The 'Multi-National Force - Iraq (MNF-I)', is a military
command, led by the United States, that is fighting the
Iraq War against the multitude of Iraqi insurgents. Multi-National Force - Iraq replaced the previous force, Combined Joint Task Force 7, on
May 15,
2004. The media normally use the term 'U.S.-led coalition' to describe this force, since nearly 92% of the troops are from the
United States. However, the majority of nations that did deploy troops either confined their men to their bases due to widespread violence, or issued specific orders to avoid hostile engagement (especially true of the
Plus Ultra Brigade under
Polish command).
[1] Thus, the term 'US-led coalition', when used in the context of combat operations, can be considered inaccurate, as the
United Kingdom and Australia are the only nations engaged in occasional raids.
In November 2002,
U.S. President George W. Bush, visiting
Europe for a
NATO summit, declared that "should Iraqi President
Saddam Hussein choose not to disarm, the United States will lead a coalition of the willing to disarm him."
[2] Thereafter, the Bush administration briefly used the term "'Coalition of the Willing'" to refer to the countries who supported, militarily or verbally, the
2003 invasion of Iraq and subsequent occupation of
post-invasion Iraq since 2003. The original list prepared in March 2003 included 49 members.
[3] Of those 49, only four besides the U.S. contributed troops to the invasion force (the United Kingdom,
Australia, Poland, and
Denmark). 33 provided some number of troops to support the occupation after the invasion was complete. At least six members have no military.
The
war was deeply unpopular amongst the citizens of all the coalition countries except the United States
[4] and at least one,
Costa Rica (which has no armed forces), requested in September 2004 to no longer be considered a member. Today the official
White House list of the coalition shows 48 member states
[5], however, the relevance of placing several of these members on the list has been questioned.
[6]
2003 invasion of Iraq
Four countries participated with troops during the initial invasion (termed the ''Major Combat Operations phase''), which lasted from
March 19 to
May 1. These were the United States (250,000), United Kingdom (45,000), Australia (2,000), and Poland (194).
Troop deployment in Iraq 2003-present
Occupation of Iraq
According to the
Bush administration, its allies, and the U.S. military; the
occupation ended on
June 28,
2004, but Iraqis and non-Iraqis who reject the presence of foreign soldiers in Iraq staunchly believe it continued. Indeed, the expulsion of occupation forces is the main objective of
Iraqi guerrilla fighters who launched a widespread and deadly
guerrilla war against, primarily, American troops (specifically
U.S. Marines in
Al Anbar Province and the
U.S. Army in and around
Baghdad), the security forces of the US-influenced and Shi'ite-dominated Iraqi government, and later Shi'ite civilians perceived as supporting the occupation. Polls conducted by American companies have found that a majority of Iraqi citizens are not only against the occupation, but support attacks on foreign soldiers. Additionally, Iran and Syria are strongly opposed to the presence of U.S. troops in Iraq, and there have been widespread protests demanding the withdrawal of troops in several countries, the largest of which occurred in the United States, the UK, South Korea, Spain and Italy. President Bush has continuously rejected the rationale of the insurgents, claiming that "''...what is causing violence in Iraq is the fact that Iraq is heading toward freedom.''"
[7]
The United States deployed more than seven-eighths of the soldiers in the occupying coalition with the majority of other troops coming from the
United Kingdom and the rest made up from several other allies. Although their status as
Coalition Provisional Authority, or "Occupying Powers" under a
United Nations resolution, changed when the new government came to power on
June 28, although still heavily influenced by the massive U.S. military and diplomatic presence in the country.
[8]
On
May 10,
2007, 144 Iraqi Parliamentary lawmakers signed onto a legislative petition calling on the United States to set a timetable for withdrawal.
[9] On
June 3,
2007, the Iraqi Parliament voted 85 to 59 to require the Iraqi government to consult with Parliament before requesting additional extensions of the UN Security Council Mandate for Coalition operations in Iraq.
[10] The current UN mandate expires in December 2007.
[11]
Mission objectives according to the US Military
MNF-I objectives as of May 2006
★ Iraq is at peace with its neighbors
★ Iraq is an ally in the War on Terror
★ Iraq has a representative government that respects the human rights of all Iraqis
★ Iraq has a security force that can maintain domestic order and deny Iraq as a safe haven for terrorists
The government of Iraq enjoys broad international support, including from nations of the
Arab League. Jordan is assisting in training of the
Iraqi Security Forces, and the United Arab Emirates have donated military equipment (bought from Switzerland), for example.
