Seems that there are some countries that are pissed off at being labled part of the US's coalition. And are quickly stating that they are not part of it. Some of America's allies in the war with Iraq are cautiously redefining their roles to appease opponents at home whose anger shows no sign of diminishing. Resolve remained strong among key coalition members Australia, Britain and the United States, and there were no desertions among the smaller nations offering non-combat troops, logistical help and moral support. But with anti-war sentiment raging in many countries, and a perception growing that Operation Iraqi Freedom could take longer than war planners anticipated, some governments were taking pains to clarify exactly what they are _ and are not _ willing to do: _ Italy's prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, rushed to reassure the country that the deployment in northern Iraq of 1,000 U.S. paratroopers stationed in Italy did not break his pledge that Italian bases won't be used for direct attacks on Iraq. _ Lawmakers in South Korea, stung by growing opposition to the war, on Friday delayed a vote to authorize the deployment of 700 non-combat military personnel to the Gulf. "There is so little reason to pass the motion and so many reasons to vote it down," legislators opposed to the deployment said in a statement. _ The Netherlands, which has 370 Air Force personnel and three Patriot missile-defense systems on the Turkish border with Iraq, said again that it won't get involved in combat operations because of weak support from a fiercely anti-war public. The Dutch said they would consider U.S. requests for further help on a case-by-case basis. _Slovenia on Thursday granted flyover rights to U.S. planes carrying personnel and equipment in humanitarian missions to northern Iraq, but not for military transports in support of the war. Other governments in the coalition were standing firm, even if that meant taking some significant criticism from an unhappy population. Spain, which has dispatched 9,000 troops to Iraq for humanitarian operations despite overwhelming public opposition to the war, hasn't budged. Neither has Romania, also despite widespread opposition. Denmark's prime minister, whose government has sent a submarine and a ship to the Gulf, urged the public to temper expectations of a quick and relatively bloodless conflict. "We currently see in the media a lot of unpleasant photos from the war," Anders Fogh Rasmussen said. "But I can assure that all kind of considerations are been taken to limit the casualties." There was some dissent in the ranks: Poland, which has sent 200 elite troops to the Gulf, chastised Bush for describing the commandos' actions in Iraq and said he shouldn't use the troops "for propaganda." Bush also was taking heat from countries included on Washington's 45-nation coalition list that insist they don't belong there. The Czech Republic insisted it's not a coalition member, even though the government sent 400 anti-chemical warfare specialists to Kuwait. Using force to impose democracy in Iraq, Czech President Vaclav Klaus warned this week, is a notion "from another universe." Opposition parties in Hungary, which has opened a military base for the U.S. Army to train Iraqi dissidents for non-combat support roles and postwar administration, were stepping up their drive to get the c ountry off the list. Being seen as part of the coalition "would damage Hungary's credibility in both the Muslim and the Western worlds," complained Zsolt Nemeth, a leading opposition politician. Croatia, too, is annoyed at being counted among the willing just because it opened its airspace and bases to U.S. civilian aircraft. President Stipe Mesic denounced the war as "illegitimate" because it lacks U.N. backing. A number of coalition nations were drawing the line at a U.S. request to expel Iraqi diplomats and close missions. Australia, Britain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Jordan, the Philippines, Romania and the United States are the only coalition members that have expelled Iraqi envoys. The Netherlands won't do it. Neither will Japan, which has offered postwar humanitarian help. And Prime Minister Simeon Saxcoburggotski of Bulgaria, which is among Washington's most ardent supporters and has approved 100 non-combat troops for Gulf duty, said he saw no legal grounds to expel Iraqi diplomats.
We should have just let Iraq build a nuclear weapon and drop it on them, but that's just me. And ironically Al-Qaeda is now fighting with Iraq. Funny how these countries denounce terrorist yet don't raise even an eyebrow when one of the biggest, most notorious terrorists groups in the world runs to the air of a country that allegedly has nothing to do with them.
Yeah, could have nothing to do with the fact that we are warring with both of those two...........right? UGH
Is it really any different than say, members of the KKK enlisting and fighting against those who are attacking us?
And the fact that we're warring with a terrorist group, and it isn't suspicious that they come to the add of Iraq when before this war even started the U.S. said that Al-Qaeda was connected with Iraq? So no, it has nothing to do with the fact that we're warring with both, I think it just goes to show that the U.S. may have been right about the fact that Iraq was funding and protecting Al-Qaeda.
The majority of the Arab nations have links to Al Qaeda, especially Saudi Arabia. I don'r see us declaring war on them.
Correction I should have said that they came to the aid of Iraq. I still find it suspicious that the U.S. surrounds Iraq and Al-Qaeda "slips in" to fight alongside of Iraq. Sounds more to me like Al-Qaeda was already in Iraq. Meanwhile Al-Qaeda is terrorizing these other countries, but these countries are condemning the U.S. instead of helping the U.S. to keep Saddam undercontrol before this war even started.
Actually only a few in the U.S. said that there was a connection. They also never had any evidence to back them up. Some people in Bush's own administration had a tough time finding the connection. The U.S. intelligence gathering agencies firmly believe there was no connection. As for Al Qaeda, their stance has always been that they are for the Iraqi people and against Saddam. They've been saying that as long as the sanctions have been in place. Now they have the opportunity to fight one of their enemies along side some Iraqis, and possibly build some support for their own organization at the same time, by being side by side with these Iraqis.
I read the piece and it doesn't the CIA is convinced of an alliance. It says that some are split, and that Tenet was open to the idea. Some of the evidence used is that both Al-Qaeda and Saddam had operations in Sudan. It also lists some Iraqi born Al-Qaeda members. That proves nothing. Al-Qaeda is active in the U.S. but that doesn't mean the Bush administration supports Al-Qaeda. This quote is from the same article you listed. "Gates, who was C.I.A. director under George H. W. Bush, said that the evidence linking Saddam to Al Qaeda is not irrefutable,"
I don't think any of Bush's intelligence services are in communication with Al Qaeda: Intelligence officials told me that the agency also takes seriously reports that an Iraqi known as Abu Wa'el, whose real name is Saadoun Mahmoud Abdulatif al-Ani, is the liaison of Saddam's intelligence service to a radical Muslim group called Ansar al-Islam, which controls a small enclave in northern Iraq; the group is believed by American and Kurdish intelligence officials to be affiliated with Al Qaeda. That's just one bit from the article. FB, you said "the U.S. intelligence gathering agencies firmly believe there was no connection". That is false.
Ok, I'll admit I was wrong, and that by inserting 'firmly believe' I overstated. However they don't believe there is inconclusive evidence, and have disagreed with statements regarding the connection from the WhiteHouse.
In respond to this topic, the best way I can categorize the 45 country coalition is a war truck with two drivers and 43 freeloaders.
Stick to the issue at hand. These are countries the US listed as coalition members. To build confidence in the american people and to help solidify our war with Iraq. Turns out, alot of these countries never once allied themselves with this war. In fact they want no part of it, and even are blasting the President. Rack this one up with the "Iraq is connected to 9-11" lies.
