Posted on 10/03/2004 8:35:04 PM PDT by Rakkasan1
The issue of international alliances and Americas image abroad has become a major topic of debate in this years presidential election. Great emphasis has been placed in political speeches upon the need to rebuild our alliances, and restore Americas credibility in the world. Relatively little has been said about the 30-nation U.S.-British led coalition in Iraq or the 35-country security force in Afghanistan, reinforcing the myth that America is isolated and hated on the world stage. Faced with a barrage of misleading rhetoric, the American public could be forgiven for thinking that the transatlantic alliance no longer exists.
(Excerpt) Read more at heritage.org ...
They left out one: Iraq!!!
Medal Count
Coalition of the Willing | 527 |
Commies/Despots/Axis of Evil | 103 |
Appeasers/Surrender Monkeys | 271 |
Unknown | 28 |
Bump!
United We Stand - Eight European leaders are as one with President Bush. - January 30, 2003
Written by Jose María Aznar, Jose-Manuel Durão Barroso, Silvio Berlusconi, Tony Blair, Vaclav Havel, Peter Medgyessy, Leszek Miller and Anders Fogh Rasmussen.
The real bond between the U.S. and Europe is the values we share: democracy, individual freedom, human rights and the rule of law. These values crossed the Atlantic with those who sailed from Europe to help create the United States of America. Today they are under greater threat than ever.
The attacks of Sept. 11 showed just how far terrorists--the enemies of our common values--are prepared to go to destroy them. Those outrages were an attack on all of us. In standing firm in defense of these principles, the governments and people of the U.S. and Europe have amply demonstrated the strength of their convictions. Today more than ever, the trans-Atlantic bond is a guarantee of our freedom.
We in Europe have a relationship with the U.S. which has stood the test of time. Thanks in large part to American bravery, generosity and farsightedness, Europe was set free from the two forms of tyranny that devastated our continent in the 20th century: Nazism and communism. Thanks, too, to the continued cooperation between Europe and the U.S. we have managed to guarantee peace and freedom on our continent. The trans-Atlantic relationship must not become a casualty of the current Iraqi regime's persistent attempts to threaten world security.
In today's world, more than ever before, it is vital that we preserve that unity and cohesion. We know that success in the day-to-day battle against terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction demands unwavering determination and firm international cohesion on the part of all countries for whom freedom is precious. The Iraqi regime and its weapons of mass destruction represent a clear threat to world security. This danger has been explicitly recognized by the U.N. All of us are bound by Security Council Resolution 1441, which was adopted unanimously. We Europeans have since reiterated our backing for Resolution 1441, our wish to pursue the U.N. route, and our support for the Security Council at the Prague NATO Summit and the Copenhagen European Council.
In doing so, we sent a clear, firm and unequivocal message that we would rid the world of the danger posed by Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction. We must remain united in insisting that his regime be disarmed. The solidarity, cohesion and determination of the international community are our best hope of achieving this peacefully. Our strength lies in unity.
The combination of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism is a threat of incalculable consequences. It is one at which all of us should feel concerned. Resolution 1441 is Saddam Hussein's last chance to disarm using peaceful means. The opportunity to avoid greater confrontation rests with him. Sadly this week the U.N. weapons inspectors have confirmed that his long-established pattern of deception, denial and noncompliance with U.N. Security Council resolutions is continuing.
Europe has no quarrel with the Iraqi people. Indeed, they are the first victims of Iraq's current brutal regime. Our goal is to safeguard world peace and security by ensuring that this regime gives up its weapons of mass destruction. Our governments have a common responsibility to face this threat. Failure to do so would be nothing less than negligent to our own citizens and to the wider world.
The U.N. Charter charges the Security Council with the task of preserving international peace and security. To do so, the Security Council must maintain its credibility by ensuring full compliance with its resolutions. We cannot allow a dictator to systematically violate those resolutions. If they are not complied with, the Security Council will lose its credibility and world peace will suffer as a result. We are confident that the Security Council will face up to its responsibilities.
Messrs. Aznar, Durão Barroso, Berlusconi, Blair, Medgyessy, Miller and Fogh Rasmussen are, respectively, the prime ministers of Spain, Portugal, Italy, the U.K., Hungary, Poland and Denmark. Mr. Havel is the Czech president.
Vilnius Group: 10 Eastern European Countries Support US - February 5, 2003
Statement by the Foreign Ministers of Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia in response to the presentation by the United States Secretary of State to the United Nations Security Council concerning Iraq:
Earlier today, the United States presented compelling evidence to the United Nations Security Council detailing Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs, its active efforts to deceive UN inspectors, and its links to international terrorism.