Iraq is, nominally, a pluralistic democracy. The US-influenced
Constitution of Iraq[12] guarantees freedoms of speech, assembly and religion, private ownership of property, privacy and equality before the law, as well as total immunity to all occupying troops in the country. The first
parliamentary elections occurred in December, 2005.
As of September 2006, in theory, 302,000 Iraqi security forces have been trained and equipped. However, there have frequent reports of Iraqi personnel being poorly armed, trained and motivated; suffering heavy casualties and in many instances deserting or failing to report for duty.
[8] By the end of 2006, MNF-I believes that all 325,000 planned ISF members will be trained and equipped. ISF may be fully capable of maintaining domestic order sometime in 2007, perhaps with coalition help in logistics, close-air support and medical assistance, according to the US military.
[14]
In November 2006, the
United Nations Security Council voted to extend the mandate of the multinational force in Iraq until the end of 2007. The move was requested by the
Iraqi government, which said the troops were needed for another year while it built up its own
security forces.
[15]
"Coalition of the willing"
The precise origins of the phrase are unknown, but it has been used since at least the late 1980s to refer to groups of nations acting collectively, often in defiance of the United Nations. Specific uses of the phrase in the context of disarming Iraq began appearing in mid-2001.
Criticism of the phrase
Iraq War critics such as
John Pilger have pointed out that 98% of the military is from the U.S. and Britain and is therefore accurately described as a predominantly Anglo-American force rather than as a coalition.
In a 2004 U.S. presidential debate, Democratic presidential candidate
John Kerry questioned the size of the coalition, saying that Bush portrayed the effort as a widespread international consensus when actually only two major allies of the United States, the
United Kingdom and
Australia, had comparatively substantial numbers of soldiers on the ground during the initial invasion. President Bush responded by saying, "Well, actually, he forgot Poland". The phrase ''
You forgot Poland'' subsequently became a humorous shorthand for the perception that most members of the coalition were not contributing much to the war effort compared to the main three allies. The majority of the population in most countries involved did not, according to surveys, support the endeavour or their nation's participation.
[16]
U.S. Senator Robert Byrd, ranking
Democrat on the
Senate Appropriations Committee, has referred to the coalition formed for the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the
acronym COW, expressing his concern that the United States was being "milked" as a "
cash cow." A
Canadian MP Carolyn Parrish referred to the "Coalition of the Willing" as the "Coalition of the Idiots". She was reprimanded for these comments, and was eventually removed from the
Liberal Party of Canada caucus following a long-standing dispute with Prime Minister
Paul Martin over policy.
Dave Chappelle parodied the phrase on his sketch comedy show
Chappelle's Show with the sketch "Black Bush".
Michael Moore devoted one sub-chapter to the Coalition in his book ''
Dude, Where's My Country?''. He remarked that most countries in the Coalition did not really help and that several had no army. He dubbed it "The Coalition of the Coerced, Bribed, and Intimidated".
List of nations in the coalition
More than 10,000 soldiers
★
United States - As of September 2007, there were around 168,000
[17] As of August 22, 2007, a total of 3,725 American military personnel (including all branches of the military) had been killed in Iraq: 3,058 in engagements and ambushes (assault rifle and sniper fire; RPG, primitive rocket and mortar attacks; the shooting down of several helicopters and a jet; but mostly roadside bombings) as well as vehicle accidents which occurred as a result of hostile fire. A further 667 were killed in non-hostile incidents including a small number of drownings, illnesses and electrocutions, but mostly vehicle and weapon accidents (a sizeable portion of the latter are believed to have been suicides, but such information is not readily realeased). As of 30 June 2007; at least 62,196 American military personnel have fallen ill, been wounded or injured: 35,638 of these requiring medical evacuation. Four soldiers are currently listed as captured. The Iraq war has caused considerable debate in the United States, with several prominent Senators demanding a withdrawal due to considerable casualties and a lack of progress. The US military itself has encountered some difficulties in sustaining such large deployments, and to this effect extended tours of duty and relaxed restrictions regarding volunteers with a criminal history under the so-called
Moral Waiver. Both of these changes are expected to increase the probability of violence against Iraqi non-combatants.
