6 NATO Allies Refuse to Help U.S. in Iraq (US is frankly surprised?? LOL)

[maddezmom]

By BARRY SCHWEID, AP Diplomatic Writer

WASHINGTON - At least six NATO (news - web sites) allies are refusing to send military instructors to help the United States train Iraqi officers, another impediment in the Bush administration's drive for support for its effort to pacify Iraq (news - web sites).


The six nations — Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg and Greece — had refused to contribute troops to the U.S.-led coalition that overthrew President Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) and to the postwar campaign against insurgents.


The administration was hoping to forge a consensus on postwar peacemaking. The project to train Iraqi officers will not involve combat duties and is part of a broader security program

A State Department official close to the dispute said Friday that all 26 NATO allies voted on Wednesday at alliance headquarters in Brussels for the training program and agreed to help fund it. However, at least six held out from playing any active role and refused to send officers to NATO staging areas in Norfolk, Va., and Mons, Belgium.


more:http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041119/ap_on_re_eu/us_nato_iraq&cid=518&ncid=1480

edited to add this link:

US angered by refusal of some in NATO to participate in Iraq mission: official

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States is growing increasingly frustrated with the refusal of five NATO (news - web sites) members, particularly Germany, to allow their military officers seconded to alliance bases to be deployed in Iraq (news - web sites), a senior US official said.


NATO agreed this week to set up a training mission for the Iraqi military in what the official called a "significant" sign of progress since US-led invasion splintered the alliance last year, but Washington fears Berlin's position may erode new-found fragile unity, the official said.


Germany, along with fellow anti-war NATO members Belgium, France, Luxembourg and Spain, went along with the decision to set up the Baghdad training mission but have refused to permit their officers stationed at NATO's two operations bases to participate, the official said.


"Frankly, a number of us have been surprised by this," the official told reporters on condition of anonymity at the State Department, suggesting that the position smacked of obstinateness and a refusal to fully support the interim Iraqi government in its time of need.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20041119/wl_mideast_afp/us_nato_iraq&cid=1514&ncid=1480


:shrug: Where's the big surprise???

[liberal N proud]

1. They might have been more willing had we elected Kerry

I think that prior to the election there were a few countries indicated that they would review the situation if Kerry were to become President.
No chance now.

[lovedems]

3. It must come as a shock to him

that it isn't the world that hates America, they just hate Bush.

It also must come as a shock to him that other leaders actually care about the people in their country. Damn that Spain for listening to the people and pulling out of Iraq!

I am sorry for the troops but Bush is going to get to clean this mess up all by his little lonesome. It will be the first time in his life that he has to clean up after himself.

[yardwork]

18. The really sad part is that we probably did elect Kerry

I am convinced that Kerry probably won the electoral college vote, but this election, like the one in 2000, was stolen by the Republicans.

[shoelace414]

2. This is a long way from

When NATO voted for the "If one of us is attacked we are all attacked" after 9/11.

all that in three years <sigh> maybe with Bush's four more, we can have NATO declare war on us.

[juliagoolia]

4. Yeah but....

None of us were attacked!

Damn Damn Damn...

Have I said how much I hate these Bush Thugs today?

[Bragi]

6. Mutual defence still matters

"If one of us is attacked we are all attacked" still holds true for NATO.

However, this doesn't mean NATO joins forces with a member country in attacking some country that hasn't attacked, or even threatend, them.

I suspect this is bit too "nuanced" for most Bushites.

[asjr]

10. Shrub doesn't mind our military being killed. Other countries

do care about theirs.

[HereSince1628]

36. An alliance based on north Atlantic ties, rejects war in sw Asia

when member nation fails to link attack to appropriate agent and geographic region.

The US got the intelligence wrong and failed to get cooperation.

I suspect every western European nation was aware of the Pakistani connection to the Taliban and vis a vis Bin Laden. And the evidence supporting that is that the US had Europe's support in attacking the Taliban and Al Qaeda in Afganistan.

For NATO Iraq is just one bridge too far.

[Tight_rope]

33. If only we could be so lucky!

I know many that would fight, including myself that would fight for the other side.

