Costa Rica Wants to Be Off Coalition List

[UpInArms]

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/fortwayne/news/local/9620247.htm

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica - Costa Rica's Constitutional Court has ruled that the country's name cannot be included by the United States as part of a "coalition" in the Iraq conflict, and Costa Rican officials are demanding their country be stricken from the list.

Costa Rica apparently never formally joined the U.S.-led coalition, but its name was listed on a White House Web page of coalition members, sparking outrage in a country where the Iraq war is enormously unpopular.

Following Wednesday's ruling, Costa Rica - which never sent any troops to Iraq, in part because it has no army - is making it clear it does not want to be listed as a member of the coalition.

A White House Web site still had the country listed on Thursday. The U.S. Embassy said it was still reviewing the court's action and had no immediate comment.

Foreign Minister Roberto Tovar said his government planned to send a letter to the U.S. government later Thursday asking that Costa Rica be removed from the so-called "coalition of the willing."

...more...

[AspenRose]

1. Ha ha ha ha ha

Coalition of the SANE...way to go Costa Rica

[Jacobin]

2. Gee, I wonder how many other countries don't know they

are part of this fictitious "coalition" but are listed as "partners"

:shrug:

[arcos]

19. well, Costa Rica was included because the President supported the war...

but almost everyone else was opposed to it... in fact, the ruling by the Constitutional Court came after several lawsuits, one by a citizen, and another one by the Ombudsman.

[colonel odis]

21. sort of like the people listed as part of the swift boat vets bunch

but didn't know their names were being used.

is this a pattern?

[struggle4progress]

28. Here's another one from last year:

Coalition of the Willing? Not us, say Solomon islanders

27.03.2003
By ALAN PERROTT

Sorry, President Bush, but if you are counting on the Solomon Islands National Reconnaissance and Surveillance Force to watch your back in Iraq, you're out of luck.

Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza yesterday said "thanks but no thanks" after hearing his nation had been shanghaied into the US-led Coalition of the Willing.

"The Government is completely unaware of such statements being made, therefore wishes to disassociate itself from the report," said Sir Allan. <snip>

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3300727&thesection=news&thesubsection=world

[Ready4Change]

Is there a list of coalation nations somewhere?

Especially one that lists all nations that have been in the colation, as well as listing when they joined, and if they left, when that was? Thanks in advance.

[AspenRose]

4. Randi talked about it on her show this week

You MIGHT find the list at her website (not the AAR one)
www.therandirhodesshow.com

[arcos]

20. The "official" list is here:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030321-4.html

It doesn't include those who have left, though...

[Ready4Change]

26. Thanks, I did some googling around.

White House claimed 49 nations at the start, allthough most other counts put that at 45. (Some nations apparently said "go ahead, attack, just don't bother me" or some such. :) )

Of those, some 35 contributed troops. Currently, about 5 have withdrawn troops, leaving 30 in Iraq. And many are in non-combat positions, restricted to their headquarters, etc...

Another 10-15 are either planning to withdraw their troops, or are facing elections wherein Iraq is a big issue and may result in withdrawals.

A lot of this comes from Wikipedia, allthough you have to dig quite a ways in to get better detailed info.

[Journeyman]

3. What does it mean. . .

"the U.S. Embassy (is) reviewing the court's action"? They don't want to be on the list. Take 'em off the list. What is there to "review"?

[bobbyboucher]

5. No shit, if there's any investigation

it should be how their goddamn name got on the list in the first place.

As usual, I am stunned by the arrogance.

[arcos]

22. It got on the list because the government supported the war...

the US didn't act unilaterally, the war was supported by the President and that's why it was included.

[arcos]

23. dupe

[The_Casual_Observer]

6. Our "coalition " partner knows something

We don't.

[GOPFighter]

7. Kerry has GOT to mention this

Perfect way to slam Bush's idea of how "international coalitions" are put together: make a list of small countries with no armies, and list them without their permission! Is this the kind of leadership America wants??

[Barrett808]

8. This link is dead for me n/t

[UpInArms]

9. it just worked for me (again)

but here is a "shorterlink"

http://makeashorterlink.com/?U24514149

[DulceDecorum]

10. You are either with us or you are against us

November 6, 2001
PRESIDENT BUSH: I am going to the United Nations to give a speech on Saturday. And I am going to praise those nations who have joined our coalition. But a coalition partner must do more than just express sympathy; a coalition partner must perform. And our coalition partner here has performed; we work together.

And that means different things for different nations. Some nations don't want to contribute troops, and we understand that. Other nations can contribute intelligence-sharing, and for that we're grateful. But all nations, if they want to fight terror, must do something. It is time for action. And that's going to be the message of my speech at the United Nations.

I have no specific nation in mind, at least as I stand here now. Everybody ought to be given the benefit of the doubt. But over time, it's going to be important for nations to know they will be held accountable for inactivity. You are either with us or you are against us in the fight against terror. And that's going to be part of my speech at the United Nations.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/11/20011106-4.html

[Elidor]

11. Who needs them, anyway? We still have Palau!

Even if they don't have an army either. And don't forget the monkeys from Morocco! Our coalition is mighty indeed!

[Jacobin]

15. And ICELAND

Don't forget Iceland!!!

[LynneSin]

12. Kinda tough to be in a coaltion when you HAVE NO ARMY

Costa Rica hasn't had one since the 40s

[lumpy]

13. Hanky Panky

x

[Robbien]

14. Wonder if Costa Rica is doing this as a smoke screen

The people of Costa Rica do not want to be in CAFTA and are protesting their government and are calling their government stooges of the US. Wonder if they think by doing this they are proving they are not just stooges and the people will stop protesting and striking.

[arcos]

24. nope...

it was a decision by the Constitutional Court... the government not only supports the war in Iraq, they also wholeheartedly support CAFTA, although the population is very divided.

[pinniped]

16. Same tactic those Swift Boat liars did when they used other vets' names...

without their knowledge.

[yellowcanine]

17. Costa Rica has no army and they were on the list? Heh. "Coalition of

the coerced and the bribed" - whoever said that had it right.

[arcos]

25. yep...

just like Palau and Iceland ;)

[Robbien]

18. New Article: U-S says Costa Rica will be removed from list of war backers

WASHINGTON If Costa Rica doesn't want its name listed as one of the coalition partners in Iraq -- then the White House says it will oblige.
Yesterday, Costa Rica's highest court ruled that the U-S can't name the Central American country as one of its coalition partners. Officials in Costa Rica are preparing a letter asking Washington to take its name off the list.

A U-S State Department spokesman says Costa Rica's membership in the coalition is an expression of its opposition to terrorism. But he agrees that Costa Rica didn't provide any troops or economic assistance.

Costa Ricans widely reject the U-S-led war in Iraq.

http://www.wstm.com/Global/story.asp?S=2279994

My, that was fast. Wonder why.

[calimary]

27. The "Coalition of the Wilting."

Who the HELL thought up "Coalition of the Willing" in the first place?