Withdrawing Ukraine troops from Iraq priority, Yushchenko says

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050109/wl_mideast_afp/iraqukraineyushchenko&cid=1514&ncid=1480

<snip>

"Viktor Yushchenko sends deep condolences to the families of Ukrainian peacekeepers who died in Iraq Sunday," said a statement released by his press office late Sunday.


"Insofar as withdrawing Ukraine's peacekeeping contingent from Iraq, it remains one of Yushchenko's priorities once he assumes office," the statement said.


The seven Ukrainian troops, along with one Kazakh soldier, died after a bomb they were about to defuse went off accidentally in Iraq's central Wasit region, where Ukrainian and Kazakh troops serve under Polish control, Kiev's defense ministry said.


Another seven Ukrainian and four Kazakh troops were injured as a result of the accident, which occurred at 12:05 pm after a team of Kazakh sappers and their Ukrainian backup had brought back for defusion some 35 aerial bombs that Iraqi police had found stashed near the central military base of As Suwayrah.


After the bombs were unloaded from their transport vehicles one of them exploded for reasons that are still being investigated, the ministry said.

Azerbijan?

I think the Solomon Islands may still be on board.:think:

i think they have a few coconuts there..:toast: :think: :think: :mad: :dem: :hi: :dem: :thumbsup:

Coincidentally, right after the whole "You Forgot Poland" thing happened.

Maybe my memory is a bit sketchy.

little bush will have to run with his tail between his legs.

Just the other week, bushco were praising the democracy in Ukraine….and with democracy comes freedom of choice and Ukraine chooses to get smart and get the fuck out of a quagmire.

Gee…politicians getting smart and doing the right thing….what a novel concept…

I posted this on another thread but it is relevant here also. Yuschenko wants to have his cake and eat it too.

Ukraine Lacks Funds To Withdraw from Iraq

Ukraine’s defense minister said Dec. 6 that his country lacks the funds to withdraw its troops from Iraq, despite a decision to do so by the country’s parliament, news reports said.

Defense Minister Alexander Kuzmuk said the withdrawal of Ukraine’s 1,600 troops stationed in southern Iraq would cost $11 million and that the armed forces currently lacked such funds.

He stressed that parliament’s vote Dec. 3 was non-binding and that a final decision had to be made by the coalition forces themselves.

"And in that case, the coalition will also take part in withdrawing Ukrainian troops from Iraq, and Ukraine will be able to rely on its financial and material help," news reports quoted Kuzmuk as saying.

(more)
http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=540860&C=europe

I can't imagine not having the money to withdraw troops. What must the troops think if they are stuck in Iraq because of something as simple as a shortage of money?

I hope they come up with the $11 million rapidly.

"Grand Coalition" nonsense. As is his pet poodle. Soon they'll be the only one's left supporting this quagmire.