Thailand Vows to Keep Its Forces in Iraq

2003 12/28 | serurier

[serurier]

Thailand Vows to Keep Its Forces in Iraq

[serurier]

I watch this message from Yahoo.com BANGKOK, Thailand - Thailand's prime minister vowed Sunday to keep his nation's troops in Iraq (news - web sites) despite calls from the opposition for a withdrawal following the death of two Thai soldiers in the southern city of Karbala.

The two soldiers — the first fatalities among its noncombatant force in Iraq — were on guard duty when a car rammed the wall of their camp in Karbala and exploded Saturday, Thai officials said.

"We will continue to work for humanitarian ends ... The next batch of troops are preparing and making themselves ready. They are ready to go to Iraq as scheduled. Nobody has changed their mind, their morale is still good," Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra told reporters.

He said the two soldiers were "brave," standing guard even after military officials received intelligence reports suggesting there would be an attack. "We honor them and will take good care of their families. They will be compensated," Thaksin added.

The Nation newspaper reported that Thai military commanders held an emergency meeting late Saturday after hearing the news.

Army spokesman Col. Somkuan Saengpataraneth said he believes they are the first Thai soldiers to be killed on the battlefield outside of the country since the Vietnam War.

Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Kraisak Choonhavan, a strong opponent of the decision to deploy the troops, said Thai soldiers are not safe there and should not have to "sacrifice their lives for nothing."

"I have called several other senators who have supported my idea of making another request to the government to withdraw from Iraq," he told reporters.

Following the Thai decision to deploy troops to Iraq, President Bush (news - web sites) in October awarded Thailand non-NATO (news - web sites) ally status, opening the door to priority military aid. A withdrawal of Thai troops from Iraq could jeopardize that deal.

Thaksin said Bush telephoned him early Sunday to send his condolences to the families of the soldiers and to praise the bravery of Thai troops.

Thailand's chief of military civilian affairs, Lt. Gen. Pisanu Urailert, said the army was not discussing the possibility of withdrawing its troops and that Thai soldiers would "continue to carry out their humanitarian work ... as assigned by the government."

Thailand sent 422 soldiers to Iraq in September to provide medical services and to help rebuild roads and other infrastructure destroyed during the war. A similar number of soldiers are expected to deploy in March.

The Thai contingent, deployed near Karbala, about 60 miles south of Baghdad, had previously suffered no fatalities.

The bodies of the two soldiers are scheduled to arrive in Bangkok on Tuesday.

[CasearianDaoist]

The Thais are the toughest fighters in SE Asia - once they are in they will not be pull out, it would be to much of a loss of face.

[Ronin]

The soldiers are among the toughest anywhere, that much is true. But Thailand is a democracy, of sorts, and they have their own leftist losers to make things difficult for them.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

BANGKOK, Thailand - Thailand's prime minister vowed Sunday to keep his nation's troops in Iraq despite calls from the opposition for a withdrawal following the death of two Thai soldiers in the southern city of Karbala.

The two soldiers — the first fatalities among its noncombatant force in Iraq — were on guard duty when a car rammed the wall of their camp in Karbala and exploded Saturday..

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Bless our Thai allies.

[McGavin999]

Good for Thailand! The only thing that will strengthen these terrorists is to run from them. You have to make a stand, that's the only way to win this war.

[serurier]

Yes Let we Bless our Thai allies. I believe We will win.We have weapon and have heart of freedom !

[serurier]

McGavin999 Believing me, we will definitely win , the terrorist will definitely be eliminated, Those blood of soldiers sacrificing freedom will not flow in vain. Bless soldier!Bless freedom!

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The terrorists' demands are non-negotiable. Red Dean and George Soros suggests building them more day care centers.

[Consort]

[blackie]

Bless our Thai allies ~ Bump!

Be Well ~ Be Armed ~ Be Safe ~ Molon Labe!

[Valin]

Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Kraisak Choonhavan, a strong opponent of the decision to deploy the troops, said Thai soldiers are not safe there and should not have to "sacrifice their lives for nothing."

Nothing...Gracie?

[speekinout]

The only thing that will strengthen these terrorists is to run from them.

Yes. They haven't been able to make the US run yet, so they're trying to get the allies to run until there's no one else left. The UN ran with no hesitation. I don't think anyone else has.

And what does that tell us about the Dem notion that the UN should be in charge of Foreign affairs?

[serurier]

I think The United Nations is a bureaucratic apparatus cowardly.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[speekinout]

Yes. The UN is dominated by cowards (France and Germany, particularly) and tyrants (name any African nation).
If an International organization is to be successful, it has to have freedom and democracy as its goal. Most people want that, even if they are living under governments who don't.

[windchime]

Bump!