The "Mother of all Coalitions" Two Years Later

[LoungeMachine]

Non-US Forces in Iraq - 2 March 2005
The size and capabilities of the Coalition forces involved in operations in Iraq has been a subject of much debate, confusion, and at times exageration. As of February 25, 2004, with the deployment of 46 troops from the Republic of Armenia, and the pullout of Portugal, there were 27 non-U.S. military forces participating in the coalition and contributing to the ongoing stability operations throughout Iraq. These countries were Albania, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Georgia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, United Kingdom, Ukraine, and the Kingdom of Tonga. As of October 15, 2004, the MNF-I website incorrectly included Honduras in the list; that country's troops returned in late May. It also incorrectly list the Dominican Republic; its troops left in early-May. The MNF-I listing also omits the Kingdom of Tonga who deployed 45 Royal Marines in early July to Iraq.

Hungary completely pulled its troops out of Iraq by December 22. Portugal withdrew its contingent of policemen after hvaing been in Iraq for 15 months. Fiji deployed 150 troops to Iraq, but they are there under UN banner (UNAMI) and are therefore not be counted in the coalition. Singapore deployed a shipt to the Persian Gulf on Nov. 27, but since the country does not actually contribute troops on the ground in Iraq, it is not being included in the coalition count. Armenia deployed 46 troops to Iraq in mid-January 2005.

Countries which had troops in or supported operations in Iraq at one point but have pulled out since: Nicaragua (Feb. 2004); Spain (late-Apr. 2004); Dominican Republic (early-May 2004); Honduras (late-May 2004); Philippines (~Jul. 19, 2004); Thailand (late-Aug. 2004); New Zealand (late Sep. 04); Hungary (end Dec. 04); Portugal (mid-Feb. 2005).

Countries planning to withdraw from Iraq: Poland (starting Jan.05 and completed by end.05(?)); the Netherlands (Mar. 05); Bulgaria (end of 2005, depending on circumstances); Ukraine (entire contingent, in stages until mid-October 2005).

Countries which have reduced or are planning to reduce their troop commitment: Ukraine (-200); Moldova (reduced contingent to 12); Norway (reduced from ~150 to 10 late-Jun.04, early Jul.04); Bulgaria (-50, Dec.04); Poland (-700, Feb.05).

Countries planning or rumored to be planning to increase troop contingent to Iraq: Georgia (+550(unknown number for security for UN)); Romania (rumor, 100+ in support of UNAMI); Albania (+130); Thailand (200(?)).

Countries supporting UNAMI: Fiji (150+); Georgia

Countries with other contribution, but no troops in Iraq: Singapore (LST ship with 180-person crew in Persian Gulf).

Countries refusing to send troops because of security situation: Pakistan.

Recent developments
BBC News reported on Mar. 2, that Ukraine had outlined the timetable fo the withdrawal of its 1,650 or so troops in Iraq. They are to depart the country in three stages set between mid-March and October 2005. During the first phase, 150 troops would leave. They would be later followed by an additional 590 troops. The remaining Ukrainian soldiers are to leave Iraq by mid-October.
A contingent of 558 troops, as well as 40 liaison officers, from Georgia deployed on Mar. 02 for Iraq, via Kuwaitm where they will stay for two weeks. The troops are assigned to the Shavnabada Battalion. As a result, Georgia will have 898 troops in Iraq.
On Feb. 22, Australia announced that it would deploy an additional 450 troops to Iraq and would leave for Iraq within 10 weeks for an indefinite amount of time. The units are to be reportedly drawn from the 2nd Calvary Regiment and 5/7 RAR of the Darwin-based 1st Brigade and would include a Infantry company, a cavalry squadron and 40 or so LAVs. The unit would deploy for six-months to the Muthanna area. In addition, the deployment is expected to cost AU$300 million a year
Xinhua reported on Feb. 21, that Denmark had rotated its contingent of troops in Iraq that weekend at Camp Danevang, inside the British Shaiba Log Base; its fifth contingent to be rotated in.
A Feb. 17 MNF-I release reported that the fourth rotation of troops from El Salvador had taken place the day prior. AFP Reported on Feb. 10, that the unit was with the 4th Cuscatlan Battalion.
BBC Monitoring reported on Feb. 17, that the Romania was deploying troops for its IV Engineer detachment to Iraq.
The Italian Parliament voted on Feb. 16, to extend the deployment of its contingent to Iraq through June.
According to a BBC Monitoring report from Feb. 14, the 2nd Infantry Battalion from Romania had relaced the 812th Infantry Battalion at camp Mittica at Tallil Air Base. On Feb. 9, it reported that the new unit was the 2nd Calugareni Battalion.
AFP reported that Portugal would have withdrawn its troops from Iraq by Feb. 12. They left Iraq on Feb. 10, two days ahead of schedule