Our countries understand the dangers posed by tyranny and the special responsibility of democracies to defend our shared values. The trans-Atlantic community, of which we are a part, must stand together to face the threat posed by the nexus of terrorism and dictators with weapons of mass destruction.
We have actively supported the international efforts to achieve a peaceful disarmament of Iraq. However, it has now become clear that Iraq is in material breach of U.N. Security Council Resolutions, including U.N. Resolution 1441, passed unanimously on November 8, 2002. As our governments said on the occasion of the NATO Summit in Prague: "We support the goal of the international community for full disarmament of Iraq as stipulated in the UN Security Council Resolution 1441. In the event of non-compliance with the terms of this resolution, we are prepared to contribute to an international coalition to enforce its provisions and the disarmament of Iraq."
The clear and present danger posed by the Saddam Hussein's regime requires a united response from the community of democracies. We call upon the U.N. Security Council to take the necessary and appropriate action in response to Iraq's continuing threat to international peace and security.
The size and capabilities of the Coalition forces involved in operations in Iraq has been a subject of much debate, confusion, and at times exageration. As of August 5, 2004, there were 30 non-U.S. military forces contributing to the ongoing stability operations throughout Iraq. These countries were Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Rep, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Thailand, United Kingdom, and Ukraine. The MNF-I website incorrectly included Honduras in the list; that country's troops returned in late May. The MNF-I website also includes New Zealand, although the New Zealand government has claimed that it had not joined the US-led force but that the deployment had been at the request of the United Nations.
The Kingdom of Tonga did, however, deploy 45 Royal Marines in early July to Iraq. New Zealand redeployed its contingent of 61 troops in late-September 2004. As a result, there are 30 countries participating in the coalition.
On September 6, Armenia announced that it would deploy 50 troops to Iraq, though it was unclear when the troops would be deployed to Iraq; until such time, it is not being included in the count of countries taking part in the coalition.
Countries which had troops in Iraq at one point but have pulled out since: Nicaragua (Feb. 2004); Spain (late-Apr. 2004); Dominican Republic (early-May 2004); Honduras (late-May 2004); Philippines (~Jul. 19, 2004); and New Zealand (late Sep. 04).
Countries Supporting Ops in Iraq |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Country |
In Iraq | In Theater | Total | Future |
United Kingdom | 8,361 | 3,500 | ~12,000 | |
South Korea | 2,800 | 2,800 | ~ 3,600 | |
Italy | 2,700 | 2,700 | ||
Poland | 2,400 | 2,400 | 1,000-1,500 | |
Ukraine | 1,576 | 1,576 | ~1,450 | |
Netherlands | ~1,400 | ~1,400 | ||
Romania | 700 | 700 | ||
Japan | ~550 | ~200 | ~750 | |
Denmark | 496 | 496 | ||
Bulgaria | ~485 | ~485 | ||
Thailand | 451 | 451 | 0 | |
El Salvador | 380 | 380 | ||
Hungary | 300 | 300 | ||
Australia | ~ 250 | ~ 600 | 850 | + 50 |
Mongolia | 180 | 180 | ||
Georgia | 159 | 159 | ~300 or 980(?) | |
Azerbaijan | 151 | 151 | ||
Portugal | 128 | 128 | ||
Latvia | 122 | 122 | ||
Czech Republic | ~110 | ~110 | 10 | |
Lithuania | 105 | 105 | ||
Slovakia | 105 | 105 | ||
Albania | 70 | 70 | 200 | |
Estonia | 55 | 55 | ||
Tonga | ~45 | ~45 | ||
Singapore | 33 | 33 | ||
Kazakhstan | 29 | 29 | ||
Macedonia | 28 | 28 | ||
Moldova | 12 | 12 | ||
Norway | 10 | 10 | 0 | |
Spain | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Honduras | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Dominican Republic | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Nicaragua | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Philippines | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
