Allies Consider U.S. Request for Troops

Allies Consider U.S. Request for Troops
By WILLIAM J. KOLE, Associated Press Writer

VIENNA, Austria - The United States is quietly pressing its allies to send more troops to Iraq, but it's getting a lukewarm response amid escalating violence and public outcry over the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.

Washington asked Albania to increase the size of its 71-soldier non-combat unit patrolling the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, and the Albanian government is receptive, Defense Ministry spokesman Igli Hasani confirmed Friday.

"Albania is ready to respond to such a request" and had already offered additional troops, Hasani said. He said the mostly Muslim country, a staunch U.S. ally, may boost its contingent to 200 soldiers if parliament approves.

Denmark will extend the mission of its 496 troops in southern Iraq by six months, and Norway will maintain a small military presence after it pulls out its main contingent next month. The Philippines is sending 45 more soldiers and police to strengthen its humanitarian effort, restoring the total to its original 100.

"Our government has made a very categorical statement on this matter — that we stand pat on our commitment to the coalition," said Lt. Gen. Rodolfo Garcia, the Philippines vice chief of staff.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040514/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_coalition&cid=540&ncid=1480

"Good luck!"

At least we have our 'staunch ally' Albania on board! BTW, what is a '71-soldier non-combat patrol'? Sounds more like a 'tour group'...

The Solomon Islands was named as a coalition member, for example, so they must be eager to help ...

It's clear that this is US occupation, with the UK as flunkey junior partner. Any others are sacrificing dozens of troops only for financial aid.

the arrogance of this administration has turned lots of allies against us. Who could blame them.

As if that broken nation didn't have enough woes without the world's military empire demanding it cough up cannon fodder for the cause of Halliburton.

Washington is acting in the role of an abusive pimp. What a shameful crew; what a shameful hour!

It's so funny. And they do their begging as if they were "demands". After all, we are the "top banana" of the world, so we don't beg. We demand.

Those numbers are hilarious. 71 for Albania, and the Phillipines have 100. And those troops were probably hard-earned too. The US probably had to beg, plead, prod and bribe to get even that many.

And now after all this prison violence, they're expecting more????

I swear, the rest of the world must think of us as the Perverted Uncle; a wealthy old scumbag who shows up at family parties and has the kids sit on his lap as he checks them out. The entire family tolerates him (it's tough) but they are all counting the days until Old Uncle is rigor mortis.

Yes, pleaes send your troops to Iraq so they can take part in getting killed. We need a greater sense of balance over there.:crazy:

because 45 extra troops here and there is not going to cut it.

Election coming, torture scandal on-going, divisions extended beyond their 12 month deployment, casualty rate ever increasing, and nobody to replace them...

Bush is going to be in a pinch to initiate a draft before the election.