Honduran soldiers leave for Iraq

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP)

A dozen Honduran soldiers left Sunday to participate in an international peacekeeping mission in Iraq.

They were the first of 370 soldiers -- 365 men and five women -- scheduled to leave this week from a military base in Palmerola, 30 miles <48 kilometers> north of the capital city. The soldiers will operate under Spanish command. --

The Honduran troops are expected to spend a week in Spain before heading to Kuwait for intensive training and on to Iraq.

The Honduran forces are part of a brigade of 1,300 that includes troops from El Salvador, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and countries outside the region.

In May, the Honduran legislature authorized the country's participation in the peacekeeping mission. The government will provide each soldier with a monthly salary of $150, as well as life insurance and additional money for personal expenses.

I suspect so. Geez! These poor souls surely don't even know what they're getting into-or, even why-or, for whom!

All for $150 a month. I hope they live to spend it!

:evilfrown:

See ? I told you we have a powerful coalition of international forces !

GW Bush

and from that..... they'll spend maybe $100,000 on soldiers...


Pretty good deal for the big wigs .......

I would think that the Brits paid the Hessians more in real dollars to fight against the American terrorists in 1776 than what these Hondurans are getting to fight in Iraq. $150 a month for the chance to get your ass shot off? What a crappy deal. But then the Hondurans have been known to draft 14 year old kids off the streets of Tegucigalpa to serve as "volunteers" in the army. Big of them to take out life insurance on them. They will be dead but at least their families will benefit. I am sure that will be a comfort to them when they are dodging RPGs in Baghdad.

US Marines are now counting on Honduras soldiers to swing to the rescue?

More Twilight Zone.

who needs France, Germany, and the UN?
:eyes:

I thought, "Honduras is sending its soldiers? All three of them?" Then I read the story and found out how nearly accurate I was! Twelve men. Twelve. I guess it's more for the symbolic value than anything else, but talk about pulling the short straw!

Sheesh, our teeny-tiny Church of the Brethren congregation sent two people to Honduras to help with the ongoing clean-up from Hurricane Mitch! Twelve soldiers. Dang.

No more No less

They're kidding aren't they.