Danish Soldier Killed, Two U.S. Soldiers Wounded

Radio Free Europe ^ | 8-17-03

[PatrioticCowboy]

Iraq: Danish Soldier Killed, Two U.S. Soldiers Wounded

Copenhagen, 17 August 2003 (RFE/RL) -- A Danish soldier has been killed in a clash with Iraqi gunmen in Al-Basrah, Danish Army command in Copenhagen confirmed today.

The soldier, the first Danish casualty in Iraq, was killed when his patrol was shot at. Two Iraqis died in the exchange of fire. Denmark has 420 soldiers stationed in southern Iraq.

In Baghdad, a U.S. military spokesman says two U.S. soldiers were shot and wounded as they left a Baghdad restaurant. The spokesman said today the attack occurred yesterday. He said the injuries were not life threatening.

Attacks on occupying U.S. forces, mainly in Baghdad and in surrounding Sunni Muslim areas, have killed 60 U.S. soldiers since Washington declared major combat in Iraq over on 1 May.

Also today, a major water pipeline in northern Baghdad was breached, flooding nearby streets. Officials said it would take at least eight hours to repair the pipeline and that the water supply to areas of northern Baghdad had been cut off.

The cause of the rupture is not known. However, Reuter reported that local residents said they had been woken by a loud blast, and that the pipeline may have been attacked by explosives.

Meanwhile, a U.S. Army spokeswoman said repairs to Iraq's key oil-export pipeline to Turkey, which has been damaged in an explosion, may take at least two weeks. Spokeswoman Nicole Thompson said in Baghdad today that a team of experts is now at the site of the blast, in northern Iraq.

Her estimate of the time needed contrasts with that of Iraq's top oil official, Thamir Ghadban, who said yesterday that the repairs would only take several days.

Ghadban said he believed Friday's (15 August) explosion was an act of sabotage. He said that Iraq was losing about 250,000 barrels per day in exports because of the sabotage, meaning a daily loss of more than $6 million in revenues badly needed for reconstruction.

Ghadban said oil pipelines in Iraq are an important part of the country's reconstruction efforts. "Our call is that [we] ask everybody concerned in Iraq to keep those pipelines running safely because in that there are lots of benefits to the people of Iraq," he said.

The blast on the pipeline from northern Iraq to the Turkish terminal of Ceyhan came just two days after it was reopened following the U.S.-led war to oust Saddam Hussein. It is the latest in a series of attacks on oil installations.

[PatrioticCowboy]

Prayers Heavenward for these brave GI's.

Also pray for the family of this Danish soldier

[PatrioticCowboy]

It is good to see Denmark is helping our military out in Iraq.

I had no idea that Europe was helping out, until I saw this article

[MEG33]

Amen to both your posts.

[PatrioticCowboy]

What other Europeans nations are helping us out in Iraq besides Denmark?

I heard the Ukraine was.

[MEG33]

I'll have to research!

[PatrioticCowboy]

Okay.

Well it is good to see Europe starting to veer away from their Commie tendencies

[Pikamax]

http://www.denmarkemb.org/embassy_list.html

There is the contact list for the Danish embassy so you can send condolences and thanks for their help. The Ambassador email should be the one to use.

Name
Position
Contact

Federspiel, Ulrik
(His Excellency)
Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Chief of Mission
Tel: (202) 234-4300
Fax: (202) 328-1470
E-mail: wasamb@um.dk

[PatrioticCowboy]

Thanks for posting that.

We need to send our condolences to the Danish ambassador, and tell him that we appreciate how his nation is helping us out in Iraq

[dennisw]

Thank you Denmark!

[PatrioticCowboy]

Right about now, I could really enjoy some fine Danish cheese and cookies.

[dennisw]

I spent 4 months in Denmark and only have nice things to say.

[PatrioticCowboy]

I have always heard that Denmark is a nice nation.

I would love to see the Scandinavian nations one day on a vacation

[Eurotwit]

Well, Norway sent a few hundred soldiers as well.

[PatrioticCowboy]

I wonder how the Norwegians are handling the brutal heat in Iraq.

Norway is ice and snow

[OldPossum]

Thanks for posting the e-mail address. This is what I wrote:

Dear His Excellency:

My wife and I wish to extend our sincere condolences upon the loss of one of your brave Danish soldiers in Iraq and to tell you how much we as Americans appreciate what your government and people are doing to help out in these difficult days.

May God bless you and the Danish people.

Sincerely,

[our names and home town and state]

[kjfine]

Don't forget Spain, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Italy, Yugoslavia, The Netherlands, S. Korea, and a bunch of others. The list is very long, and I can't remember them all. I am currently helping to control their deployment into this country.

[kjfine]

I may be able to give you some insight on that one...I mobilized out of Wisconsin where the temperatures were in the teens without the wind blowing.

Suck it up and drive on. That and drink lots of water!!! :)

[Thunder 6]

I belive most of the Danish soldiers are from the 3rd Recce Battalion, which has it's HQ on Bornholm Island. Great soldiers, and a beautiful island they call home.

regards,

[Pikamax]

BTTT