Bulgaria to withdraw troops from Iraq/establish US military bases

[cal04]

Bulgaria will withdraw its 334-strong light infantry battalion from Iraq by the end of the year and after Iraqi parliamentary elections on December 15, Defence Minister Veselin Bliznakov said. With the decision, the poor Balkan state is speeding up a pull-out originally expected to take several months. At Washington's request, Bulgaria's Socialist-led Government delayed a plan to withdraw soon after winning June elections, but Mr Bliznakov said troops would be home before the New Year.

"The fifth contingent of Bulgaria troops will come back by the end of this year at the latest. We expect the last group of troops to come back by December 31," he told journalists on returning from a visit to the United States. He said the cabinet was still discussing ways to contribute to the US-led military effort in Iraq and was mulling sending around 120 guards a camp for Iranian refugees in Ashraf. "The Government will decide on that probably by the end of this year," Mr Bliznakov said, adding that if sent, their tour would be "no less than four months".

Eager to thank Washington for supporting its 2004 NATO membership, Bulgaria has staunchly supported the US-led operations in Iraq. But it has lost 13 soldiers and six civilians in the violence there and some two-thirds of its 7.8 million people disagree with the war. Mr Bliznakov also said he hoped to reach a deal by March for the establishment of two military bases to be used by US troops on Bulgarian territory, similar to one sealed by its northern neighbour Romania earlier this week. "We have agreed on around two-thirds of the questions concerning US military bases in Bulgaria," he said. "The good news is that we are moving towards a consensus and the interests of both Bulgaria and the United States will be defended."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200512/s1528210.htm

[Erika]

1. Bulgaria lost 13 soldiers

and we'll give them a few bases?

Our infrastructure is crumbling but we're rebuilding an Iraqi infrastructure. Why?

We've lost 2,031 men and women and our country is being drained by our tax $ going to Iraq.

[cliss]

2. Will Bulgaria get some oil anyway?

I think that was the "carrot" that was dangled in front of skeptical countries in the lead-up to war.

Italy was promised "billions" of oil revenue. The Polish premier acknowledged that they were only there for "lucrative oil contracts" which they had been promised.

Stupid Bush advisors. Promising heaven and earth, and then they can't deliver.

[Erika]

3. Bulgaria getting a few U.S. bases

will do wonders for their economy. W will continue to siphon off our tax $ to fund his global economy. Our standard of living will decrease while theirs rises.