International Force in Iraq Becomes Coalition of One

[deminks]

Source: New York Times

BAGHDAD — Commanders of the Multi-National Force-Iraq, as the American-led coalition is formally called, have a looming nomenclature problem.

Two days from now, there will no longer be any other nations with troops in Iraq — no “multi” in the Multi-National Force. As Iraqi forces have increasingly taken the lead, the United States is the last of the “coalition of the willing” that the Bush administration first brought together in 2003.

That is partly because the Iraqi Parliament left suddenly for summer recess without voting to extend an agreement for the British military to keep a residual training force of 100 soldiers in Iraq. As a result, those troops must withdraw to Kuwait by Friday, according to a British diplomat, who declined to be identified in keeping with his government’s practice.

As for the other two small remnants of the coalition, the Romanians and Australians, the Australians will be gone by July 31, too, and the Romanians left last Thursday, according to the Romanian chargé d’affaires, Cristian Voicu. NATO will keep a small training presence in Iraq, but its troops were never considered part of the Multi-National Force because of opposition to the war from many NATO countries.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/29/world/middleeast/29iraq.html?src=twt&twt=nytimes

[provis99]

1. what, they don't want to help us destroy Iraq any more?

Can we now all stop pretending that this war was about "protecting America's freedom" or whatever right-wing bullshit slogan we are using to justify this evil imperialistic war now?

[clixtox]

2. The coalition of the BILLING!

Just like the Hessians(From Germany) who were hired by the Brits to fight against the American "terrorists" during our struggle for our own independence.

[cosmicone]

3. This proves that

even in a coalition of the dumb, greedy, coerced and egomaniacs, everyone wakes up to not remain so dumb, so greedy and so coerced while the egomaniacs see the price of being in the coalition is much more damaging to the ego.

[foginthemorn]

4. Multi-National Force-Iraq would officially become United States Force-Iraq as of Jan. 1, 2010,..

why the wait??


............In response to a query, American military officials acknowledged the need for a name change, and said Multi-National Force-Iraq would officially become United States Force-Iraq as of Jan. 1, 2010, according to the deputy coalition spokesman, Lt. Col. Mike Stewart. “This is done to reflect the new bilateral relationship between U.S. forces and our Iraqi hosts,” he said.

[Arctic Dave]

5. Self delete. Oops

[Arctic Dave]

6. Why not callit what it really is.

US Invade and Occupy While We Siphon Off Your Natural Resources Force - Iraq (and soon the greater middle east).

[foginthemorn]

7. that is too long of a phrase.

[Arctic Dave]

8. Yeah, you right. Plus, the patch would be huge.