OT: Spain to withdraw from Iraq

[WayOutWest]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3637523.stm

Spain PM orders Iraq troops home
 
Spain has about 1,300 troops stationed in Iraq
Spain's new prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has given orders for Spanish troops in Iraq to be brought home in "as short a time as possible".
In a televised address to the nation, he said he could not ignore what he called the will of the Spanish people.

The previous government's support for the war in Iraq, and its handling of the Madrid bombings, were thought to have caused its election downfall.

Spain has about 1,300 troops stationed in south-central areas of Iraq.

Mr Zapatero said he had ordered the defence minister to "do what is necessary for the Spanish troops stationed in Iraq return home in the shortest time possible".

He spoke just hours after the new Socialist government was sworn in.

 
Mr Zapatero's election win last month was largely unexpected

Immediately after his election, Mr Zapatero had vowed to withdraw Spanish troops from Iraq unless they came under UN command by 30 June when their mandate expires.

His conservative predecessor, Jose Maria Aznar, sent in troops in August 2003 in a move which led to huge popular protests across Spain.

"With the information we have, and which we have gathered over the past few weeks, it is not foreseeable that the United Nations will adopt a resolution" that satisfies Spain's terms, Mr Zapatero said.

Daily attacks

The United States has condemned the decision to bring the troops home, saying it is giving in to terrorism.

Main foreign troops in Iraq
USA: 135,000
UK: 8,700
Italy: 3,000
Poland: 2,400
Ukraine: 1,650
Spain: 1,300
Australia: 850
Japan: 550  

But the BBC's Danny Wood, in Madrid, says the majority of Spaniards support the decision.

Many believe the 11 March train bomb attacks were a result of the former government's support of the United States policy in Iraq, our correspondent adds.

Spanish troops play an important role in Iraq, particularly in the Shia holy city of Najaf.

Spanish troops stationed Najaf come under rifle and mortar fire almost every day from militiamen loyal to the fiery anti-US cleric Moqtada Sadr.

In November, Spain was stunned by the deaths of seven intelligence officers in Iraq, killed when their convoy came under attack outside Baghdad.

The BBC's Dominic Hughes, in Baghdad, says that with the US saying it needs thousands of extra troops on the ground in Iraq, the withdrawal of the Spanish forces will clearly be felt.

 

[The Band Queen]

bum bum bum......another re-election campaign bites the dust....and another one bites and another one bites and another re-election campaign bites the dust YEA

[sf101]

Kerry is taking lots of heat from the left because many want of them just want our troops to come home, and he supports keeping them thier. Should be interesting to see if he ticks off some of his core base.

I thought I read today that Spain said they were staying?

[WayOutWest]

Kerry is taking lots of heat from the left because many want of them just want our troops to come home, and he supports keeping them thier. Should be interesting to see if he ticks off some of his core base.

I thought I read today that Spain said they were staying?

You can't punk out of Iraq now and give the terrorist a confidence boost.  Excuse my language but F! Spain and that new PUNK ARSE Prime Minister.

I hope the US makes Spain regret the day they stabbed us in the back!

[JoMal]

You can't punk out of Iraq now and give the terrorist a confidence boost.  Excuse my language but F! Spain and that new PUNK ARSE Prime Minister.

I hope the US makes Spain regret the day they stabbed us in the back!

WOW, there is no danger of the U.S. not making Spain rue this day. At some point in the future, they will be taken to task over something.  

But that isn't even relevant at this time. The Iraqi insurgents clearly expect to undermine U.S. resolve and their allies in Iraq and they certainly have precedent on their side in thinking that. Any occupying force is going to be outnumbered and while the locals can afford to lose 7 fighters to every one lost by the occupiers, these other nations have to answer for every soldier coming home in a body bag.

The U.S. policy of appeasing the locals by observing their shrines and making nicey nice with the populace has played into the hands of the insurgents. It has made it so much easier to kidnap and murder anyone they please, plus ambush convoys.

