the country ungovernable.

Nevertheless, it may be difficult to persuade remaining members of the coalition to be in the country much beyond the end of the year, whether or not the Iraqi security forces are ready. Many contributing nations expect to have their soldiers home as soon as Iraq holds its second round of elections, scheduled for December, when a permanent government should be in place.

... all of these countries realize what the US won't admit. There will be no stinkin "Iraqi Force" as long as they are there.

[joefree1]

52. Wait, wait, those I-talians are gonna miss out on the "freedom fries"

Just too bad our brave Americans have to clean up after Bush's hOILy war.

[bvar22]

55. Democracy ON THE MARCH............in Italy!

The people have spoken!

[nolabels]

56. Thank you Italy,

Thank you very much:loveya:

[diamond14]

57. THANK YOU, Italy.....pulling out YOUR TROOPS is the right thing to do...

Your STRENGTH, in standing against bush*, will help US Americans to shut down the bush* wars....


THANK YOU, Italy....

[BamaBecky]

58. SMART Folks, by George! How ya like that...Chimpy?...Think you

can just go around, taking people out? Think Again!

[0007]

65. Greatest move Italy has made since hanging Mussolini upside down

[Columbia]

67. I thought we wanted more international help

Not less. Isn't that why we voted for Kerry?

[TankLV]

69. I held my nose and voted for ABB.

In spite of Kerry's stance on IWR.
In spite of Kerry's stance on letting the states discriminate against gays (notice he never came out AGAINST any legislation approving discrimination - he just said it should not be the federal government and instead be up to the states to ban gay marriages).

I want the troops out YESTERDAY.

I never wanted the troops to be sent IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I never approved of his stance TO FIGHT THE WAR BETTER.

[Horse with no Name]

73. While that is true

We wanted a definitive plan for peace in that region. We wanted respect back from our major allies and help from them in achieving peace.
What scrubco is bringing to the table is a long list of infinite wars on countries beginning with the letter "I"....

Iraq
Iran
Ireland

hmmmm
Italy?

He is such a self-centered sociopathic piece of psychopathic shit that he can't do anything that doesn't start with "I"..."I"..."I".........ackkkkkk.

[Flammable Materials]

68. "He Forgot Italy." n/t

[SlavesandBulldozers]

76. why does Italia hate freedoms?

nt

[leesa]

78. Good. And get rid of the criminal Berlusconi anyway.

[progressoid]

79. Whew, Thank God we still have Poland on our side....

[derby378]

80. Three words: "spineless socialist cow"

Verbatim quote from FreeRepublic:

Great. So the objectives that were desired by the terrorists and that spineless socialist cow were achieved, in spite of her being caught lying at every turn.

Caught lying where, fascio-terrorist?? Show me. I dare ya!!

[Zerex71]

83. Ahh, the Coalition of the Shilling shrinks.

[Tweed]

85. Congrats to the Italians

[osiristz]

87. Smart move

After fingering their reporter for a hit, I think the Italians have had it with our shenanigans and BS.

[gjb]

92. Not to mention that they just finished whacking .........

THE DEPUTY COMMANDER OF THE IRAQI ARMY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THAT SHOULD MOTIVATE THE NEW, FASTER, BETTER, MORE DEMOCRATIC IRAQI DEFENSE FORCES.

Iraqi corporal to Iraqi private.

"If the waste the second in command dude, what are they going to do to us?"

Answer the same but with fewer bullets out of respect for rank.

[cubschicago]

88. Ironic that the announcement comes on the Ides of March

It seems that Berlusconi may have felt stabbed in the back and may have recited say "Et tu B*?" last week.

Finally, he had enough speculation to believe that B* truly is not his friend!

[Justitia]

89. Ahhh! A Very Astute Observation - Ides of March, indeed! -eom

[Robeson]

91. Our Italian cousins always DO have a sense for flare!....

...Nice call.

[all.of.me]

93. i sent this article to my communist friend in italy

he says it is propaganda, since there are elections in april. he says 'do not believe berlusconi! he is trying to gain votes from the catholic community.'

