Robert Burns (salon)



March 19, 2004 | WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush's prized
``coalition of the willing'' -- the three dozen countries that are
contributing military forces in Iraq -- appears suddenly to be losing
some of its will.

First Spain said it was getting out, then Poland said it might leave
early, and on Friday the South Korean Ministry of Defense announced that
it will not send its troops to the area of Iraq that U.S. commanders had
requested, although it said it would position them elsewhere in Iraq.

The coalition may not be crumbling, but neither is it gaining the
political traction that the Pentagon had hoped for as it tackles the
difficult task of finding fresh forces for the Iraq mission in 2005 and
beyond.

A key element of the Bush administration's strategy for Iraq is to put
an international face on the military force that is not only helping
rebuild the country but also to trying to snuff out a resilient insurgency.

That strategy is meant to counter the charge by critics that the
administration took a unilateral action in attacking Iraq, and that it
has failed to garner sufficient allied support in the war's aftermath.

It's possible, of course, that security conditions in Iraq will improve
so markedly over the remainder of this year that a military force much
smaller than the current one of about 140,000 will be required. In that
case the United States may not need additional allied troop contributions.

But if the insurgency persists or gains ground, then any slack in
coalition contributions _ as suggested by Spain, Poland and possibly
South Korea _ may have to be made up by deploying even more American forces.

Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, said in an Associated Press interview Thursday that there are now
about 115,000 U.S. troops in Iraq, plus about 24,000 coalition troops.
Nearly half of the coalition contribution is from staunch ally Britain.

Pace said it was too early to conclude that Spain will follow through on
its pledge to withdraw.

"It's not clear that Spain will withdraw,'' he said. The new government
has indicated ``there are conditions under which they can stay, and that
would be up to their sovereign government to make their

Spain's Prime Minister-elect Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who gained
office in an election held just three days after terrorist train
bombings that killed 201 people in the Spanish capital, said Wednesday
that the U.S.-led occupation in Iraq ``is turning into a fiasco.'' He
said he will pull 1,300 Spanish troops out of Iraq unless the United
Nations takes control of military mission.

Condoleezza Rice, Bush's national security adviser, said in a CNN
interview Thursday it was up to the Spanish government to decide whether
to end its role as a key American military ally in Iraq.

"Whatever they decide about their forces in Iraq, that's up to the
Spanish government,'' she said.

Poland's President Aleksander Kwasniewski said Thursday that his country
might pull its 2,400 troops out of Iraq early next year, about six
months ahead of schedule. Polls show about half of Poles are opposed to
involvement in Iraq. Kwasniewski said he was misled by Bush
administration assertions before the war that Saddam Hussein had
threatening stockpiles of germ and gas weapons. No such weapons have
been found.

Kwasniewski's comments were the first by a Polish leader to raise doubts
about the intelligence behind Washington's decision to go to war and the
latest signs of a weakening of support for the war among coalition
members. He tempered his remarks by stressing that Poland has not
intention of abandoning its role in Iraq, and said Iraq was a better
place without Saddam.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan on Thursday would not comment
directly on Kwasnieski's remarks.

"Poland is a strong ally in the war on terrorism and we appreciate their
strong support,'' McClellan said. "They reaffirmed they stand with us in
the war on terror.''

South Korea's announcement, which had not been foreseen in Washington,
may be more problematic.

U.S. commanders had counted on South Korea to send about 3,600 troops to
the Kirkuk area of northern Iraq, to be part of a multinational force
led by the U.S. Army's 1st Infantry Division. Without the Koreans there,
the Pentagon might have to find another U.S. ground unit to fill the gap.

A Defense Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said,
"We value South Korea's contribution in fighting terrorism as we value
the contributions of the more than 90 countries that have joined the
coalition in fighting terrorism. It is up to each country to decide what
type, duration and scope of support it may provide the coalition.''

2003 data, but best I could find on the "Colition"

Role Troops/Casualties Current status
United States Control of north and central Iraq, HQ in Baghdad
130,000/397 57% back war, down from 68% in May. Senate investigates US
intelligence behind invasion. War is election issue

United Kingdom Control of southern Iraq with HQ in Basra the second
biggest city 9,900/52 Massive anti-Bush demonstrations planned next
week. Blair government in trouble over 'dodgy' intelligence

Italy Engineers, logistics, marines and military police based in Dhiqar
2,400/17 36% believe war justified. Fifty more carabinieri sent despite
heavy losses in suicide bombing

Poland Controls south-central zone, and commands 9,200 multinational
force 2,350/1 Huge outcry after soldier's death last week. More than
half the country is opposed to the war

Ukraine Serve under Polish-led force policing border with Iran 1,650/0
Sent troops to appease US criticism it had busted sanctions to aid
Saddam. Sent in 20 additional helicopters

Spain Concentrated in Shia Muslim areas south of Basra 1,250/3 Only 15
per cent think war is justified. Prime Minister Aznar ignored huge
anti-war feeling in the country

Netherlands Engineers and military police based around Masayna 1,100/0
Troops on heightened alert because they are operating in dangerous area.
Almost half of public in favor of war

Australia Operating around Baghdad airport and helping in weapons hunt
800/0 Parliamentary inquiry into intelligence justifying war. Critics
say Prime Minister Howard is in Bush's pocket

Romania Based in Nasiriyah, troops are training Iraqi police 700/0 Extra
56 troops to be sent

Bulgaria Based in the Shia holy city of Karbala, under Polish command
500/0 Moved diplomats from Baghdad to Amman, Jordan, last month

Denmark Stationed in north Basra, under British command 420/0 Highest
support in the EU for war, with 57% in favor But Defense Minister
refuses to send more troops

Czech Republic Runs field hospitals and has police in Basra and Masour
400/0 Public support for war has fallen from about half to 10 per cent.
Troops are due to be withdrawn next month

Norway Engineers based with British troops in Basra in southern Iraq
179/0 Prime Minister Bondevik said country was against war, but willing
to help in the mission to rebuild Iraq

Azerbaijan Under US command, mainly guarding the Shia holy sites 150/0
Troops are due to pull out in January

Hungary Logistics experts based in Hillah under Polish command 140/0 Set
to keep troops in Iraq until end of next year. More than 80 per cent of
public are against the war

Portugal Based in Basra. Troops under British command 128/0 Avoided
sending soldiers to Nasiriyah because of danger. About one third of
public think war justified

New Zealand Engineering, humanitarian aid and reconnaissance 61/0 47%
backed war, but Prime Minister Helen Clark said it would never have
happened had Al Gore been president

South Korea Staunch ally of the US, said it was willing to send up to
5,000 troops 0/0 Has reduced the number of troops it plans to send from
5,000 to 3,000, but has set no date for their deployment

Turkey Was to be first Muslim nation to participate, offering 10,000
troops 0/0 Plans to send 10,000 troops cancelled after opposition from
Turkish public and Iraqi Governing Council

Japan Had proposed guarding reconstruction in southern Iraq 0/0 Reversed
decision to send 1,000 soldiers. One third of public in favor of war

© 2003 Independent Digital (UK) Ltd