While I despise Bush for putting our troops into Iraq under completely false pretenses, now that we are there means we have to exit with our dignity in tack. That is the one thing the insurgents do NOT want to see happen. Up to when we are supposed to hand over the reigns of control to the Iraqi's, we are going to be witnessing a blood bath over there. It is of paramount importance for the insurgents to claim they drove the U.S. and its allies from Iraqi soil. They are going to do whatever they have to, to make it look that way.
 

[Randy]

You can't punk out of Iraq now and give the terrorist a confidence boost.  Excuse my language but F! Spain and that new PUNK ARSE Prime Minister.

I hope the US makes Spain regret the day they stabbed us in the back!

WOW, there is no danger of the U.S. not making Spain rue this day. At some point in the future, they will be taken to task over something.  

But that isn't even relevant at this time. The Iraqi insurgents clearly expect to undermine U.S. resolve and their allies in Iraq and they certainly have precedent on their side in thinking that. Any occupying force is going to be outnumbered and while the locals can afford to lose 7 fighters to every one lost by the occupiers, these other nations have to answer for every soldier coming home in a body bag.

The U.S. policy of appeasing the locals by observing their shrines and making nicey nice with the populace has played into the hands of the insurgents. It has made it so much easier to kidnap and murder anyone they please, plus ambush convoys.

While I despise Bush for putting our troops into Iraq under completely false pretenses, now that we are there means we have to exit with our dignity in tack. That is the one thing the insurgents do NOT want to see happen. Up to when we are supposed to hand over the reigns of control to the Iraqi's, we are going to be witnessing a blood bath over there. It is of paramount importance for the insurgents to claim they drove the U.S. and its allies from Iraqi soil. They are going to do whatever they have to, to make it look that way.

Well, the insurgents will make the claim that they drove the US from their lands no matter when or how we go -- Saddam claimed that he drove the US from his lands even after his army got slaughtered and reduced to scrap metal.  

IMO, Spain is going to rue more than just the spanking that the US will give them in the future -- I think they made an emotional decision at the polls and their new leader doesn't have a clue.  We will see how long he lasts and how many mistakes he makes -- which I think is going to be a TON.

The US HATES casualties but we will simply NEVER stomach a defeat -- the troops cannot return home with their tails between their legs.  I think we will escalate the fighting over there and turn their shines into scrap piles before I we leave without completing the mission.  Also, we are dealing with a people who don't mind sending their people to die -- much like the Japanese in WW2 -- America doesn't want to see any of their soldiers die -- it's why we spend billions of dollars for weapons that can keep our soldiers safe -- the problem is, it's tough to keep soldiers safe when they can't tell who they are protecting and who they are trying to eradicate.

[jn]

What a strange day.  WOW has suddenly set aside the realpolitik glasses for the day in order to become a flag sucking couchbound warrior.   :unsure:









 

[Lurker]

The US HATES casualties but we will simply NEVER stomach a defeat -- the troops cannot return home with their tails between their legs.  I think we will escalate the fighting over there and turn their shines into scrap piles before I we leave without completing the mission.  Also, we are dealing with a people who don't mind sending their people to die -- much like the Japanese in WW2 -- America doesn't want to see any of their soldiers die -- it's why we spend billions of dollars for weapons that can keep our soldiers safe -- the problem is, it's tough to keep soldiers safe when they can't tell who they are protecting and who they are trying to eradicate.

Can you say Vietnam?

Those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.

[WayOutWest]

What a strange day.  WOW has suddenly set aside the realpolitik glasses for the day in order to become a flag sucking couchbound warrior.   :unsure:

For the level headed and open minded individuals there is a difference between supporting your country (troops) and supporting an unjust war.

Vietnam was a case of people supporting neither, Iraq is unique in that your average American knows better than to blame soldiers for the criminal acts of their commander and chief.