[paineinthearse]

94. WP & AP: Italy to pull troops as coalition fades

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002208981_iraq16.html

Italy to pull troops as coalition fades

By The Washington Post and The Associated Press

ROME — Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, one of the most ardent supporters of the coalition of countries fighting with the U.S. in Iraq, yesterday said he would withdraw Italian troops from the country beginning in September. Bulgaria also called for a partial withdrawal, and Ukraine welcomed home its first wave of returning troops. The moves come on top of the withdrawal of more than a dozen countries over the past year and could complicate efforts to keep the peace while Iraq's new government builds up police and military units capable of taking over from foreign forces.

Two years after the U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein, the coalition is unraveling amid the mounting casualties and kidnappings that have stoked anti-war sentiment and sapped leaders' resolve to keep troops in harm's way. On Monday, 160 troops from the Netherlands arrived home as part of a phased Dutch withdrawal. Yesterday, Ukraine welcomed back more than 130 members of its 1,650-person force; it has said it would complete a pullout by October. Poland plans to remove a few hundred of its 1,700 soldiers this summer and the rest by early 2006.

Italy, with about 3,000 soldiers in the country, is the fourth-largest contributor of foreign military forces in Iraq after the United States, Britain and South Korea. Following the March 4 killing of an Italian intelligence agent by U.S. troops near the Baghdad airport, Berlusconi has come under new public pressure as his political coalition faces regional elections in April and legislative elections next year.

Berlusconi, who confirmed he would seek re-election next year, alluded to the rising public discontent and said he had spoken with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, another strong U.S. ally. "We need to construct a precise exit strategy ... because our publics' opinions expect this communication and we agree to talk about it soon. "Starting with the month of September, we would like to proceed with a gradual reduction of our soldiers," Berlusconi said on a state TV talk show. A withdrawal "will depend on the capability of the Iraqi government to be able to assume responsibility for security," he said. It was the first time he had set a tentative timetable for a pullout. He made no mention of notifying President Bush.

more.....

[paineinthearse]

95. AP: U.S.-led coalition allies bail out in Iraq

http://www.detnews.com/2005/nation/0503/16/A01-119003.htm

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

U.S.-led coalition allies bail out in Iraq

By William J. Kole / Associated Press

Related links

ROME -- Italy said Tuesday it will start drawing down its 3,000-strong contingent in Iraq in September, putting a fresh crack in President Bush's crumbling coalition. Bulgaria also called for a partial withdrawal, and Ukraine welcomed home its first wave of returning troops. The moves come on top of the withdrawal of more than a dozen countries over the past year and could complicate efforts to keep the peace while Iraq's new government builds up police and military units capable of taking over from foreign forces.

Two years after the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003, 14 of the coalition's 38 countries have withdrawn. Excluding U.S. forces, there are 22,750 foreign soldiers in Iraq. About 150,000 U.S. troops shoulder the bulk of the responsibility and suffer the most casualties. Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi alluded to a rising anti-war sentiment and discontent among leaders, saying: "I've spoken about it with (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair, and it's the public opinion of our countries that expects this decision."

Italy, a staunch U.S. ally, had vowed to stay despite suffering 21 casualties and enduring fierce public opposition that escalated this month after GIs in Baghdad fatally shot an Italian intelligence agent escorting a freed hostage. A Pentagon spokesman, Lt. Col. Barry Venable, said the decisions by some nations to reduce or end their presence in Iraq are part of the process of turning security over to Iraq's government. "The coalition is strong."

[gratuitous]

96. Did Berlusconi tell Bush?

Well, I guess we'll all have to start eating Freedom Sausage or wearing Liberty shoes. Don't hear much about that "Coalition of the Willing" anymore. I suppose it won't go down in history alongside the Allies, NATO, or the Last Alliance of Men and Elves.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

97. I can't stand Berlusconi

He is a RW mini-fascist, but even he does not reach the depths of U.S.-bred RWers in Congress or the White House. Berlusconi knows full well that his fragile coalition of governing parties would have risked coming loose had he not announced some sort of pull-out schedule.

He knows that Romano Prodi, his major opponent and former president of the E.U., is going to be his shadow until the results of the "investigation" into the unnecessary death of Nicola Calipari by U.S. forces.

In short, Berlusconi is trying to save his own ass.

[CTyankee]

100. did anyone hear the send-up of Berlesconi on Stephanie Miller's show

Her voice guy did a hysterical Berlesconi, spewing rage in Italian against Bush, ending with "Basta! Finito! Pluh!" I got my first and only belly laugh of the day!