[18][19]
More than 1,000 soldiers (currently)
★
United Kingdom - 5,500 troops in Southern Iraq as of May 2007
[20]. Britain commands the
Multi-National Division (South East) which includes troops from several other countries. On the 2nd of September 2007, British forces withdrew from their last base in Basra, re-locating to the international airport outside the city and thus handing over nominal control to Iraqi forces
[21]. The development came amid outspoken misgivings regarding the British presence from both the Bush Administration and British military leadership
[22][23]. About 1,300 UK personnel are stationed in
The Persian Gulf region. On
February 20,
2007, the British government declared that British soldiers would begin a timetabled withdrawal from Iraq. 1,600 personnel had returned from Iraq by the end of February, with a further 1,600 scheduled to leave by the beginning of 2008.
[24] After the invasion (which involved 45,000 British troops), approximately 8,500 troops were stationed in the south of the country, but 1,300 were withdrawn in early 2006.
[25] Prime Minister
Tony Blair had considered an expansion of up to 2,000 troops during 2004 to replace those of
Spain and other departing nations. However, military commanders as well as former diplomats criticizing U.S. military
tactics put that into question and the idea has since been shelved. The deployment includes infantry, mechanized infantry and armored units as well as water-borne patrol personnel and a range of aircraft. The UK has lost 168 soldiers in Iraq: 131 in ambushes, engagements, bombings or other attacks (including the shooting down of a
C-130 Hercules transport plane which killed 10 soldiers). Out of the remaining 37, the cause of death included accidents, blue-on-blue incidents, illnesses, and suicide. Between January 1 2003 and March 31 2007, 1,747 British personnel were wounded; 844 of whom required aeromedical evacuation. See also:
Operation Telic (operational name for the UK's involvement in Iraq) for further information.
★
Australia - Australian involvement in Iraq (designated
Operation Catalyst by the Australian military) consists of over 1,500 troops divided amongst several specialized units in and around the country and in neighbouring countries.
[26] The largest contribution is the
Overwatch Battle Group (West), based at Camp Terendak in Talil (Southern Iraq) and consisting of 515 soldiers. This unit was previously known as the
Al Muthanna Task Group, which had about 450 troops and was deployed on
February 22 2005 for the purpose of replacing the withdrawn Dutch contingent. Other Army deployments include 400 personnel stationed in Kuwait, a security detachment (SECDET) composed of 110 troops protecting the Australian embassy in Baghdad, an
Australian Army training team of about 100 troops and about 95 liaision officers distributed throughout Iraq
[27]. Australia has a naval presence in the Persian Gulf as part of Australian-led Task Force 158 (TF158) which involves the periodic rotation of
Anzac class frigates, currently the
HMAS Anzac[28] (~170 personnel). The
Royal Australian Air Force has deployed two
AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft and three
C-130 Hercules transport aircraft (~330 personnel)
[27]. There have been several injuries but no deaths of Australian troops in Iraq attributed to hostile action, however, a
SASR commando was killed in a vehicle accident in
Kuwait, and a soldier
Jacob Kovco assigned to the Baghdad SECDET, died from an accidental discharge of his pistol.
[30] (See also:
Australian contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq)
★
South Korea - 1,200 troops in North-Eastern Iraq as of May 2007. The country's contingent peaked at 3,600 during 2005, however, 1,300 troops were withdrawn in early 2006 following a December 2005 vote by the National Assembly
[31] (10-3 with one abstention). Another 1,200 troops were sent home in early 2007, with a complete pullout likely by the beginning of 2008 when the extension of the mandate expires.
[32]. Their main tasks have been to provide medical services and to build and repair roads, power lines, schools and other public works. The original contingent consisted of 3,000 soldiers, mostly combat engineers of the
Zaytun ("olive-peace") Division, who were deployed in late September 2004 to Irbil in the Kurdish-controlled region of northern Iraq and converged with the 600 humanitarian troops that had been operating in southern Iraq since April 2003. Although South Korea has the third-largest contingent in Iraq, it has suffered only one fatality. The AP newswire reported on 20th May 2007 that an officer had been shot dead on the South Korean base. The only other deaths attributed to their presence have been accidents involving both South Korean and Iraqi civilians.
