Spain Threatens Pullout - Contingent with the US-led forces occuyping Iraq is the sixth largest

MattDrudge ^

[Happy2BMe]

Spain's contingent with the US-led forces occuyping Iraq is the sixth largest, making up the bulk of a battalion of Spanish-speaking troops based in a Shiite-dominated region south of Baghdad.

If prime minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero carries out his threat to bring them home it will leave a sizeable hole in the coalition's strength.

Less than three weeks ago outgoing foreign minister Ana Palacio said Spain was pondering whether to take over command from Poland of the multinational force stationed in southern central Iraq after July 1, reinforcing its personnel by about 1,000.

The Spanish forces have suffered 11 deaths, including seven intelligence agents ambushed in November.

Following are the foreign contingents occupying Iraq, with their current strengths:

1. United States: 130,000
2. Britain: 9,000
3. Italy: 3,000
4. Poland: 2,460
5. Ukraine: 1,600
6. Spain: 1,300
7. Netherlands: 1,100
8. Australia: 800
9. Romania: 700
10. Bulgaria: 480
11. Thailand: 440
12. Denmark: 420
13. Honduras: 368
14. El Salvador: 361
15. Dominican Republic: 302
16. Hungary: 300
17. Japan: 240 (rising to 550 by the end of March)
18. Norway: 179
19. Mongolia: 160
20. Azerbaijan: 150
21. Portugal: 128
22. Latvia: 120
23. Lithuania: 118
24. Nicaragua: 113
25. Slovakia: 102
26. Czech Republic: 80
27. Philippines: 80
28. Albania: 70
29. Georgia: 70
30. New Zealand: 61
31. Moldova: 50
32. Estonia: 31
33. Macedonia: 37
34. Kazakhstan: 25

END

[Happy2BMe]

J-FK and his allies speak.

[ambrose]

Mongolia?

[Conspiracy Guy]

If Spain pulls out their 1'300 troops signalling that they agree with terrorists, I guess we'll all need to go home. I just don't see how we can stay there without those 1,300 troops.

[Happy2BMe]

The "Pain of Spain . . ."

Spain PM to withdraw Iraq troops

Official Portrait of the New Prime Minister of Spain Released

[ambrose]

It seems like this is more about symbolism than anything else. 1300 is a drop in the bucket.

Hell, all of these countries can take a hike. Let it be the USA and Britain, all alone - just like in WWII.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

The Saudis are showing the cowardly Spanish how to do it!!

[GregB]

Well we will just stop giving them any money. See how they like that.

[dr_who_2]

Ooh. Time to panic.

[truth_seeker]

"If prime minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero carries out his threat to bring them home it will leave a sizeable hole in the coalition's strength."

Less than One Percent is a "sizeable hole?" NOT.

[Prime Choice]

Yep. The Coalition of the Wilting just scored a big one for ol' Osama...

[LADY J]

If the soldiers of Spain have the same kind of back-bone that their citizens have - we are better off without them.

Our brave soldiers need someone they can trust to cover their backs.

So - go home Spain and when you are in Islamic heaven and don't like what you chose - DON'T CALL US!!

[MeekOneGOP]

[fhayek]

That's OK Spain. If things ever get hot for you, you always have France to come to your aid.