-Caveat Lector- http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,917268,00.html US claims 45 nations in 'coalition of willing'
Ewen MacAskill, diplomatic editor Wednesday March 19, 2003 The Guardian The impression is that the US and Britain are going it alone against Iraq, helped only by a small contingent of Australians, a far cry from the wide- ranging coalition organised by George Bush's father for Desert Storm 12 years ago. But the US secretary of state, Colin Powell, sought to dispel such a view yesterday by claiming that there was, in fact, also a "coalition" this time around. The state department provided a list of 30 countries offering support. Mr Powell said. "There are 15 other nations who for one reason or another do not yet wish to be publicly named but will be supporting the coalition." The "coalition of the willing" emerged after phone calls to the various countries by Mr Bush and Mr Powell yesterday. The list of supporters issued by the state department is: Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan. There are five Arab countries too, but they insist they are opposed to attacking Iraq and instead are limiting their role to the defence of Kuwait. The "coalition" is willing to offer moral support, though most countries are not offering soldiers. Britain has contributed about 45,000 troops, Australia has offered 2,000 and Poland, 200. Albania has offered 70 soldiers for noncombat roles, and Romania contributed 278 non-combat experts in demining and in chemical and biological decontamination, and military police. Spain, one of the most vocal supporters of military action, confirmed yesterday it would not be sending troops. Japan is restricting its support to post-Saddam reconstruction. Turkey was included in the "coalition", even though it has still to agree to cooperate. Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2003 Forwarded for your information. The text and intent of the article have to stand on their own merits. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without charge or profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this type of information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe simply because it has been handed down for many genera- tions. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumoured by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is written in Holy Scriptures. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of teachers, elders or wise men. Believe only after careful observation and analysis, when you find that it agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all. Then accept it and live up to it." The Buddha on Belief, from the Kalama Sutra <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http://archive.jab.org/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
