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What happened to the 'coalition of the willing'?

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Cobbled together to deflect claims of U.S. unilateralism, the 'coalition' in Iraq left a lot be be desired to begin with, and it's now a mere shadow of what it once was.


By Neil Ripley
nripley@niemanwatchdog.org

Back in March 2003, as the Bush administration was preparing for war without UN approval, President Bush touted a "coalition of the willing" to deflect claims of unilateral U.S. action. At that time, the White House reported that 49 countries, including the United States, were committed to the coalition.

The administration makes little mention of the coalition these days. Some say it never amounted to much to begin with, what with the absence of leading American allies and Muslim countries; other countries supplying very small numbers of soldiers; and those often in only a back-up role. But where does the coalition stand today?

At a May 9 hearing of a House Foreign Relations Committee panel, (the full transcript of which is now available on the House Web site) witnesses explained that the coalition is now about half of what it once was.

Joseph A. Christoff, director of international affairs and trade at the Government Accountability Office, said that as of May 2007, only 25 nations are in the coalition. Those nations are contributing 12,600 troops -- more than 7,000 coming from Great Britain. That’s compared to approximately 145,000 U.S. troops. Coalition forces have declined 47.5 percent from a December 2003 peak of 24,000, and currently account for just 8 percent of multinational forces in Iraq.

And Kenneth Katzman, a Middle East specialist with the Congressional Research Service, reported that “very few partner forces, coalition partners, are in the five most restive provinces: That is, Baghdad Province, Al Anbar, Salahuddin, Diyala, and Nineveh Province. The conclusion one could draw is that partner forces are not much of a factor on the actual battlefield per se, if one defines battlefield as combat primarily against Sunni insurgents. The bulk of actual combat is conducted by American forces, with the Iraqi security forces in a supporting role, and, I would argue, very much in the background on the combat.”

Katzman submitted the following chart:

Current State of US Coalition Forces

Country

Troops

Location

Total Deaths

(2003-07)

Status or Issues

Albania

120

Mosul,Nineveh province.

Multi-National Brigade North

0

Increased troop level to 120 from 70 in 2005,  remained fairly stable since that time.  Seeking admittance to NATO in 2008.

Armenia

46

Al-Kut, Wasit province.   Multinational Division (MND) Central- South

0

No discussion of withdrawing troops. Serve under Polish command.  Troops are non-combat.  Approved to stay until end of 2007.

Australia

550

Tallil air base near Nassiryah in Dhi Qar province, southern Iraq. 

MND  South- East

2

Prime Minister Howard staunch US supporter of Iraq War - no plans to withdraw despite growing pressure at home.  Involved in training Iraqi forces.

Azerbaijan

150

Haditha, Anbar province.

MND West

0

Protects hydroelectric power station. No plans reported to remove troops.

Bosnia- Herzegovina

36

 MND North- Central

0

Sent soldiers for a demining mission to Iraq in 2004, and Bosnian unit may be used to  destroy improvised devices.   Bosnia wants to cultivate image as a contributor to international security and hopes to join NATO.

Bulgaria

155

(120 non-combat; 35 support personnel)

Ashraf Refugee Camp, north of Baghdad

MND Central- South

13

In February 2007, voted to extend mission for another year. Bulgaria had withdrawn its light infantry battalion consisting of about 450 troops in 2005 after the deaths of 13 soldiers and 6 civilians and strong public discontent over the Iraqi war.

Czech Republic

99

Basra area

MND - South East

0

Not considering withdrawing its troops as of February 2007 and will stay until at least the end of 2007.   Training Iraqi policemen. Level of troops has remained relatively stable.

Denmark

460

Basra

MND  South- East

6

Announced that it will withdraw its troops in August 2007 and will send  helicopter unit to replace ground troops. Prime Minister claims that the withdrawal decision illustrates progress made in southern Iraq.

Estonia

35

Baghdad

2

No plans for withdrawal. Defends involvement as not an occupation of Iraq, but at the request of Iraq government.  No significant change in troop levels since 2003.

Fiji

280

Baghdad

UN security force

0

Troops serve in the UN guard unit protecting UN headquarters.  Fiji became one of the coalition partners in 2003.  

Georgia

850 elite troops

~ 50 other troops

Baghdad - protecting Green Zone

0

Georgia aspires to join NATO. Decision to increase troop levels  to 2000  by June 2007 to protect border between Iraq and Iran and assist Baghdad security plan.

Hungary

150

Baghdad

1

Kazakhstan

27

MND Central- South

1

No withdrawal plans.

Latvia

125

Diwaniya

MND Central- South

3

Troops to be withdrawn by June 20.  Will send additional troops to Afghanistan.

Lithuania

60

Basra

MND  South- East

0

Current troops deployed on six month mission which began February 2007.  Polls show public support favoring withdrawal.

Macedonia

40

Taji

MND North- Central

0

No withdrawal plans. Will keep troops in Iraq as long as US is there, according to statement May 1, 2007 by Chief of Staff Stojanovski.

Moldova

11

MND  Central-South

11

Troops returned home in January 2007. In April 2007, Parliament approved sending another 11 member team of bomb-diffusing experts to Iraq on a six month tour.

Mongolia

160

MND  Central- South

0

Part of Polish led sector.  Current levels approved through July 2007.

Netherlands

15

Baghdad - NATO training  mission

2

According to Defense Minister Henk Kamp, contingent likely to stay until early 2009.

Poland

900

Diwaniya

MND  Central- South

20

Concentrates on reconstruction and security forces training.  No plans to withdraw. In April 2007, President Kaczynski stated that Polish troops will not be driven out of Iraq and that mission may change as insurgent attacks have increased in southern areas of Iraq.

Romania

500

Southern Iraq under British command - mostly in Tallil and Basra

MND  South-East

2

Withdrew 99 troops from southern Iraq in April after UN mission in south ended.  Prime Minister Tariceanu has called for withdrawal of remainder by end of 2007. Withdrawal must be approved by Supreme Defense Council chaired by Romanian President. President, however, has been suspended though on constitutional abuses (referendum to be held on May 19th).

Slovakia

6

Two in Baghdad - Four with Polish-led forces

MND  Central- South

4

In April 2007, withdrew five troops who were working with NATO forces training Iraqi military.  No plans to withdraw remaining six servicemen.

South Korea

1,300

Irbil

MND North-Central

0

Gradually drawing down.  Reportedly will have timetable set up by July 2007 for withdrawal.

United Kingdom

7,100

Basra

MND South- East

147

Reducing force level to 5,500 by end of summer.

Source: CRS table created by Kim Walker Klarman. May 2, 2007.

Katzman also addressed the question of why the coalition has diminished. “Spain began a minor exodus in March 2004. There was a change of government there that did not agree with the original invasion,” he said. “Other governments left after the December 2005 elections in Iraq, claiming that political transition was complete. Others drew down after claiming that their areas were secure, and they were no longer needed. So there are different reasons in each case.”

Among the countries that have abandoned the coalition: Afghanistan; Angola; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominican Republic; El Salvador, Eritrea; Ethiopia; Honduras; Hungary; Iceland; Italy; Japan; Kuwait; Marshall Islands; Micronesia; New Zealand; Nicaragua; Norway; Palau; Panama; Philippines; Portugal; Rwanda; Singapore; Solomon Islands; Spain; Thailand; Tonga; Turkey; Uganda; Ukraine; Uzbekistan.




Posted by Michael Haynes -
06/25/2007, 09:52 AM

And how much money are we bribing these countrys with untold Billions in forign aid to be part of the coalition ?






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