DJ, <<Full speed ahead, and damn torpedoes>>
I am not worried, because I remember CB had once gushed that the Russian allies will side with the right side due to cultural affinity and so I am figuring larger allies are waiting in the wings to help out even if these obviously good-for-nothing sacks-of-food allies are shuffling and positioning to turn tail.
I continue to believe everything I read, and trying with ease to not anticipate too much, because anticipation causes worrying, worrying adds wrinkles, and wrinkles are worrying, and so goes the forbidden spiral, all resulting in wasting of time better used for buying stocks and refi homes, and getting ready to be even wealthier tomorrow.
Chugs, Jay
Message 19997550
news.bbc.co.uk
The troops have not lost control of the security situation, despite a recent upsurge in fighting, Mr Rumsfeld said.
The clashes were the work of a few "thugs, gangs and terrorists", he said.
news.bbc.co.uk
Ukrainian troops pulled out of the town of Kut south-east of Baghdad on Wednesday after coming under attack by militia supporting the Shia cleric, Moqtada Sadr.
... The US forces in Iraq are already overstretched
Coalition soldiers have been involved in fighting in several Shia cities in the south: The Ukrainians who retreated from Kut; the Bulgarians and Poles in Karbala; the Spaniards in Najaf; the Italians in Nasiriya.
Elsewhere, 500 Japanese non-combat troops and a similar number of South Koreans have suspended activities outside their military camps. The Japanese government said "terrorists" were trying to drive its troops out of Iraq.
The only new announcement of formal withdrawal came from Kazakhstan, which said its tiny deployment would end next month.
... The new Socialist government in Madrid has said it will pull its forces out unless the United Nations takes charge in Iraq by the end of June.
... Most non-American troops were sent to the Shia south because it was considered relatively well-disposed to the occupiers. If that is no longer the case, the whole deployment system will have to be reconsidered.
However, the political impact of troop withdrawals would be more significant.
It would tend to confirm that the occupation was essentially an American-British affair ... inflicting political damage on US President George W Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
There is no evidence that the Iraq coalition is about to collapse. Some erosion around the edges is more likely. |
