Japan and Italy are gonna withdraw, who else?

Now that both Japan and Italy announced to withdraw their troops in Iraq, who will there be left to support the US in their war?

www.esmas.com... (it's in Spanish)

www.esmas.com...



mod edit, spelling

[edit on 20-6-2006 by DontTreadOnMe]

Maybe they know something we don't

Defence Minister Brendan Nelson says he expects Australia will examine its future troop deployment to Iraq by the end of the year.

But he says that will depend on the next six months as Australian troops assist the province of Al Muthanna as it becomes the first to move to full Iraqi control.

The Japanese government has announced it will withdraw its 600-member military engineering group which Australian troops have been guarding for the past year.

The withdrawal is expected to start as early as next month.

Dr Nelson has said Australian troops will take on new responsibilities for training, mentoring and supporting Iraqi security forces in border protection.

link

Now there are two possibilities.

The first one is that the JDF dosnt wont to use the Iraqi security forces for its protection. The 2nd possibilitie is that the local population may take over the reconstruction effort.

Dont expect any countries that dont have troops in Iraq already to send troops to the countrie. Many smaller militarys dont have man power to form a effective deployment to Iraq.

[edit on 21-6-2006 by xpert11]

[edit on 21-6-2006 by xpert11]

Well, as xpert11 has already stated, Australia will continue its deployment of troops to Iraq. Australia's forces are largely involved in reconstruction efforts, as well as protecting Japanese engineers and more covert activities involving special forces activities.

With the Japanese engineers pulling out of Iraq, Australia's forces will switch to the region of Tallil, near the Saudi border, to assist Iraqi forces in defending the border.

I am sure it's easy for Americans to think that they're alone in Iraq. But, fortunately, some alliances remain more than simply words. If we were to remove our troops prematurely, the result would be catastrophic. Of course, that's my opinion. As is the case with our American cousins, many Australians oppose our involvement in Iraq and wish to see our troops withdrawn. Fair enough, of course, it's a free country and people are rightly entitled to whatever opinion they wish.

So don't worry. Our contribution is relatively small (we do have a much smaller population), but American troops can still count on their Australian brethren.

Well, not exactly.

We Australians are certainly in Iraq, assisting the Japanese with their international aid convoys, but that is about to end very soon as Japan pulls out.

It has been announced that Australia's new role will be that of training and support for the fledgling Iraqi army and police force. All of this has to do with civilian reconstruction, putting Iraq back together. Definitely no combat missions, and definitely no special operations in Iraq by Aussies.

At no time has Australia ever carried out any combat missions in support of US operations in Iraq since Desert Storm, and there have been no combined operations. Nor will there be.

Australia has absolutely nothing to do with the war on terror, or any military activities against insurgents.

The last Australian military combat operation in Iraq was with the legally constituted UN multinational force tasked with removing Saddam from Kuwait. After Desert Storm that all ended.

When Bush went back looking for WMD, Australia was not involved in any way.

If you don't believe this, google. Use key words like Falluja, Australian, casualties, insurgents, special operations. See if you can find ANY evidence of Australian combat missions since Kuwait. You will find ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, because we are at peace over there supporting humanitarian aid.

We are not Allies of America in this illegal war. And we have nothing to do with any of the war crimes or atrocities that are going on over there.

All this will surprise many Americans, do the research, discover Australias humanitarian role in Iraq, there is a mountain of evidence out there.

Originally posted by Warpspeed
At no time has Australia ever carried out any combat missions in support of US operations in Iraq since Desert Storm, and there have been no combined operations. Nor will there be.

Er, sorry to disappoint you, but this is demonstratably false. Australia contributed a number of troops to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, including naval warships, attack fighters and special forces and was one of only 4 nations to contribute troops. Indeed, the elite SAS were later revealed to have been undertaking combat operations in Iraq even before the formal onset of hostilities. This was confirmed by Colonel John Mansell, chief of staff for Special Operations Command, who revealed that the SAS had been inserted into Iraq to destory Iraqi SCUD missile sites. They had gunfights with Iraqi troops and took prisoners even before the first bombs fell. Colonel Mansell later described the SAS' activities in combat terms, stating that

"This was one of the first ground attacks of the war"

Source

When Bush went back looking for WMD, Australia was not involved in any way.

Obviously, this is incorrect. A detailed breakdown of Australia's role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq can be found at Wikipedia, under the article Australian Contribution to the 2003 Invasion of Iraq.

If you don't believe this, google. Use key words like Falluja, Australian, casualties, insurgents, special operations. See if you can find ANY evidence of Australian combat missions since Kuwait. You will find ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, because we are at peace over there supporting humanitarian aid.

Well, a quick Google search turned up this article detailing the role of the SAS in Iraq's western desert on the first page.

We are not Allies of America in this illegal war. And we have nothing to do with any of the war crimes or atrocities that are going on over there.

Your opinion is indicative of my statement that many Australians oppose the war in Iraq and perceive it as illegal. However, whatever your beliefs regarding this matter, it cannot be denied that Australia and the US remain fast allies and that Australia was and is currently involved in the occupation and now the rebuilding of Iraq.

Your articles all date 2003 like Warpspeed said they haven't been involved since the capture of Saddam Hussein. There were no other news of combat missions after they accomplished their tasks.



Pie

Sure we were there during Desert Storm. Just don't confuse that with the later conflict AFTER 2003.

The Aussie special forces troops you mention were hunting down Scud missile sites behind enemy lines that were firing on Israel. We sure were there back then, But the insugents fighting in Iraq now are not firing Scud missiles at anyone.

Here it all is:
personal.ecu.edu...

Are you suggesting that Australia is STILL conducting full joint combat operations with America as a full operational Allie ?

If that is true, where are all the Australian casualties and the combat deaths ? Why was not a single Australian at Falluja ?

