Italy 'to pull troops from Iraq'

[gldstwmn]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4352259.stm

Italy is to begin withdrawing its troops from Iraq in September 2005, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said.
He told Rai state television the pullout would take place "in agreement with our allies".

Italy has 3,000 troops in Iraq - the fourth largest foreign contingent.

Domestic opposition to Italy's involvement in Iraq intensified after the killing of an Italian agent by US troops in Baghdad earlier this month.

The surprise announcement came as Italy's lower house of parliament backed a recent Senate vote to extend the country's military presence in Iraq beyond June.

'Progressive reduction'

Mr Berlusconi has been one of US President George W Bush's staunchest allies in the US-led war in Iraq.


But, he said, after speaking to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair he concluded that public opinion in both countries favoured a troop withdrawal.

"In September we will begin a progressive reduction of the number of our soldiers in Iraq.

"I spoke to Tony Blair about it, and public opinion in our countries is expecting this decision," he told Rai.

He said the exact numbers would depend on the Iraqi government's ability to deal with security.

Strained relations

In Washington, White House spokesman Scott McClellan played down the announcement.

"We certainly appreciate the contributions of the Italians. They have served and sacrificed alongside Iraqis and alongside other coalition forces," he said.


There was a huge outpouring of grief at Mr Calipari's death

He emphasised that Italy's withdrawal "will be based on the ability and capability of Iraqi forces and the Iraqi government to be able to assume more responsibility".

But he rejected suggestions that Italy's decision was due to strained relations after secret service agent Nicola Calipari was shot dead by US troops in Baghdad on 4 March.

"I haven't heard any comment to that effect from Italian officials," he was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.

Mr Berlusconi has said the US must accept responsibility for the shooting, which is being investigated by the US military.

The BBC's Tamsin Smith in Rome says it is the first time Mr Berlusconi has suggested a timetable for withdrawal.

Our correspondent says the Italian government is also mindful of local elections looming early next month.

Also on Tuesday, two other members of the US-led coalition in Iraq - the Netherlands and Ukraine - began a phased withdrawal from the country.

Main international troops in Iraq
US: 150,000
UK: 8,000
South Korea: 3,600
Italy: 3,085
Poland: 1,700
Ukraine: 1,600
Georgia: 898
Romania: 730
Japan: 550
Denmark: 496
Bulgaria: 450
Australia: 400
Source: Global Security

[amber]

Good for them. Wow, they actually pay attention to the public opinion in their country. The opinion of the people they are representing. Go figure.

[gldstwmn]

Good for them. Wow, they actually pay attention to the public opinion in their country. The opinion of the people they are representing. Go figure.

Berlusconi is a fascist but he remembers what happened to Mussolini, apparently.

[amber]

Berlusconi is a fascist but he remembers what happened to Mussolini, apparently.
Ah! - I didn't realize. well, at this point he's less fascist than Bush, right? Or do you mean he's literally a Fascist... :confused:

[gldstwmn]

Ah! - I didn't realize. well, at this point he's less fascist than Bush, right? Or do you mean he's literally a Fascist... :confused:

He started his own party. Can't remember the name of it now. He owns like, half of Italy. That may be an exagerration but not by much. Apparently, The Netherlands, the Ukraine and Poland are leaving now as well:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1525997,00.html


Ranks begin to thin in coalition of the willing
By Richard Beeston, Diplomatic Editor

NEARLY two years after the United States led the “coalition of the willing” into Iraq, the alliance of 30 nations that once boasted 25,000 troops serving alongside the dominant American forces is showing signs of unravelling.
In a move that is causing concern to the already over-stretched main contributors, particularly the US, Britain and Australia, key allies, such as the Netherlands, Ukraine and Poland, are ordering their forces to return home.

Under pressure at home, some countries, such as Portugal, withdrew their small contingent this year. Other key coalition partners, such as Italy, with 3,000 troops, face growing public pressure to withdraw their forces.

The pressure on the Government in Rome has intensified since the shooting this month by American troops of an Italian intelligence officer who had helped to free a hostage.

This week the Dutch contingent, which once numbered 1,500 troops and controlled the vast southern province of Muthana, lowered its flag and left, leaving the desert border territory to British forces.

Although Britain had hoped to cut the size of its contingent after the election on January 30, the Army has had to deploy reinforcements to fill the gap left by the Dutch retreat. Some 650 British soldiers, mostly from The Queen’s Dragoon Guards and The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment, have been sent to the area. They will work alongside 450 Australian soldiers who were ordered to Iraq by John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister, last month. The Anglo-Australian force will protect some 600 Japanese army engineers, who serve in the province but are barred from fighting.

The region in southern Iraq is relatively benign and British officials hope that once Iraqi forces have been trained, the area can be handed over to their control.

A bigger headache for the coalition is the reduction of the two main contributors to the central area south of Baghdad, a volatile insurgent area. Over the weekend, the first 150 Ukrainian troops packed up and headed home, with the remaining 1,500 to follow over the next six months.

The move leaves the Poles, the lead force in the area, badly exposed and they, too, have signalled that they are halving the size of their 1,700-strong force and changing the mission.

Jerzy Szmajdzinski, the Polish Defence Minister, said last week that Polish forces increasingly would concentrate on training Iraqi troops, with the aim of handing over security to them. But there are fears that this approach may be premature as the insurgency continues to make the country ungovernable.

Nevertheless, it may be difficult to persuade remaining members of the coalition to be in the country much beyond the end of the year, whether or not the Iraqi security forces are ready. Many contributing nations expect to have their soldiers home as soon as Iraq holds its second round of elections, scheduled for December, when a permanent government should be in place.

[amber]

Hmmm. thanks for posting. I don't blame those countries, obviously.

[SuzeQuze]

... Does America really think it is on the good side of the world's people? ...

No, the people on the side of the war don't give a rat's ass about the "world's people". It's sad but true. :distress: I, personally, am Canadian. :cool: JK, I am a proud American who's extremely disgusted with her government. :mad: :confused: