ITALY SETS PULLOUT DATE (IRAQ)

Sky News ^ | March 15, 2005 | Staff

[MadIvan]

Italy will start withdrawing its troops from Iraq in September, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said.

More to follow...

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;-)

[Alex Marko]

Berlusconi has said it depends on the ability of the Iraqi's providing sufficient security for Iraq on their own first.

[CitizenM]

Idealism is a good thing. It's what got America started.

[Tribune7]

Add my dittos. They were there when we needed them the most.

Grazie L'Italia.

[Indy Pendance]

From what I read, Italy was pretty ticked off at that commie reporter. I find it hard to imagine one whiny women has that much influence over the country's political decisions. It's time to start letting Iraq take control. If countries with a small number of troops pull out, and Italy only has 3,000, it's a start towards their independence.

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Throughout our relative few years as a nation, our blood has been spilled around this planet for the benefit of other nations. Our military has carried the weight of the world on it's back. We always have. And as long as we are Americans, we always will. That's what makes us Americans. Willing to fight and die so others can be free. What they do with that freedom is up to them.

[Magnum44]

Two Big BUMPS !!!

[CaptSkip]

I will not berate them, that isn't fair to their troops who have died. To even say such a thing about them without proof is abhorrent.

Would the Italian troops who have died, or their families, appreciate and understand the never-ending doubt that their Govt. probably caved to antiwar political pressure, the demands of terrorists, and a ludicrous communist agitprop story that their communist journalist and secret agent were targeted by the US Military?

Their lives were a waste?

[SkyPilot]

You are forgiven....

[CaptSkip]

...our blood has been spilled around this planet for the benefit of other nations...to fight and die so others can be free.

Including freeing the Italians from Fascist Mussolini, axis member with Hitler in WWII.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Militarus Interruptus?

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Would the Italian troops who have died, or their families, appreciate and understand the never-ending doubt that their Govt. probably caved to antiwar political pressure, the demands of terrorists, and a ludicrous communist agitprop story that their communist journalist and secret agent were targeted by the US Military?

Anyone with a single working brain cell knows our military didn't target her. That's the rambling's of an American hating communist, nothing more. Only those like her will believe her, and those people don't matter to me.

Italian soldiers died heroically and bravely, nothing and no one can take that from them.

[ohioWfan]

The MSM is trying to spin this as a negative, but it's according to plan and dependent on the successful build up of Iraqi troops.

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The MSM is trying to spin this as a negative, but it's according to plan and dependent on the successful build up of Iraqi troops.

That they are. Anything to poke their fingers in the eye of our military. They are no better than that communist wench, segrena(spel?).

[ohioWfan]

I think you need to get a few facts straight before you continue here.

Are you aware that WE are also drawing down troops in Iraq?

Are you aware that Italy's withdrawal is dependent upon the adequate build up of Iraqi troops?

[ohioWfan]

Anything to poke their fingers in the eye of our military.

Exactly..........all the while claiming they support our troops.

As to being no better than communists...........I'd venture a guess that a lot of them ARE communists.

[Woliff]

Horse Hockey! They caved just like Spain. Pussies made a deal with the devil...terrorists.

Perhaps they don´t like being killed at by their allies.

Iraqi general shot dead by US troops at checkpoint west of Ramadi: police
Published: 3/15/2005

RAMADI, Iraq - The deputy commander of the Iraqi army in western Al-Anbar province was shot dead by US troops at a checkpoint Tuesday night, a police officer said.

"The US forces opened fire at 8:00 pm (1700 GMT) on Brigadier General Ismail Swayed al-Obeid, who had left his base in Baghdadi to head home," police Captain Amin al-Hitti said.

"They spotted him on the road after the curfew, which goes into effect at 6 pm," the officer said in Baghdadi, 185 kilometres (142 miles) west of the capital.

No immediate reaction was available from the US military.

US forces have struggled to build up Iraqi security forces in Al-Anbar, where the country's insurgency is at its strongest, and many police and national guard units are suspected of having been infiltrated by rebels.

AFP and Turkish Press
03/15/2005 19:13 GMT

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As to being no better than communists...........I'd venture a guess that a lot of them ARE communists.

You are absolutely right. Shame on me for not pointing that out.

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Perhaps they don´t like being killed at by their allies.

That's a mean assed thing to say. There have been friendly fire deaths in war since there has been war.

Where are you comming from on that hateful sounding comment?

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police and national guard units are suspected of having been infiltrated by rebels.

There's your answer if you cared to look.