[Seabiscuit]

51. Yeah, but guess what?

not "one of us" has been attacked since 9/11. That's why they're not in Iraq with us. Saddam attacked no one since we kicked him out of Kuwait in 1991.

[ResistTheCoup]

5. This all falls into place with what a friend of ours from Germany

said after the election.

He said that a lot of younger Germans were kind of relieved that Kerry didn't get elected because the German gov't would have been willing to work with a NEW administration on Iraq and possibly send troops to help out.

But if Bush got re-elected the Germans could easily tell him (these are his words) to "go f*ck himself!"

[Minstrel Boy]

7. a similar sentiment in Canada, too

Kerry would have grey'd the picture, while perpetuating Bush's war. So things remain in stark black and white.

[daleo]

13. Here is hoping that Martin doesn't cave in

I am somewhat concerned.

[CHIMO]

26. Not In The Plans

Wonder if the plans have changed.

NATO to set up Baghdad police academy

NATO spokesman James Appathurai said the alliance would co-ordinate training of Iraqi officers outside the country, which Germany has said it will do in the United Arab Emirates.

Canadian officers have been and will continue to train Iraqis in Jordan as part of Ottawa's $300 million commitment toward the rebuilding of Iraq. However, Prime Minister Paul Martin said in New York on Wednesday there are no plans to send Canadian instructors to Iraq for training.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2004/09/22/639546-cp.html

Wonder if there will be more Carolyn Parrishs soon.

[arikara]

40. I think it would bring down his government

if he did cave. The NDP, the Bloq and some of his own party are against it.

[readmylips]

15. Isn't bush visiting Canada soon?...Looking for....

foot soldiers I guess. Minstrel Boy, lock up your young ones, the Trojan horse is going your way. Next bush will visit Mexico to get foot soldiers but we already have the Mexicans doing slave farm work so that America can eat.

[murray hill farm]

23. many Mexicans fighting and dying

in Iraq...inlisted with a promise of citizenship

[Arianrhod]

56. Service Guarantees Citizenship!

Starship Troopers

[Spazito]

27. It won't happen, trust me!

Even if Martin wanted to have troops in Iraq, he is in a minority govt position. If he were to even hint that he was considering sending troops there, he would be guaranteed an election loss within a year and he would probably be booted by his own party before even that could happen.

[LosinIt]

65. Yes, he is visting Canada 11/30 & guess who's going there too

Me. Since we aren't 'allowed' to protest here in this country, I'm taking a little trip north with my daughter and WE can have our say up there. I am so excited!

[Kellanved]

45. yes

I have heard that from top-level politicans. Of the record, of course.

Remember: we have a draft.

[ydya]

8. Why would they help the dickhead? He didnt even have enough sense

to throw a bunch of rebuilding contracts their way. They were morally opposed to this war in the first place. They have no financial stake. Indeed they risk being targets of terrorism in the future if they jump into Mess-o-potamia. They have absolutely no incentive to get involved.
But George "I'm not big on reading" Wastrel Bush feels that since he has been chosen by God, they will come to serve him, I guess.
Freaking moron.

[Spazito]

9. NATO is just re-enforcing Powell's statement to bush...

"you break it, you own it".

[sam sarrha]

11. W thought he could solve All his problems thru the back door..!!

[readmylips]

12. bush can very easily solve this problem....

All those fundamentalist kkkristian churches who voted him into power, bush can demand that all their young men and women go off to fight in Iraq, and Iran that's in the works. Simple. All the kkkristians's SUVs carry the I Support the Troops and I Pray for the Troops signs...put your dollar where your mouth is kkkristians.

Hell, Democrats don't let your children go off to fight little bush's insane kkkristian war

[Seabiscuit]

53. Plus...

Any pea-brain stupid enough to drive a Hummer should also be drafted and sent with their Detroit metal to Iraq to escort KKKristians around Fallujah, Mosul, Baghdad, etc. (without any body armor not available to our regular troops). Bet those "insurgents" would love to lob a pile of RPGs at those damned Hummers and their stupid owners.

