E-Z-B
CAGiversary!
...and the Dutch and Ukraine, too.
BBC News - Tuesday, 15 March, 2005, 22:52 GMT -
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.
'Progressive reduction'
Mr Berlusconi has been one of US President George W Bush's staunchest allies in the US-led war in Iraq. 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.
He said the exact numbers would depend on the Iraqi government's ability to deal with security.
Strained relations
In Washington, White House spokesman Scott McClellan played down the announcement.
"We certainly appreciate the contributions of the Italians. They have served and sacrificed alongside Iraqis and alongside other coalition forces," he said.
There was a huge outpouring of grief at Mr Calipari's death
He emphasised that Italy's withdrawal "will be based on the ability and capability of Iraqi forces and the Iraqi government to be able to assume more responsibility".
But he rejected suggestions that Italy's decision was due to strained relations after secret service agent Nicola Calipari was shot dead by US troops in Baghdad on 4 March.
"I haven't heard any comment to that effect from Italian officials," he was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.
Mr Berlusconi has said the US must accept responsibility for the shooting, which is being investigated by the US military.
The BBC's Tamsin Smith in Rome says it is the first time Mr Berlusconi has suggested a timetable for withdrawal.
Our correspondent says the Italian government is also mindful of local elections looming early next month.
Also on Tuesday, two other members of the US-led coalition in Iraq - the Netherlands and Ukraine - began a phased withdrawal from the country.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4352259.stm
http://www.reuters.com/printerFriendlyPopup.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7909790
Looks like Bush is "uniting the entire world" ............. against us.
Thank God we still have Micronesia, Tonga, and Palau.
Time to retaliate against all things Italian -- spaghetti shall now be called
"freedom noodles with tomato sauce," lasagna is now to be known as "freedom flat-noodle casserole," and pizza is now "freedom pie."
Oh, and "don't forget about Poland!" They're reducing their troops by half. Things must be going reeeeeally good in Iraq:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1525997,00.html
STAYING: US 150,000 (military personnel); Britain 8,850; South Korea 3,600; Italy 3,000; Australia 900 (up to 1,350 by April); Romania 800, up to 900; Japan 600; Denmark 500; Bulgaria 380; El Salvador 380; Georgia 300, up to 800; Mongolia 180; Azerbaijan 150; Latvia 120; Lithuania 100; Slovakia 100; Czech Republic 90; Albania 70; Estonia 50; Tonga 40; Kazakhstan 30; Macedonia 30; Moldova 25
GOING: Netherlands 1,500; Ukraine (1,650 leaving by October); Poland 1,700 (reducing by half)
GONE: Spain 1,300; Thailand 460; Hungary 300; Honduras 370; Dominican Republic 300; Nicaragua 115; Portugal 127; New Zealand 60; Philippines 50; Norway 10
BBC News - Tuesday, 15 March, 2005, 22:52 GMT -
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.
'Progressive reduction'
Mr Berlusconi has been one of US President George W Bush's staunchest allies in the US-led war in Iraq. 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.
He said the exact numbers would depend on the Iraqi government's ability to deal with security.
Strained relations
In Washington, White House spokesman Scott McClellan played down the announcement.
"We certainly appreciate the contributions of the Italians. They have served and sacrificed alongside Iraqis and alongside other coalition forces," he said.
There was a huge outpouring of grief at Mr Calipari's death
He emphasised that Italy's withdrawal "will be based on the ability and capability of Iraqi forces and the Iraqi government to be able to assume more responsibility".
But he rejected suggestions that Italy's decision was due to strained relations after secret service agent Nicola Calipari was shot dead by US troops in Baghdad on 4 March.
"I haven't heard any comment to that effect from Italian officials," he was quoted by AFP news agency as saying.
Mr Berlusconi has said the US must accept responsibility for the shooting, which is being investigated by the US military.
The BBC's Tamsin Smith in Rome says it is the first time Mr Berlusconi has suggested a timetable for withdrawal.
Our correspondent says the Italian government is also mindful of local elections looming early next month.
Also on Tuesday, two other members of the US-led coalition in Iraq - the Netherlands and Ukraine - began a phased withdrawal from the country.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4352259.stm
http://www.reuters.com/printerFriendlyPopup.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=7909790
Looks like Bush is "uniting the entire world" ............. against us.
Thank God we still have Micronesia, Tonga, and Palau.
Time to retaliate against all things Italian -- spaghetti shall now be called
"freedom noodles with tomato sauce," lasagna is now to be known as "freedom flat-noodle casserole," and pizza is now "freedom pie."
Oh, and "don't forget about Poland!" They're reducing their troops by half. Things must be going reeeeeally good in Iraq:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-1525997,00.html
STAYING: US 150,000 (military personnel); Britain 8,850; South Korea 3,600; Italy 3,000; Australia 900 (up to 1,350 by April); Romania 800, up to 900; Japan 600; Denmark 500; Bulgaria 380; El Salvador 380; Georgia 300, up to 800; Mongolia 180; Azerbaijan 150; Latvia 120; Lithuania 100; Slovakia 100; Czech Republic 90; Albania 70; Estonia 50; Tonga 40; Kazakhstan 30; Macedonia 30; Moldova 25
GOING: Netherlands 1,500; Ukraine (1,650 leaving by October); Poland 1,700 (reducing by half)
GONE: Spain 1,300; Thailand 460; Hungary 300; Honduras 370; Dominican Republic 300; Nicaragua 115; Portugal 127; New Zealand 60; Philippines 50; Norway 10