More than 100 soldiers
★
Poland - Currently, 900 troops from the 'First Warsaw Division', based at Camp Echo in Diwaniyah and mainly providing training programmes for local security forces. A complete pullout is likely by the beginning of 2008, when the extension of the mandate expires. Poland leads the
Multi-National Division (Central South) which consists of forces from several other countries. In accordance with the decision of the former Polish Minister of Defense
Jerzy Szmajdziński, the number of troops was reduced from 2,500 to 1,500 during the second half of 2005. Poland's former leftist government, which lost
September 25 2005 elections, had planned to withdraw the remaining 1,500 troops in January. However, the new defense minister,
Radosław Sikorski, visited Washington on
December 3 for talks on Poland's coalition plans, and Prime Minister
Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz declared that he would decide after the Iraqi elections on
December 15, whether to extend its troops' mandate beyond
December 31.
[33] On Tuesday
22 December, Prime Minister Marcinkiewicz announced that he had asked President
Lech Kaczyński to keep Polish troops in Iraq for another year, calling it "a very difficult decision."
[34] On
January 5 2006, Polish troops handed over control of the central Babil province to U.S. troops and decided to remain on bases in Kut and Diwaniyah for the remainder of their mandate,
[35] cutting their contingent from 1,500 troops to 900 troops two months later,
[36] and switching their main objective from patrolling theirDen sector to the training of Iraqi security forces. Poland has lost 20 soldiers in Iraq: 14 in bombings or ambushes and 6 in various accidents. In July 2004,
Al Zarqawi released a statement threatening Japan, Poland and Bulgaria over their troop deployments. He demanded of the Polish government 'Pull your troops out of Iraq or you will hear the sounds of explosions that will hit your country.' Hours later Prime Minister
Marek Belka denied, and deputy Defence Minister
Janusz Zemke said pulling out would be a 'terrible mistake.'
★
Romania - 405
[37] troops divided intro three different command zones (South-East, South Central, and Baghdad). They conduct a wide range of missions including prisoner interrogation at Camp Cropper and Camp Bucca; reconnaissance and surveillance missions (including the use of UAVs) in the Polish Sector; and training, patrolling and base security missions in the British Sector. The previous contingent numbered approximately 730 personnel, including 400 infantry, 100 military police, 150 de-miners, 30 medics, plus 50 intelligence officers stationed north of Baghdad.
[38] Romanian President Traian Basescu announced on
August 30 2006 that, within two months, Romania would withdraw its troops from Iraq. However, on November 8, 2006, Romanian Defense Minister Sorin Frunzaverde stated that there was to be no scheduled withdrawal.
[39] The troops' presence in Iraq has become a contentious issue in domestic politics, with Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu calling for their return home, while President Traian Basescu, who is commander in chief, decided they should stay.
[ http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/04/14/europe/EU-GEN-Romania-Iraq.php ] One Romanian soldier died in a Kuwaiti hospital, ten days after shooting himself in the head, and another was killed in a roadside bombing (along with three Italians). Four were seriously injured on April 14 2007 when their vehicle toppled over.
130 more troops were deployed for UNAMI.
★
El Salvador - 300 troops from the 'Cuscatlan Battalion' under Polish command (Central South Iraq), based at Camp Delta in Kut. Their mandate has been extended to December 2007. The original contingent of 380 was reduced in August 2007, and further withdrawals are expected
[40]. Salvadoran troops provide perimeter security for their base and also guard supply convoys. El Salvador has lost five soldiers in Iraq, four in hostile incidents and one in an accident.
[41]
★
Georgia - 300 special forces troops under U.S. command at FOB Warhorse in Baqouba, guarding two bridges as well as the American Forward Operating Bases Caldwell, Warhorse and Gabe. In June 2004, three soldiers were wounded in an attack on a U.S. base, and in November 2005, four were wounded in a bombing. 550 more forces were deployed in
June 2005 for UNAMI. On March 9, 2007, Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili announced his nation's plans to increase total Georgian troop strength in Iraq to 2000 soon, by sending an extra 1,200 troops.