[MissB]

14. "Frankly, a number of us

are just stupid neocons."

[tandot]

16. Well, Bush wanted to go it alone

Like a little boy who is throwing temper tantrums if he doesn't immediately gets his candy.

Our boys and girls will pay the horrible price for this unnecessary war.

There was absolutely NO reason to invade Iraq...no WMD, no nukes, no Al Qaeda link, no 9/11 link... N O T H I N G ... Most smart leaders recognized that.

I am sure that Kerry could have made a difference. It would have been a tough job to clean up the mess that this Administration created, though.


I am so sorry that all of us have to pay the price for the stupidity of 59 Million ignorant morons.

[nostalgicaboutmyfutr]

17. I hope every nation refuses

and i will write and suggest that they do not support the USA in any way that throws any type of legitimacy on the Bush administration....

[AJ BENDER]

19. Hey We Broke It.....

...now try to fix the mess....but we can't....cause WE'RE FUCKED !

Stupid Amerika...who will save you now ?

[lebkuchen]

20. The US ought to be asking the EU for flu vaccine instead

The EU has all it can handle. I just got my shot today at a German clinic for 42 euro.

The base hospital isn't providing flu shots even to retired veterans. I sure hope the soldiers are receiving it, otherwise, we'll have more troops dying in the desert "trenches" than have been killed by IEDs.

[spotbird]

21. So the other 20 countries are allowing participation?

Damn, that is incredible. Why is any of NATO helping with naked imperialism? Appeasement?

[Gayla]

22. Send Sleazy and Slutty

Let the Bush twins enlist..

[newyawker99]

29. Hi Gayla!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[maddezmom]

25. I think the wrinkle is over sending the NATO troops to Iraq

If they could train outside of Iraq, perhaps there would be more participation.

[LynnTheDem]

63. ALLOWING and PARTICIPATING are 2 very different things...

Like all the UN SC resolutions bush has forced thru the past 3 years on Iraq; the UN said hey sure, have your Resolution...

So bush got his Resolution for the world to send troops into Iraq...and no one did.

Same thing here; NATO is saying sure, we'll ok training Iraqi troops/cops...now let's see how many NATO countries actually send their own people to train anyone, though.

Just like I give you my permission to collect $100 from every DU member... good luck. ;)

[Frozen Hamster]

67. Well, I can only answer that for Iceland

The PM and the MoFA will apparently do anything for Bush. I can't frickin' understand them. They both represent parties with a lot more in common with the Democratic Party and still they lick Shrub's shoes whenever they can.
Last week three Icelandic Aid Workers were injured in an attack in Afghanistan, how long before some one gets killed for a war 90% of the Icelandic people are against?

[meganmonkey]

70. Iceland, wow! Welcome to DU!

:toast:

[Frozen Hamster]

71. Thanks n/t

[steely]

24. Is shrub niaive or just plain effin stupid....

to think they'd actually help him?? What has the dork done to work with anyone? Where's the plan?

[barb162]

28. effin stupid n/t

[William Seger]

30. ...hoping to forge consensus on postwar peacemaking!?!

:wtf: "Frankly, a number of us have been surprised by this," said the clueless State Department official through his navel.

[Old and In the Way]

31. Oh, oh.......looks like NATO is in danger of becoming irrelevant just

like the UN.

Bush diplomacy at work.....

[Malva Zebrina]

32. This is typical Bush

stomp all over anybody to get what you want, then when they don't want to play with you, become angry and arrogant.

It is the spoiled brat syndrome. He will try bullying them in another way, or "punish" them out of revenge.,in some way.

[DireStrike]

34. There's no surprise. This is "news" to help keep Americans blinded.

"Hey bob, go tell them that we're surprised."
"WTF?! How can I do that with a straight face?"
"I dunno man, just do it. That's what we pay you for."

[TexasChick]

41. LOL! Dude, that was funny! n/t

[Tight_rope]

35. Good for NATO...let the Chimp clean up his own shit!

[Mountainman]

37. Hey Bush, take your damned war and shove it up your ......................

[AlCzervik]

38. Surprised?? Bushco is blinded by ignorance.

[Chicago Democrat]

39. We are being Shunned...

And this will continue....

