Posted on 06/28/2004 9:34:45 AM PDT by ellery
ISTANBUL (AFP) NATO-member Spain on Monday ruled out playing any role in Iraq, just hours after the alliance promised to help train the Iraqi army to calm the violence-wracked country. "The Spanish government does not foreseee any participation in the process under way in Iraq, and in no circumstances any participation on Iraqi territory," Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told reporters here.
He was replying to a question on whether Spain would help train the fledgling Iraqi army.
Spain last month completed the withdrawal of its 1,400-strong military contingent in Iraq, fulfilling a pledge by the Socialist prime minister who came to power after a surprise general election victory on March 14.
NATO leaders pledged at a summit in Istanbul Monday to provide "full cooperation" to the new Iraqi government and to help train its soldiers.
The phrasing of the NATO agreement specifically left it open for such training to occur inside or outside Iraq -- a sop to France and Germany, which opposed the US-led invasion and have said they are unwilling to send troops into Iraq.
The socialists in Spain do not want to provoke those who put them in power(al-queda).
No surprise here.
Spain ran away from the terrorists. The terrorists scored a victory when they voted in the cowardly leftist.
Wouldn't surprise me. Zap said he wouldn't participate if elected.
All their excuses have been proven to be dishonest.
They have UN blessing, NATO blessing, but they will never help.
Aren't they obligated as part of NATO, since the bloc has agreed to help? Are they unilaterally breaking the NATO treaty??
France/Spain - can be used interchangeably.
Um...what's the spanish word for Coward?
ping
cobarde
What exactly is the point of NATO anymore?
cobarde = Spain's leadership! Nuff said.
Expel them.
Correction...only slightly more than half the Spanish are losers.
The rest are Fascists, Socialists, Communists, or relatives of the DNC here in America.
From the article:
"The Spanish government does not foreseee any participation in the process under way in Iraq, and in no circumstances any participation on Iraqi territory," Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero told reporters here.
He was replying to a question on whether Spain would help train the fledgling Iraqi army."
So Spain wont help train the Iraqi army. I'm sure that the Iraqi army will be eternally grateful.
I'm doing without French products, I can do without Spanish olive oil.
Too bad Zapaterroist-lover is in charge. I think that if 2% of the Spaniards had been smarter, he would have failed. Spain joins France, Belgium, and Germany.
What could Spain teach soldiers, except white flag waving, butt kissing, groveling, retreating in panic and swishing?
Brave Sir Robin ran away. Bravely ran away, away. When danger reared its ugly head, He bravely turned his tail and fled. Yes, Brave Sir Robin turned about And gallantly he chickened out. Bravely taking to his feet, He beat a very brave retreat. Bravest of the brave, Sir Robin.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.