U.S. changes tack with Iraq coalition

[True_Blue]

WASHINGTON - The United States is backing away from efforts to pressure European allies to join or remain in the American-led military force in Iraq and is instead working to coax those countries into participating in other initiatives in the region, according to senior Bush administration and European officials.

The shift comes after 15 countries, including Spain, Poland and Hungary, have either scaled back their already relatively small force levels in Iraq, announced pullouts or withdrawn their troops altogether during the past year, despite the growing strength of the insurgency.

Last month, the Netherlands became the latest coalition member to signal its departure when Dutch Defense Minister Henk Kamp reaffirmed that the 1,350 Dutch troops in Iraq would leave by the end of March.

Although U.S. forces account for the overwhelming majority of foreign troops in Iraq, 28 other nations are contributing to the force, most with fewer than 500 troops.

more....
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/news/10569787.htm?1c

[BadGimp]

1. the long predicted Iraq unraveling..

right on schedule

[VegasWolf]

2. If they can't fight, awol wants them to stay and pick up the dead

civilian bodies from american bombs.