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U.S. commander casts doubt on Spain plan
AP
| 3/16/04
Posted on 03/16/2004 3:26:49 AM PST by kattracks
TIKRIT, Iraq (AP) 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.
Sanchez added that even if Madrid does withdraw its forces, the 150,000-strong U.S.-led coalition "will be able to adapt."
"It is clearly manageable. It is not a significant military problem for the coalition to be able to cover that area," he said.
Sanchez's remarks, made during a visit to the U.S. military headquarters in the city of Tikrit, came a day after U.S.-led coalition spokesman Dan Senor said Spain's role in Iraq was "critical to our efforts here."
The Spanish base in Iraq is in Diwaniyah, some 112 miles south of Baghdad. Spain leads the Plus Ultra brigade, a command that also includes forces from El Salvador, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.
Eleven Spaniards have died in Iraq since August, including seven intelligence agents killed in an ambush in late November.
The surprise win by Zapatero's Socialists over Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's favored Popular Party in elections on Sunday followed bombings Thursday in Madrid that killed 200 people, and came amid charges that Aznar made Spain a target for terrorists by supporting the Iraq war.
TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iraq; oif; ricardosanchez; spain; spanishtroops
1
posted on
03/16/2004 3:26:49 AM PST
by
kattracks
To: kattracks
But the Left has claimed there is no connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq. So how would withdrawing troops from Iraq appease Al Qaeda? After all we're told it has no presence there.
2
posted on
03/16/2004 3:34:17 AM PST
by
goldstategop
(In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
To: kattracks
Spain will be a muslim state in 10 years...
france in 8.
Better learn the phrase "praise be to allah" boys..
yer gonna need it.
3
posted on
03/16/2004 3:35:10 AM PST
by
evad
(Cut taxes again. Cut spending. Cut Guv Regulations. Cut Guv Programs...Repeat)
To: kattracks
...he will pull his nation's 1,300 troops out of Iraq by June 30 unless the United Nations takes control... As I recall, the UN pulled most of its personnel out of Iraq within days after their compound was bombed. This very French-like surrender by the UN must have impressed the incoming president of Spain.
4
posted on
03/16/2004 3:53:22 AM PST
by
Oldeconomybuyer
(The democRATS are near the tipping point.)
To: goldstategop
there is no connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq.
There was no connection between Saddy regime and AlQ (though he had a lot of connections iwht other terrorist organisations like the PLO and he HAD to be removed, the was a threat), but there ARE connections NOW between alQ and Irq
5
posted on
03/16/2004 3:54:04 AM PST
by
Cronos
(W2K4!)
To: evad
Fear has captured Spain and Spain equivocates.
Yet, we should appreciate Spain for her contributions against Islamic terrorist and in Iraq.
And welcome Spain back to the fight when her courage is regained.
To: Cronos
That is what the Left claims. So again, why withdraw troops from Iraq if Al Qaeda has nothing to do with Iraq?
7
posted on
03/16/2004 3:56:14 AM PST
by
goldstategop
(In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
To: ricks_place
And welcome Spain back to the fight when her courage is regained. I'll welcome any nation in to or back to the fold when they once again see the light...
except france ;-)
8
posted on
03/16/2004 4:09:12 AM PST
by
evad
(Cut taxes again. Cut spending. Cut Guv Regulations. Cut Guv Programs...Repeat)
To: goldstategop
That is what the Left claims. So again, why withdraw troops from Iraq if Al Qaeda has nothing to do with Iraq?
Nope, that's what our government has told us, and I believe them. They have told us that Saddy had no ties to alQ before the war.
However, NOW they are in Irq trying to whip up sectarian violence and are using Irq as a rallying call (not very successfully) like Palestine.
9
posted on
03/16/2004 4:09:58 AM PST
by
Cronos
(W2K4!)
To: kattracks
The Moors retake Spain, aided by the "Brave" Sir Robins of the electorate.
10
posted on
03/16/2004 4:31:18 AM PST
by
ctonious
To: kattracks; MJY1288; xzins; Calpernia; TEXOKIE; Alamo-Girl; windchime; Grampa Dave; ...
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. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We will not falter. We will not fail"
PING !
11
posted on
03/16/2004 7:21:42 AM PST
by
Ragtime Cowgirl
("(We)..come to rout out tyranny from its nest. Confusion to the enemy." - B. Taylor, US Marine)
To: goldstategop; Cronos
12
posted on
03/16/2004 7:37:22 AM PST
by
Ernest_at_the_Beach
(The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States - and war is what they got!!!!)
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democ
rats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!
~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~
13
posted on
03/16/2004 7:41:58 AM PST
by
blackie
(Be Well~Be Armed~Be Safe~Molon Labe!)
To: kattracks
Well, I think that we should give the 1300 Spanish Troops a going away party, thank them for their help and send them home on the next flight out of there. Frankly, I will say something similar about our Troops if Kerry gets into office (God forbid).
No man should be placed in jeopardy or continue to be in harms way with that lying coward and Trator, Flip-flop Kerry as a leader. I am almost of the mind that if Kerry wins...I would rather see us all fighting in the streets than let even one of our Troops die in the name of Kerry and his girlfriend, Kennedy.
14
posted on
03/16/2004 9:26:28 AM PST
by
Gator113
To: Ragtime Cowgirl
Bump!
To: Ragtime Cowgirl; Grampa Dave; SAMWolf; Matthew Paul; BOBTHENAILER; MeekOneGOP
New Spanish prime minister meets with OBL.
16
posted on
03/16/2004 6:19:16 PM PST
by
PhilDragoo
(Hitlery: das Butch von Buchenvald)
To: evad
Courage? France? I can scarcely put the two words in the same post!
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