U.S. commander casts doubt on Spain plan

AP | 3/16/04

[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.

[goldstategop]

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.

[evad]

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.

[Oldeconomybuyer]

...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.

[Cronos]

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

[ricks_place]

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.

[goldstategop]

That is what the Left claims. So again, why withdraw troops from Iraq if Al Qaeda has nothing to do with Iraq?

[evad]

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 ;-)

[Cronos]

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.

[ctonious]

The Moors retake Spain, aided by the "Brave" Sir Robins of the electorate.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

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 !

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Regarding links of Saddam and Terrorists:

Report Details Saddam's Support for Terrorists Who Killed Americans

The above link is the FreeRepublic discussion thread.

The actual article is :

"Saddam Hussein’s Philanthropy of Terror"

It is a pdf document with substantial footnotes and put together by Dewey Murdock of the Hudson Institute.

[blackie]

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[Gator113]

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.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[PhilDragoo]

New Spanish prime minister meets with OBL.

[ricks_place]

Courage? France? I can scarcely put the two words in the same post!