Troops in Iraq (THAILAND WILL SEND ITS FIRST COMBAT TROOPS TO IRAQ)

Reuters ^ | 12/29/03

[areafiftyone]

LONDON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Thailand said on Monday it would send its first combat troops to Iraq to protect a medical and engineering contingent after two Thai soldiers were killed in suicide bomb attacks over the weekend.

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said at least 30 more Thai soldiers would be sent to Iraq, but he gave no timeframe. The additional troops would boost Thailand's contingent to more than 470.

Here is a short table by country of forces currently operating in Iraq or who may be deployed there:

In Iraq* En Route or

Alerted* United States 123,000 15,000* Britain 11,000 OTHER COUNTRIES: Albania 100 Australia 1,000 Bulgaria 470 Czech Rep. 706 Denmark 410 90 Dominican Rep. 300 El Salvador 360 Estonia 50 Honduras 370 Hungary 300 Italy (inc. Romanian & Portuguese elements) 3,400 Japan 550 Kazakhstan 25 Latvia 142 Lithuania 105 Macedonia 28 Mongolia 180 Netherlands 1,100 New Zealand 61 Nicaragua 230 Norway 104 Philippines 95 Poland 2,400 Romania 400 Singapore 191 Slovakia 69 120 South Korea 675 3,000 Spain 1,300 Thailand 443 30 Ukraine 2,000 NOTE: Many figures are rounded or estimated. * As of Sept 25, 2003 # Precise figure not known Sources: Reuters news reports/GlobalSecurity.org ,000 Spain 1,300 Thailand 443 30 Ukraine 2,000 NOTE: Many figures are rounded or estimated. * As of Sept 25, 2003 # Precise figure not known Sources: Reuters news reports/GlobalSecurity.org ,000 Spain 1,300 Thailand 443 30 Ukraine 2,000 NOTE: Many figures are rounded or estimated. * As of Sept 25, 2003 # Precise figure not known Sources: Reuters news reports/GlobalSecurity.org ,000 Spain 1,300 Thailand 443 30 Ukraine 2,000 NOTE: Many figures are rounded or estimated. * As of Sept 25, 2003 # Precise figure not known Sources: Reuters news reports/GlobalSecurity.org

[SwinneySwitch]

Reuters must have made a mistake! Everybody knows this was an unilateral or at most a bilateral operation with the Brits. We have no other allies in Iraq!/sarcasm

[RushingWater]

If you were a leader of a foreign country, it would be hard not to pass up this opportunity - an opportunity to gain guerrilla warfare techniques and favor with the US.

[wtc911]

Southern provinces in Thailand are currently fighting WOT against indiginous and imported muslims. We're not the only country having funerals.

[CasearianDaoist]

The Thais are good fighters. My guess is that after a tussle or two with them the terrorists in Iraq will leave them alone.

[KevinDavis]

But according to Dean and the other Rats we went into Iraq alone! How could this be?