Countries Supporting Ops in Iraq

Country
In Iraq In Theater Total Future
1 United Kingdom ~8,761
(includes 400 sent in Jan.05) 3,500 ~12,400 15,000 ~10,500 (?)
2 South Korea 3,600 3,600
3 Italy 3,085 84 3,169
4 Poland 1,700 1,700 [0 by end of 2005?]
5 Ukraine 1,589-1,650 1,589-1,650 0 [By mid-October 2005]
6 Netherlands 1,345 1,345 0 [End Mar.05]
7 Romania 730 730
8 Japan ~550 ~200 ~750
9 Denmark 496 496
10 Bulgaria ~485 ~485 462
11 El Salvador 380 380
12 Australia ~400 ~520 ~920 ~1,400 (+450)
13 Georgia 300 898(598 in Kuwait
before going to Baghdad) 898(Some in support of UNAMI)
14 Mongolia 180 180
15 Azerbaijan 151 151
16 Latvia 122 122
17 Czech Republic ~110 ~110 10
18 Lithuania ~120 ~120 0(?)
19 Slovakia 105 105
20 Albania 71 71 200
21 Estonia 55 55
22 Armenia 46 46
23 Tonga ~45 ~45
24 Macedonia 33 33
25 Kazakhstan 29 29
26 Moldova 12 12
27 Norway 10 10 0
Singapore** 0 0 180 0
Thailand 0 0 0
Spain 0 0 0
Honduras 0 0 0
Dominican Republic 0 0 0
Nicaragua 0 0 0
Philippines 0 0 0
New Zealand 0 0 0
Portugal 0 0 0
Hungary *** 0 0 150 mid-2005
UNAMI Fiji * 150 150
TOTAL ~23,900 ~28,500
* Fiji's troop contingent is deployed as part of UN Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI)
** Singapore's token contribution is a landing ship tank deployed to the Persian Gulf.
** As part of NATO Training Force




US CENTCOM - Coalition Ground Forces
Division Brigade Battalion Personnel Equipment
TOTAL ~ 26,300
Royal Marines [Tonga] ~45
Commando battalion [Georgia] 300
Cuzcatlan Battalion [El Savadoran] 360
Peacekeeping Operations BN [Mongolia] ~ 180
1100th Const. & Eng. Spt. Group [ROK] ~ ???
U/I Military Police Unit [Czech] ~ 80
U/I Chemical Warfare Co [Slovakia] ~ 105
Contingent, Ranger Bn, SOF Unit [Macedonia] 33
U/I SOF Unit (w/ 101 ABN) [Albania] ~ 70
U/I Unit [Latvia] ~ 121
U/I Brigade [South Korea] ~ 2,800
U/I Unit [Thailand] ~ 460
Joint Task Force [Australia]
elements, Japanese Self Defense Force ~ 75
elements, Danish [DANCON/IRAK] ~ 496
U/I Support Unit ~ 61
Danish BN [w/Lithuanian soldiers] 446
Multi-National Division (South-East)
1st Battalion of the Black Watch Regiment 600
1st Battalion of the Royal Highland Fusiliers 400
Royal Engineers 170
3 UK Armoured Division ~ 11,000
elements, 14 Signal RGT
elements, 16 Signal RGT
elements, 30 Signal RGT
42 Engineer Regiment (Geographic)
U/I Engineers
20 Armoured BDE
Queen's Royal Hussars Challenger 2
1st BN, The Light Infantry ? - Warrior
1st BN, The Royal REGT of Wales ? - Warrior
2nd BN, The Parachute REGT
1st BN, The Royal Scots
1st BN, The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
26 REGT Royal Artillery
35 Engineer REGT
elements, 9th/12th Royal Lancers CVR(T)
Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia)
TF Rake (w/ 35 ENG) [New Zealand]
4 General Support REGT, RLC
22 Field Hospital
elements, 33 Engineer REGT (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)
17 Port & Maritime REGT
10 Transport REGT, RLC
Element, 11 EOD RGT RLC
1 REGT, Royal Military Police
23 Pioneer REGT, RLC
24 REGT, RLC
5 General Support Medical REGT, RAMC
Friuli BDE [Italy] ~ 3,000
U/I NBC Co, 7th NBC BN [Italy]
U/I Co, 1st Lagunari Amphib Infantry BN [Italy]
Elements, 9th "Col Moschin" Special Forces BN [Italy]
265th Military Police Bn [Romania] 100
U/I Military Police Co [Portugal]
U/I Co, 7th Signal BN [Italy]
18th Mech Infantry BN [Italy]
U/I Sq, 19th Armored Cavalry BN [Italy]
21st Combat Engineer BN [Italy]
6th Transport BN[Italy]
2nd Calugareni Infantry Bn[Romania]
U/I BN, 2nd Carabinieri BDE [Italy] ~ 400
IV Engineer detachment [Romania]
Netherlands SFIR-3 Contingent ~ 1,500
42nd Mechanised Battalion(Composite) Patria XA-180 APCs
Det. 298 Sqn (RNLAF) 3-4 CH-47D
Det.300/301 Sqn (RNLAF) 6 NAH-64D
Det. 11/14 FA Bty 3 AN/TPQ-32
Logistics (POD) Det.
Royal Constabulary Dets.
Multi-National Division (Central South)
11th Lubusz Armoured Division [Poland] ~ 1,700
1st Pomeranian Logistics Brigade [Poland] 200
3rd Infantry Bn, 61st Stryam Mech Bde[Bulgaria] ~ 485
U/I Hungarian Elements
elements, Grand Duchess Birute Motorised Infantry BN [Lithuania] ~ 45
CIMIC BN [Philippines]
4th Cuscatlan Bn [El Salvador] 380
7th Detached Mechanized Infantry BDE [Ukraine] ~ 1,400 60 - BTR-80(?)
11 - BRDM-2(?)
72nd Detached Mechanized BN BTR-80
U/I Separate Mechanized BN BTR-80
U/I Separate Mechanized BN BRDMs