How could it be that the US has lost 2500 troops and Australia zero combat deaths or casualties?

Don't you find that rather strange ?

Originally posted by ThePieMaN
Your articles all date 2003 like Warpspeed said they haven't been involved since the capture of Saddam Hussein. There were no other news of combat missions after they accomplished their tasks.



Pie

Thanks Pie Man. The chronology is very important.

We were one of (I think) 44 nations in the real coalition of the willing, which was a full blown United Nations sanctioned effort.

The big hunt for WMD came much later, and we simply said that without a UN resolution, Australia was not getting involved.

And we never have.

Pronti changed his mind and Italy will not withdraw, after all.

Originally posted by masterp
Pronti changed his mind and Italy will not withdraw, after all.

Really do you have a link to that? Btw its Prodi.

Originally posted by ThePieMaN
Your articles all date 2003 like Warpspeed said they haven't been involved since the capture of Saddam Hussein. There were no other news of combat missions after they accomplished their tasks.

Okay, I'm a little confused. Warpspeed didn't say anything about the capture of Saddam Hussein. He said:

At no time has Australia ever carried out any combat missions in support of US operations in Iraq since Desert Storm, and there have been no combined operations. Nor will there be.

Now, Operation Desert Storm took place in 1991. Are you suggesting that Australian forces have not been engaged in battle in Iraq since 1991? Because, as was demonstrated through the links I posted, this is demonstratably untrue. The articles I posted refer not to the 1991 Gulf War, as Warpspeed seems to suggest by saying

Sure we were there during Desert Storm. Just don't confuse that with the later conflict AFTER 2003.

The Aussie special forces troops you mention were hunting down Scud missile sites behind enemy lines that were firing on Israel. We sure were there back then, But the insugents fighting in Iraq now are not firing Scud missiles at anyone.

Rather, they refer specifically to Australian combat operations during the 2003 invasion of Iraq. I am not disputing that Australian forces are presently engaged in largely non-combat operations, of a humanitarian and reconstructive nature. But there can be no doubt that Australian troops were involved in combat operations, specifically in support of the United States and other Coalition allies.

I'm sure I am simply missing something here, but you seem to be suggesting that Australia has not been involved in combat in Iraq since Desert Storm, which is incorrect.

[edit on 22/6/06 by Jeremiah25]

BBC News-Romanian bomb plot suspect held

Romanian police are holding a man suspected of planning a car bomb attack to protest against Romania's co-operation with US forces in Iraq.
Florin Lesch, a Muslim convert, was stopped on Monday as he drove towards the city of Timisoara with a bomb made from gas canisters, police said.
The intelligence service said it had been tracking him for nearly two years for suspected ties to terror groups.

The man converted to islam during a stay in Bosnia, then started sending videos to various romanian tv stations demanding the rethdrawal of the troops from irak and now he decided to take it to the next level.

Given the volume of their commitment whether Australia goes or stays is largely irrelevant in military terms.

Currently they're only 8th/9th on the list of countries' troop commitments in Iraq and as Warpspeed says their role is strictly limited.

If the RoK (3.3k) pull out they'll leave a much bigger hole. Poland's (900) & Romania's (880) contribution are significant too.

Strangely these countries rarely get a mention on here.

en.wikipedia.org...



[edit on 27-6-2006 by Strangerous]

Originally posted by rai76
Now that both Japan and Italy announced to withdraw their troops in Iraq, who will there be left to support the US in their war?

‘Support’ and contributions in Iraq involve more than just “boots on the ground”. Germany for example provides troops in Afghanistan that allow more US troop freedom for deployment, Japan provides money and reconstruction assistance etc. Logistics are handled by a host of other nations providing both troops and expertise; I would not discount these very supportive efforts so quickly.

Japanese reconstruction soldiers are protected by Australians in Afghanistan same as Iraq; the Australians are also heavily involved with their navy providing security in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman same as Italy and as well as the many, many of other nations which took part in Arabian Gauntlet this year (for one example). Many nations have other operations around the Philippines and Indo China etc. etc. Iraq is not the only deployment area. The international WOT is occurring in many ‘other’ places other than Iraq....Iraq is simply all the 'news' tends to focus on.

Japan has contemplated the pull out of its forces in Iraq for quite some time..

Italy announced in January 2006 it was going to draw-down by the end of the year.

The US has also announced a draw-down.

They are going down size sometime, right?




mg

What he's saying is its NOT AUSTRALIAN troops driving round going door to door, detaining people, shooting at insurgents, driving over IED's and all that.

The australians are in a secure area, making sure the people fixing the country dont get attacked.

We might of been on the gorund doing covert during the invasion yes,
so much so not too many scuds were launched eh eh?

to the Aussie SAS

.. after GWBush declared and END to military action in IRAQ... The Aussies havent been involved in anything more than protection.

I think every country should pull out of Iraq accept for Britan, The USA, and unfortunately AUSTRALIA.

Why?
America deseves to completely be flogged in Iraq.
You made up lies, you murdered thousands of innocents for a reason that was NEVER justified.
Britan backed you up 100%, even offered to explain your falsehoods, and help inflame the tension
Australia deserves to be there because they need to realise the weak, idiotic PM We have in place.
We never had ANY evidence of info on Iraq. Our PM let himself be SPOONFED by the American President, just so his stature in the world could increase

'' yuk yuk, I got to shake hands with BUSH TODAY, and had my PHOTO PRINTED IN NYTIMES ''

Its a bad tendancy with australian politicans to put there personal fame infront of the value of life.

Richard court built a stupid looking bell tower on Perths foreshore, that cost millions, instead of giving our underpaid nurses a small wage increase.

John howard agreed to and committed himself to a war, he joined only to make friends with the big kid on the block.