New Zealand | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Armenia | 0 | 50 | ||
TOTAL | ~28,600 |
US CENTCOM - Coalition Ground Forces |
|||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division | Brigade | Battalion | Personnel | Equipment | |
TOTAL | ~ 26,300 | ||||
Royal Marines [Tonga] | ~45 | ||||
Cuzcatlan Battalion [El Savadoran] | 360 | ||||
Peacekeeping Operations BN [Mongolia] | ~ 180 | ||||
1100th Const. & Eng. Spt. Group [ROK] | ~ ??? | ||||
U/I Military Police Unit [Czech] | ~ 80 | ||||
U/I Chemical Warfare Co [Slovakia] | ~ 105 | ||||
U/I SOF Unit [Macedonia] | ~ 28 | ||||
U/I SOF Unit (w/ 101 ABN) [Albania] | ~ 70 | ||||
U/I Unit [Latvia] | ~ 121 | ||||
U/I Brigade [South Korea] | ~ 2,800 | ||||
U/I Unit [Thailand] | ~ 460 | ||||
Joint Task Force [Australia] | |||||
elements, Japanese Self Defense Force | ~ 75 | ||||
elements, Danish [DANCON/IRAK] | ~ 496 | ||||
U/I Support Unit | ~ 61 | ||||
Danish BN [w/Lithuanian soldiers] | 446 | ||||
Multi-National Division (South-East) | |||||
1st Battalion of the Black Watch Regiment | 600 | ||||
Royal Engineers | 170 | ||||
3 UK Armoured Division | ~ 11,000 | ||||
elements, 14 Signal RGT | |||||
elements, 16 Signal RGT | |||||
elements, 30 Signal RGT | |||||
42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic) | |||||
U/I Engineers | |||||
20 Armoured BDE | |||||
Queen's Royal Hussars | Challenger 2 | ||||
1st BN, The Light Infantry | ? - Warrior | ||||
1st BN, The Royal REGT of Wales | ? - Warrior | ||||
2nd BN, The Parachute REGT | |||||
1st BN, The Royal Scots | |||||
1st BN, The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders | |||||
26 REGT Royal Artillery | |||||
35 Engineer REGT | |||||
elements, 9th/12th Royal Lancers | CVR(T) | ||||
Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia) | |||||
TF Rake (w/ 35 ENG) [New Zealand] | |||||
4 General Support REGT, RLC | |||||
22 Field Hospital | |||||
elements, 33 Engineer REGT (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) | |||||
17 Port & Maritime REGT | |||||
10 Transport REGT, RLC | |||||
Element, 11 EOD RGT RLC | |||||
1 REGT, Royal Military Police | |||||
23 Pioneer REGT, RLC | |||||
24 REGT, RLC | |||||
5 General Support Medical REGT, RAMC | |||||
Sassari BDE [Italy] | ~ 3,000 | ||||
U/I NBC Co, 7th NBC BN [Italy] | |||||
U/I Co, 1st Lagunari Amphib Infantry BN [Italy] | |||||
Elements, 9th "Col Moschin" Special Forces BN [Italy] | |||||
265th Military Police Bn [Romania] | 100 | ||||
U/I Military Police Co [Portugal] | |||||
U/I Co, 7th Signal BN [Italy] | |||||
18th Mech Infantry BN [Italy] | |||||
U/I Sq, 19th Armored Cavalry BN [Italy] | |||||
21st Combat Engineer BN [Italy] | |||||
6th Transport BN[Italy] | |||||
812th Infantry Bn Carpathian Hawks [Romania] | |||||
U/I BN, 2nd Carabinieri BDE [Italy] | ~ 400 | ||||
Netherlands SFIR-3 Contingent | ~ 1,500 | ||||
42nd Mechanised Battalion(Composite) | Patria XA-180 APCs | ||||
Det. 298 Sqn (RNLAF) | 3-4 CH-47D | ||||
Det.300/301 Sqn (RNLAF) | 6 NAH-64D | ||||
Det. 11/14 FA Bty | 3 AN/TPQ-32 | ||||
Logistics (POD) Det. | |||||
Royal Constabulary Dets. | |||||
Multi-National Division (Central South) | |||||
12 Mechanized BDE [Poland] | ~ 2,400 | ||||
10 Mechanized BN [10 ACD Poland] | |||||
3rd Infantry Bn, 61st Stryam Mech Bde[Bulgaria] | ~ 485 | ||||
U/I Hungarian Elements | |||||
elements, Grand Duchess Birute Motorised Infantry BN [Lithuania] | ~ 45 | ||||
CIMIC BN [Philippines] | |||||
U/I Bn [El Salvador] | 380 | ||||
6th Separate Mechanized BDE [Ukraine] | ~ 1,700 | 60 - BTR-80 11 - BRDM-2 |
|||
61st Separate Mechanized BN | BTR-80 | ||||
62nd Separate Mechanized BN | BTR-80 | ||||
63rd Separate Mechanized BN | BRDMs |
But...you're missing the point. We NEED to be loved by France, Germany, and the Benelux trio.
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