UNAMI - UN Assistance Mission in Iraq
Division Brigade Battalion Personnel
Shavnabada BN, the 3rd BN of the 11th Brigade [Georgia] 500
U/I Unit [Fiji] 150






http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_orbat_coalition.htm
Maintained by John Pike
Last Modified: March 02, 2005 - 17:30
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[LoungeMachine]

ROME (March 15) - Italy's prime minister announced plans Tuesday to start drawing down his country's 3,000-strong contingent in Iraq in September, putting a fresh crack in President Bush's crumbling coalition. Bulgaria also called for a partial withdrawal, and Ukraine welcomed home its first wave of returning troops.

The moves come on top of the withdrawal of more than a dozen countries over the last year and could complicate efforts to keep the peace while Iraq's new government builds up police and military units capable of taking over from foreign forces.

Two years after the U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein, the coalition is unraveling amid mounting casualties and kidnappings that have stoked anti-war sentiment and sapped leaders' resolve to keep troops in harm's way.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, who confirmed he would seek re-election next year, alluded to the rising public discontent and said he had spoken with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, another strong Washington ally. "We need to construct a precise exit strategy, also because our publics' opinions expect this communication and we agree to talk about it soon.''

"Starting with the month of September, we would like to proceed with a gradual reduction of our soldiers,'' Berlusconi said on a state TV talk show that lasted into early Wednesday. He added that the withdrawal would be tied to the Iraqis' ability to secure the country.

As of now, the reduction in the Italian contingent will start "even before the year's end, in agreement with our allies,'' Berlusconi added.

Italy's government, a staunch U.S. ally, had vowed to stay despite suffering 21 casualties and enduring fierce public opposition that escalated this month after U.S. soldiers in Baghdad fatally shot an Italian intelligence agent escorting a newly freed hostage.


By the Numbers


3,000
Italian troops in Iraq


22,750
Non-American foreign troops in Iraq


150,000
Approximate number of U.S. troops in Iraq


38
Countries that have had troops in Iraq during this war


24
Countries with troops there now

Source: AP



Asked whether the shooting played a role in Berlusconi's decision, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said, "I'm not sure I'd make a connection there ... I haven't heard any comment to that effect from Italian officials.''

The Italian opposition criticized Berlusconi for making the announcement on a talk show instead of before lawmakers, who were debating whether to extend financing for the deployment through June. That extension was approved by the lower house of Parliament. The Senate already voted to extend the mission last month.

