Ukraine May Keep Troops in Iraq

Las Vegas Sun ^ | March 03, 2005 at 23:25:13 PST | ASSOCIATED PRESS

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

WARSAW, Poland (AP) - Ukraine's defense minister said Thursday that his country might leave 900 troops in Iraq beyond its October deadline for pulling out, and stressed that Kiev would not abandon its mission in the Middle East country.

Ukraine on Tuesday approved the pullout of its 1,650-strong contingent in a phased withdrawal between March 15 and October. Its troops are responsible for security and training new Iraqi forces in Wasit province, which borders Iran.

"Ukraine is not leaving the coalition, but it is changing the character of its mission," Anatoly Gritsenko told reporters in Warsaw after a meeting with his Polish counterpart, Jerzy Szmajdzinski.

During his first foreign visit as defense minister, Gritsenko said a final group of some 900 troops may remain in Iraq until December, but said the issue "is still open for discussion and will be consulted with other nations."

He also said Ukraine is "prepared to equip the Iraqi army with guns, and military equipment."

Ukraine's soldiers serve in a Polish-led international force of 4,700 that covers the three Iraqi provinces of Wasit, Babil and Qadisiyah. Poland has 1,700 troops in the force.

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[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

fyi

[singletrack]

A friend of mine ,born in Ukraine, told me just yesterday that the "Polish" force was about half Ukraine. Surprised me that I hadn't heard that. Thanks Ukraine.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for the info.

[Route101]

Lets give some thanks to our real friends abroad....

[frankiep]

Question. Is Ukraine and Poland part of the almighty "international community" like France and Germany are? They don't really count do they?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Maybe, anonymoussierra will have a comment.....

[anonymoussierra]

Ukraine do have 1,650-strong persons my country do have 1,700-strong persons I will write this is 50/50 this is very good. Now I do not want Ukraine go this is truth Ukraine is free country I do know we and Ukraine work very good What I do know all Ukraine strong persons will not go Thank you"Ernest_at_the_Beach"

[anonymoussierra]

"Question. Is Ukraine and Poland part of the almighty "international community" like France and Germany are? They don't really count do they?"

France/Germany do this country help America in Iraq now-This is friend"frankiep"what country help what country do not help truth is truth America want help Ukraine-Poland-Rumunia-Bulgaria-Litwa-Brytania-Italia itp...help this country help America Thank you

[MeekOneGOP]

Ukraine May Keep Troops in Iraq

Please let me know if you want ON or OFF my Ukraine ping list!. . .don't be shy.

[anonymoussierra]

[MeekOneGOP]

haha! :^D

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Litwa-Brytania

Need translation help....

[Polak z Polski]

Litwa-Brytania
means Lithuania-Britain

[texasflower]

ping

[texasflower]

Hey, Koz! Take a look at this article. It appears that Yuschneko is still planning to help Iraq.

[Leo Carpathian]

Another kick in the teeth to JB6, Destro, Eluminate and other pro-soviet disinformatchiks!