Italy is withdrawing all troops from Iraq

jay gw

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

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

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.

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

The journalists shooting and the handling of it by the Bush administration and the US military is what prompted Italy to withdraw all troops from Iraq.
 
Holland and the Ukraine are already pulling theirs out.

This will only leave the UK, Poland and Korea as significant allies.
 
Jon_in_london said:
Holland and the Ukraine are already pulling theirs out.

This will only leave the UK, Poland and Korea as significant allies.
Click to expand...

Well, at least you didn't forget Poland.
 
An Italian journalist was ransomed for over $10M. A few weeks later, Italy announces a troop withdrawal.

Three obvious reasons:
1) Coincidence
2) Berlesconi bowing to public pressure because journalist was injured and her bodyguard was killed by American.
3) Troop pullout was part of the ransom.

I would bet on it being number two but the terrorists will claim another victory and rightly so.

CBL
 
Italy is to begin withdrawing its troops from Iraq in September 2005, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has said.
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I knew this would happen if their allies shot enough of them.
 
CBL4 said:
An Italian journalist was ransomed for over $10M. A few weeks later, Italy announces a troop withdrawal.

Three obvious reasons:
1) Coincidence
2) Berlesconi bowing to public pressure because journalist was injured and her bodyguard was killed by American.
3) Troop pullout was part of the ransom.

I would bet on it being number two but the terrorists will claim another victory and rightly so.

CBL
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I'd put money on number 2. In general- shooting your Allies doesnt do much to strengthen the alliance.
 
And what did Italy get for all the ransoms paid and the troop pullout announcement?

They are mocked by Al Quaeda as humbled worshippers of the cross who are still targets anyway.....

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iraq's al Qaeda wing said on Wednesday Italian troops "humbled" by insurgent attacks would still be targeted despite Rome's plans to start pulling out from Iraq in September, according to an Internet statement.
"We tell those whose might was humbled in Iraq and we tell Italy, the worshipper of the cross, that we will continue to fire bullets at you," said al Qaeda Organization for Holy War in Iraq, led by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

"The longer Italy stays in Iraq the greater will be its losses," the group's military leader said in a statement posted on Web sites used by Islamic militants.
Click to expand...

"Jihad (holy war) has started to bear fruit."
Click to expand...

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle....OQWOCRBAEOCFEY?type=worldNews&storyID=7918316
 
Jihad (holy war) has started to bear fruit
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Exactly. Who will next target? Clearly al Qaeda will attempt something during the British election. When is Poland next election?

CBL
 
Both Spain and Italy have caved in....sort of. They decided it wasn't worth continuing the struggle against "terrorism" or whatever the struggle is against.

The US will not be able to count on any more coalitions, unless the cause is so desperate like the Gulf War.
 
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