Thirty-eight countries have provided troops in Iraq at one point or another. But 14 nations have permanently withdrawn since the March 2003 invasion, and today's coalition stands at 24. Excluding U.S. forces, there are 22,750 foreign soldiers still in Iraq.

The scramble to get out has taken the multinational force from a high of about 300,000 soldiers in the region early in 2003 to 172,750 and falling. About 150,000 U.S. troops shoulder the bulk of the responsibility and suffer the most casualties.

A Pentagon spokesman, Lt. Col. Barry Venable, said the decisions by some nations to reduce or end their presence in Iraq was not a threat to security. "The coalition is strong,'' he said.

Venable said the reductions are part of the natural process of turning security over to Iraq's government. "The plan is to have the Iraqis fill in everywhere,'' he said.

The United States also is drawing down its troop levels. After bolstering the U.S. force to about 155,000 during Iraq's recent elections, the Pentagon is bringing some units home and expects to be down to 138,000 soldiers in a few months.

Some 137 Ukrainian servicemen returned home Tuesday, part of a gradual pullout of a 1,650-strong contingent to be completed in October. Ukraine has lost 18 soldiers in Iraq, and its people overwhelmingly oppose the deployment.

The Netherlands formally ended its mission March 7, and the bulk of its 1,400 troops return home this month despite urging from the U.S. and British governments to extend the mission.

Poland, which has command responsibility for a large swath of central Iraq, plans to withdraw several hundred of its 1,700 soldiers in July and hopes to pull out completely by year's end or early in 2006.

Among the nations that withdrew last year were Spain, which pulled out 1,300 soldiers; Tonga, 44; New Zealand, 60; Thailand, 423; the Philippines, 51; Honduras, 370; the Dominican Republic, 302; Nicaragua, 115; and Hungary, 300. Norway withdrew 150 troops but left 16 liaison officers, and Singapore withdrew 160, but later provided a landing ship tank and crew.

Last month, Portugal withdrew its 127 soldiers, and Moldova pulled out its 12.

The Associated Press tally is based on queries to military officials in the various coalition nations. The trend isn't closely tracked on Web sites maintained by the Defense Department or the U.S. Central Command, which offer dated information.

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said on Wednesday that Italy's possible scale-down would have no effect on Tokyo's deployment of 550 troops.

Ferocious insurgent attacks, coalition casualties and a spate of civilian abductions and beheadings have rattled citizens in many countries.

"If we continue to keep our troops in Iraq, Koreans - not only here but also abroad - will be subject to terrorist attacks. It only puts our security in danger,'' said Ryu Jae-yoon, a 22-year-old office worker in Seoul.

Anti-war sentiment boiled over there last June when a South Korean military contract worker was beheaded by militants after the Seoul government refused a demand to withdraw its forces.

In Bulgaria, which has 460 troops in Iraq, the deaths of eight soldiers have heightened public calls to bring them home. On Tuesday, President Georgi Parvanov urged a partial withdrawal, a proposal that parliament must now decide.

America's top two allies in Iraq - Britain, with about 8,000 soldiers, and South Korea with 3,600 - are standing firm. Australia, Albania and Georgia are boosting their presence, and NATO is expanding its training mission in Baghdad.

Yet surveys suggest opposition is running at roughly two-thirds in most coalition countries.

In Albania, a staunch U.S. ally that plans to enlarge its 71-member contingent to 121 in April, there are fears the troops could end up paying with their lives.

"Our men should be back, alive, as soon as possible,'' said Qerime Haxhia, a 54-year-old woman selling vegetables in downtown Tirana. "Can our small group help big America's army keep Iraq calm? I doubt that.''

----------------

Associated Press writers Bo-Mi Lim in Seoul, South Korea; Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, Bulgaria; and Llazar Semini in Tirana, Albania; and researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this story.


03/15/05 23:42 EST

[FORD]

The "Coalition of the Shilling" is officially over.

Can't blame the Italians though. After the attempted hit on their journalist last week (and successful murder of a secret service agent) they finally realized what they signed onto.

They went down this road with Adolf and Mussolini. Why would they want to go back?

[Nitro Express]

Fuck Ford. There's a huge difference between the United States and Nazi Germany. So you don't like Bush. I'm a conservative and I voted for Ralph Nader because I could not vote Bush. We probably would agree on much of the corruption going on but dude, be careful how you spout off. It makes you look like you hate your own country.

If you really want to know what Nazi Germany was like talk to my uncle. He lived in Nazi Germany and served on the Russian front.