Until Bush goes...

IMPEACH BUSH!

[alexisfree]

42. bush is still living in a fantasy world

[bvar22]

43. Germany, France, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg and Greece

All of these countries have seen Fascism and Wars of Conquest up close in recent history.
They don't want any part of the NoeCons; they can recognize this monster for what it is!

[teryang]

47. As if they don't recognize what he's up to

Not only is fascism is associated with brutal conquest but also with colonialism. The European powers are only too familiar with the association between and among unconstrained colonial competition based upon Malthusian economics and social darwinism, totalitarianism, and the outbreak of world wars.

See, Hannah Arendt's The Origins of Totalitarianism.

[Tatiana]

49. Good point. n/t

[donheld]

44. I'm very proud of these countries

We broke it, we can't now be expecting everyone else to help us out.

[Nicholas_J]

46. Europe is not going to be involved

In the attempts to elect a puppet government in Iraq.

They are aware of the large number of groups that are boyvcotting the election, plus the current bout of arresting religious leaders who speak out against the elections and the American Occupation by the Iraqi interim government.

They simply will not particupate in any effort to put in an American controlled government.

[cliss]

48. This just goes to show you that they're out of their F****** minds.

How long has this Soap Opera been going on? Ever since the war started, even BEFORE the war started there's been resistance to this little adventure.

How many times do these beleaguered countries have to say NO before they get the message? It just absolutely blows me away. These people are truly brain-damaged in some way to not GET THE MESSAGE.

We're now the Persona Non Grata around the world. The Pariah, the Hated Ogre.

When are they going to get it?

[NinetySix]

50. Germany: No thanks, we've already tried fascist imperialism.

Didn't work for us then, so you gotta figure....

[NYC]

52. Are they saying we've reached the "postwar" phase?

When did the war end? Was it "Mission Accomplished" day?

[blackhorse]

54. This is payback

... for the ill-advised statements our administration made about 'old Europe' prior to the invasion of Iraq.

One particularly wide cultural gap between Europe and the U.S. seems to be the use of insults. In the U.S., it seems we have grown so accustomed to their use that we do not give them much heed anymore.

Europe is very traditional in this respect. Insults aren't issued on a whim, and while the person (or state) receiving them might not show much reaction, one may rest assured the insult will never be forgotten. The statements made prior to the invasion will be an issue for a long time to come.

Burning bridges simply isn't an efficient way to go about business. But then, I'm not sure the administration cares. They seem destructionist in many ways.

BH

[daleo]

57. Interesting observation

But Bush doesn't do nuance like this. A pity an adult wasn't in charge.

[Barkley]

55. Good Old Europe!

Kofi Annan has said the invasion of Iraq is illegal.

[Gloria]

58. Good! I'm happy as a clam!

Old Europe is the last firewall to total insanity....

[GingerSnaps]

59. I know how they could help end this war (Read This)

When Bush goes to Canada they should arrest him for War Crimes.

[bluedonkey]

60. I second that motion!

.
.
.
Psst! can I have that kitty in the sock?Please,pretty please!

[GingerSnaps]

61. Isn't he cute

Sometimes the breeder sells kittens on yahoo. He's a red tabby Persian with cream markings and he is very intelligent. Thanks :hug:

[Frozen Hamster]

68. I third that motion

Can we also turn in our government. They supported the invasion,and are giving money to Shrub to fakk Iraq up some more

[GingerSnaps]

69. We should clean the entire place out and start over

:shrug:

[LynnTheDem]

62. Why should the world support bushCartel's ILLEGAL INVASION?

Ignored & mocked the world, unilaterally invaded; you broke it, America, YOU OWN IT.

Stupid MFers.

[purduejake]

64. Regretfully we DID break it...

and our blood will be spilled for it for the next 5, 10, however meany years. Iraq is just the beginning.

[moondust]

66. It's still your war, George.

Now get out there and fight it and leave those smarter countries alone!

(If you need a helmet, George, we'll try to find you one.)

[struggle4progress]

72. kick

:kick: