American 'coalition' falling apart in Iraq

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report Wednesday April 07, 2004 05:11 by David C.

The 'coalition' of the bullied and the bribed is falling apart.

 Spain's incoming prime minister plans to withdraw his nation's 1,300 troops unless the United Nations assumes direct control.

 Honduran officials say they will pull their 370 troops out of Iraq during the summer.

 U.S. military officials in Iraq have speculated that El Salvador, Nicaragua and possibly the Dominican Republic, all parts of the Plus Ultra Brigade serving with the Spaniards, would also depart.

 Guatemala President Oscar Berger said his nation would not send troops as promised.

 President Bush was unsuccessful last month in lobbying the Dutch prime minister to keep his nation's 1,300 troops in Iraq beyond June.

 South Korea has announced that the 3,600 troops it promised to send to Kirkuk to relieve the United States' 173rd Airborne will not go because of U.S. pressure to participate in "offensive operations."

 Poland's President, Aleksander Kwasniewski, is reported to be considering withdrawing his troops earlier than they were scheduled to depart. "They deceived us about the weapons of mass destruction, that's true" said Kwasniewski about the Americans. "We were taken for a ride".

 Thailand may withdraw its forces from Iraq earlier than planned due to concerns about violence in the country after the United States transfers power to Iraqis on June 30, a Thai Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Palangun Klaharn, said Saturday.

 Australian opposition leader Mark Latham says that the country’s troops might be withdrawn from Iraq by Christmas if Labor wins the next general election, as seems likely.

 The head of Japan's Self-Defense Forces called Tuesday for a review of the Japanese role in Iraq, the Kyodo news agency said.

Inquiries into the intelligence fiasco that was used to justify the invasion of Iraq are underway in the United Kingdon, Denmark, Australia and the United States.