Spain to double Afghanistan contingent

[Yard Ape]

Spain to double Afghanistan contingent
Monday, Mar. 29, 2004
Globe and Mail (http://globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040329.wspain0329/BNStory/International/)
Associated Press

Madrid — Spain's incoming government, under pressure over its plans to withdraw its troops from Iraq, has agreed to double the country's contingent in Afghanistan to 250 soldiers this summer, an aide to the future defence minister said Monday.

The Socialist party insisted that its plans on Iraq remain firm.

Outgoing Defence Minister Federico Trillo made the decision on the Afghanistan troops last week in consultation with the Socialist who will replace him, Jose Bono, who had no objections, according to his spokesman, Jose Luis Fernandez.

Reports that the Socialists, who won March 14 general election, planned to increase Spain's presence in Afghanistan first surfaced last week. The idea was widely interpreted as a bid to deflect criticism from the United States and other countries of the Socialists' plans to withdraw Spain's 1,300 troops from Iraq unless the United Nations takes charge there.

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[HELEX]

Thats the right way! Staying hard in the war on Terrorism and get out of the illegal occupation of Iraq justified by nothing but lies. :)

[MARINO]

For what?
If it is to fight against Al-Qaeda memebers ok, but if it is to help Afghan people, i must to say that Iraqi peopla also needs help so we must stay also in Iraq. And it's a small number only 250 we have 1400 in Iraq.

[WARPIG]

For what?
If it is to fight against Al-Qaeda memebers ok, but if it is to help Afghan people, i must to say that Iraqi peopla also needs help so we must stay also in Iraq. And it's a small number only 250 we have 1400 in Iraq.
Thanks for the hones perspective marino. Unlike our buddy Helex who speaks from the comfort of apathy, yet feels he has credibility to criticise those who have a stake in the matter, marino has the integrity to see the big picture.
Pulling out of Iraq as a measure of appeasement and then bumping up the meager forces in Afghanistan is a weak attempt at not pissing off Spanish patriots.
Thanks for showing some integrity and resolve marino.
Dios le bendice.

[Yard Ape]

Thats the right way! Staying hard in the war on Terrorism and get out of the illegal occupation of Iraq justified by nothing but lies. The citizens of Iraq require a military presense as much as those in Afghanistan.

If you supported the invasion or not, the countries ability to manage itself has not been re-established. Too pull out would leave Iraq open to internal chaos and make it a terrorist breeding ground. The west must stay until a permanent government is established and the institutions are implace to sustain order and allow the country to grow again.

The soldiers of Spain would be valuable in either country, but I agree with MARINO. If 13,000 are leaving Iraq it would be best to see 13,000 going into Afghanistan.

[HELEX]

The US Administration is actively supressing a democratic election, because the Islamists will win by far..... So is this helping the people?

[Yard Ape]

The US Administration is actively supressing a democratic election, because the Islamists will win by far..... So is this helping the people?
Can you:
1) Prove this?
2) Suggest what should be done instead of a western military force?

[HELEX]

Can you:

1) Prove this?

Yes I can!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A42905-2003Jun27?language=printer

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1205-15.htm

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/21/1074360835292.html?from=storyrhs

So let them vote, they will get more moderate when time goes by. Look at iran, there are problems but the life gets easier step by step.

[WARPIG]

Can you:

1) Prove this?

Yes I can!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A42905-2003Jun27?language=printer

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/1205-15.htm

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/21/1074360835292.html?from=storyrhs

So let them vote, they will get more moderate when time goes by. Look at iran, there are problems but the life gets easier step by step.

Funny how the ability of Iraqi's to complain about voting comes from a
illegal occupation of Iraq justified by nothing but lies. WOW. You don't even have the intelligence to not contradict yourself in the same thread or to take your own side in your own arguement.
I actually get your point about letting Iraqi's vote. It would be ugly at first but I don't think putting them off for now is going to change things politically for them. You're not making a point Helex. Keeping military leaders in control of the different communities is an issue of practicality. Moving from military occupation to full on democracy has got to have some snags in it. Easing them into it by the June deadline is probably a good security measure too. As terrorists look to hamper the growth of democracy in Iraq, I would guess that a Military leader has the credentials to keep things secure. That (security) being the overwhelming problem that plagues the country so far. I can definately see that it's going to rub a lot of people wrong and put the US in a negative light. Well, what is new. Much of the work going on in Iraq is the training and fielding of police. Elections can't possibly be a priority when lawlessnes is still a problem. The ability to enforce law, and secure the government has to be in place before jumping into free elections.

[Yard Ape]

It looks to me like the US is listening to Iraqi concerns & that the UN seems to be on side with the delay.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3520908.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3572789.stm

I don't feel convinced of your theory as to 'why' there is a delay. I think it is about security & doing it right (not about finding time to fix the results).

[Loco]

This is becoming a really tiring and annoying question. Spanish are resoluted to fight terrorism, we always were, terrorism didn´t began the 9/11, and we´re liables as an ally, they are others who have to demonstrate that aren´t liers. To the hell with foreign press that didn´t respect us when still we were burying our deads and didn´t respect our decission about our governments. Our governments, included those of USA, GB, Australia, Poland and others, HAVE to deal in UN to recieve a compromisse of other nations in Irak. If spanish troops in Irak come back the 31th of June, sure it will be because some liers to their own countries really aren´t interested in fighting terrorism but in getting other things.

[MARINO]

how are the liers for you Loco? Our government, i think that they had demonstrate that they were saying the trhuth all the time.