Spanish troops to leave Iraq within weeks

AP | 4/19/04

[kattracks]

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Spanish troops will withdraw from Iraq in four to five weeks, a spokesman for the Polish contingent that commands a multinational peacekeeping force in Iraq said Monday.

Polish Gen. Mieczyslaw Bieniek told reporters at the force's Camp Babylon headquarters that troops currently under Spanish command from El Salvador, Honduras and the Dominican Republic would stay put, Poland's PAP news agency reported. But he said it was unclear who would replace the 1,300 Spanish troops.

Later Monday Spanish Defense Minister Jose Bono said Spain's force would leave in fewer than six weeks.

"It would be imprudent to talk of six to eight weeks because it's going to be less," Bono told a news conference after the newly-elected government's first Cabinet meeting.

Bono at first refused to give details beyond assuring that the "troops would return very soon and safely."

Maj. Slawomir Walenczykowski confirmed the report from the force's Camp Babylon headquarters in southern Iraq.

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Sunday ordered the 1,300 Spanish troops to return home as soon as possible. The troops serve in southern Iraq and are part of a multinational force led by Poland.

Poland oversees the 23-nation force of 9,500 troops in south-central Iraq. The Polish Defense Ministry said in a statement Monday that commanders were now working on transferring "tasks from the Spaniards while maintaining the operational capability of the division and ensuring the safety of the soldiers."

Zapatero had initially pledged to remove the troops if the United Nations had not taken political and military control of the situation in Iraq by June 30. In making his announcement to remove them earlier, Zapatero said there was no sign the situation would have changed sufficiently to satisfy Spain.

[kattracks]

I wonder what Spain will do when it gets the next terrorist demand.

[sgtbono2002]

They will obey it what choice do they have now ,they are in Sadr's pocket.

[AngieGOP]

Adios muchachos. Gracias por nada.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Don't let the door hit you....well you know the rest!

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

Spanish troops to leave Iraq within weeks

[livius]

Give in, of course.

The Muslims are already attacking in Spain. I assume everybody read today about what they (presumably, Islamics) did to the body of the police officer who died when the terrorists blew up their building in Madrid. He was buried as a hero about a week ago, and they dragged his body out of the tomb, stuck a pickaxe into the head and a shovel into the chest, and then burned it. ROP.

[Levante]

Zippy Zapatero said at first that the Spanish Troops would leave "by June 30th" if the UN hadn't taken over in Iraq, then suddenly he pulls this. It's obvious he's trying to brown nose to the islamosavages.

Zippy is a spineless coward. Brace yourself d#ckweed, the islamobastards have just started with Spain.

[Recovering_Democrat]

[Stentor]

Guess I'll have to take down my moor killer cross.