Ukraine to withdraw majority of troops from Iraq

RIA Novosti ^ | 20:37 | 10/ 11/ 2005 | Taras Burnos

[mym]

KIEV, November 10 (RIA Novosti, Taras Burnos) - Ukraine will withdraw most of its military contingent from Iraq, leaving about 50 troops, the country's defense minister said Thursday.

"In view of a proposal from the Iraqi government and coalition leaders, a presidential draft resolution is being prepared. If it is passed, in 2006 there will be a limited number of military personnel in Iraq," Anatoliy Hrytsenko said following his visit to Iraq.

The remaining Ukrainian troops will stay in the country for six months. Ukraine currently has about 1,000 soldiers posted in Iraq. The authorities previously announced that the troops would be withdrawn before the end of 2005.

Hrytsenko also proposed turning over surplus armaments from Ukraine's reserves in the country to the Iraqi military, as a form of aid.

The minister said he would put a proposal on the issue before the Ukrainian government.

"Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Estonia have been giving Iraq tanks, submachine guns and cars," Hrytsenko said.

[FreedomPoster]

Thanks for the help, Ukraine. You were and are better allies by far than our traditional "allies", Germany and France.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Ukrainian troops are going to be upset at this. Because we coordinate their logistics, they eat better, sleep better, have better health care,etc. etc., than they do in barracks living at home. Also going to lose their pay premium.

It was a pretty good gig whileit lasted.

[SeeSalt]

"Ukrainian troops are going to be upset at this. Because we coordinate their logistics, they eat better, sleep better, have better health care,etc. etc., than they do in barracks living at home. Also going to lose their pay premium."


The Ukraine has to listen and execute the order of the big brother : the Russia. Ukraine cannot depart so easy from former Soviet Union.
On the opposite side is Romania who promised that Romanian military will stay in Iraq as long is necessary. On top of that US is setting up military bases on Romanian territory. That it tells the world that Romania want to kick out any of former Soviet Union ties.

[Tailgunner Joe]

Russia is also plenty nervous about our new bases in Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, etc.

They've now sided with Red China and Iran in calling for our troops to pull out of Central Asia because they view us a worse enemy than the Taliban.

[Jimmy Valentine]

Most Ukrainians I know aren't all that enamoured of Russia. I have run into people that claim they don't speak Russian only Ukrainian or English.

[VeniVidiVici]

That it tells the world that Romania want to kick out any of former Soviet Union ties.

Romania was never really big on Soviet Union ties anyhow.

I still have the Newsweek that pictured Ceaucescu laying dead on the ground after being, ahem, deposed.

Only other dictator that would get me that giddy to see in the same position would be Castro.

[jb6]

Well they can air their grievances while Yushchenko makes his Orange Revolution day a national holiday. Their anger might be lost in a sea of anger over the 20% tax increase, 90% minimal wage increase resulting in job loss, government set commodity prices resulting in shortages, 2.8% GDP growth compared to last year's 12.7%, 16% inflation, etc.

[jb6]

The Ukraine has to listen and execute the order of the big brother : the Russia

Your so wrong its not even funny. Kuchma, an ally of Russia put those troops in, Yushchenko, an ally of the West (really the EU) whom we support is pulling them out.

[jb6]

On the opposite side is Romania who promised that Romanian military will stay in Iraq as long is necessary.

Yup, and Romania barely avoided a Soros backed color revolution that swept Ukraine last year.

[Jimmy Valentine]

You have that right. There are serious problems in income levels there. I know a mining engineer there who makes 200Hr./month. Rent on the flat, $150hr., Potatoes, 3Hr per kilo, Meat $8hr. per kilo. Tough to live day to day.

[Lukasz]

They are doing this because this mission is unpopular among the Ukrainian society and in the next year they have a parliamentary elections. But Ukraine still support this mission and their withdrawal wont cause troubles for the allies like Spanish for example.