U.S. Commander Casts Doubt on Spain Plan

[Khephra]

TIKRIT, Iraq -- The top U.S. commander in Iraq cast doubt Tuesday on whether Spain would withdraw its troops from Iraq, but added that if they do, the loss would not be "a significant military problem" for the U.S.-led coalition.

Spain's incoming prime minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, said Monday that he will pull his nation's 1,300 troops out of Iraq by June 30 unless the United Nations takes control.

However, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, the U.S. commander in Iraq, said the decision "is still evolving."

"Whether the Spanish decision is going to be staying in this country or not, we will have to wait a few days," he said without elaborating.

more............

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-iraq-spain,0,4625938.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[xchrom]

1. they must be telling zapatero

there are other ''accidents'', ''tragedy's'', that can happen.
maybe they're showing him pictures of dead priests and nun's from certain central and south american countries?

[sweettater]

2. the loss would not be "a significant military problem"

What an arrogant thing to say! I'm sure this will go over well in Spain. Expect the troops home before June 30.

[Art_from_Ark]

4. Arrogant is right!

Every day that goes by with this bunch merely confirms the writings of the late great Senator Fulbright about arrogance and power.

[oneighty]

7. Bushies and their ilk

pressure by any means possible the leaders of Spain into support for invading Iraq and providing a token few warriors to the bloody battlefields of Iraq thereby causing great unrest in their very own homeland,(Spain) and subsequently leading to domestic unrest therein, followed by a murderous series of terrorist bombings and then calmly declare their brave support useless.

Exception: On the positive side the Bushies put a socialist government into power in Spain! Hey might that be good results?

Cool!

180

[tabasco]

6. Yep, no problem at all.

We just activate a couple more NG units and problem solved. Americans make better targets, anyway. The general is really speaking the truth, however. Aside from the British contingent, the "coalition" is really just US forces. The small number of Spanish, Polish, and Japanese troops are just there to let Bush and Rummy claim a coalition and earn their country's bribe money.

[Jacobin]

8. It just shows the "coalition" is simply a fig leaf and that

the only real marauding raiders of Iraq are Britain and the U.S.

[54anickel]

11. Well then, I guess they never REALLY needed them to begin with. It

was nothing but a political move to prove to France, Germany and the UN that other nations believed this maladmin's "dribble" and backed it.
That will go over well in Spain. :eyes:

[Florida_Geek]

3. Oh will be the US military FORCE Spain's Troops to

stay against their country's wishes.

[tlcandie]

9. I'm wondering about this too ....

If there is some little jot or tittle that the new President of Spain doesn't know about that will not let them off the hook w/o major something or another :/

You can bet this cabal covered its ass when they brought the unwilling into the fold!

Another question: Will Spanish troops in Iraq be left to fend for themselves and be fragged or whatever by other troops there who RESENT them? Or will the other military personnel tell those under them to punish them for wanting to withdraw?

[markses]

5. LOL!

Well, there you have it. The most passive-aggressive statement yet on this issue. Sanchez is getting petulant.

He also just provided ammunition to anyone who would say that pulling the Spanish troops is bad because it endangers the other coalition forces and the Iraqi people. Feh!, says General Sanchez: "No Spaniards? No biggie!" Good. Then their departure should be implemented ASAP. Oh, and FU, General Sanchez!

[damnraddem]

10. And how would a U.S. commander in Iraq know ...

what a government in Madrid might do? And doesn't it usually fall to diplomats to discuss what governments might do?