[42] Total wounded: 7
★
Azerbaijan - 250 troops under U.S. command. There are conflicting reports as to their duties and whereabouts. It was initially reported that these troops were located in the city of Hadid, in the far north of Iraq. 100 soldiers were apparently sent on December 29, 2004, to reinforce the 150 soldiers already in the country. Their role had supposedly been providing security for the local Turkmen population and guard important sites. However, on April 30, 2007, MNF-I declared that they were located in the vicinity of Haditha Dam in western Iraq, providing security for a nearby US Marine camp, patrolling the dam complex, and escorting and searching Iraqi workers.
★
Denmark - As of late July 2007, Denmark has roughly 180 troops remaining in Iraq
[43] (in addition to 35 troops operating under UNAMI). The original contingent of 430 troops operated under UK command (South-East Iraq), and included military police involved in the training of local security forces as well as infantry. They were based north of Basra at "Camp Danevang". On
February 21 2007, Prime Minister
Anders Fogh Rasmussen had announced that the withdrawal of Danish troops in Iraq would be completed by
August 2007
[44], however, on
July 26 2007, it was reported that 250 of the Danish troops had already withdrawn, at least two weeks ahead of schedule. The remaining troops will be withdrawn at an unspecified date. The Danish battalion will be replaced by a small airborne unit consisting of four helicopters and 55 troops that will operate in Iraq until December. The Danish government repeatedly guaranteed that its forces would remain as long as the Iraqi government requested. On April 28, 2007, the Danish military reported that it was in the process of temporarily deploying an unspecified number of special forces to 'resolve a special problem.'
[45] Denmark has lost seven soldiers in Iraq; one to friendly fire, one in a vehicle accident, and five to hostile incidents, while several more have been wounded. In early 2006, the Iraqi insurgency released a statement calling for more attacks on the Danish army in the retaliation to
Danish cartoon controversy.
[46]
★
Bulgaria - There are currently 155 Bulgarian troops (including 35 support staff) guarding the headquarters of the
MEK at Camp Ashraf, 100km west of the Iranian border. This facility is home to 4,000 MEK militants and their massive munitions stocks.
[47] This deployment was approved by the Bulgarian parliament on January 17, 2006, with the contingent being deployed on 29 March. The contingent was expected to remain for about a year.
[48]Bulgaria withdrew its original contribution of about 485 soldiers in 2005, their objective had been guarding the city center of Diwaniyah, 13 of whom died: 7 in hostile circumstances, 5 in accidents, while one was shot dead by a U.S. soldier. In addition, two Bulgarian truck drivers working for companies serving coalition troops have been captured and killed in Iraq, with another ambushed and killed. Three Bulgarian pilots were killed when their Mi-17 transport helicopter (transporting a team of private military contractors) was shot down in April 2005.
★
Albania - 120 infantry and special forces troops under U.S. command, stationed at
Mosul airport, where they man guard towers and conduct internal and external patrols. In December 2006, Albanian Defence Minister Fatmir Mediu said that Albanian troops would stay in Iraq as long as United States forces remain there.
[49]
★
Mongolia - 100 infantrymen (previously 160) in a company known as the 'Peacekeeping Operations Battalion' under Polish command. The role of the Mongolian contingent is to provide security at the main Polish base, Camp Echo, by manning guard towers and guarding entry points. Mongolia’s mandate was scheduled to expire in April 2007.
100 or fewer soldiers
★
Czech Republic - 89 troops under British command (South-East Iraq).
[50] (Reduced from about 300 troops and 3 civilians running a field hospital, first deployed in late 2003) After 2006, the goal changed from training Iraqi police to guarding Shaibah logistics base, internally and externally by means of vehicle checkpoints. On 5 December 2006, the Czech Parliament voted to extend military mission in Iraq until the end of December 2007. One Czech soldier died in May 2003 from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident in Iraq.
★
Lithuania - 53 troops under Danish command (Central South Iraq).
The Lithuanian government has declared its intention to stay until August 2007. The original contingent of 120 troops was divided between the Southern town of Hillah (under Polish command) the city of Basra (under Danish command). The majority of the troops are deployed to Camp Echo where they man external checkpoints, while a platoon is situated near Basra, conducting combat patrols with Danish troops.
★
Armenia deployed a total of 46 personnel divided into three units: a logistics platoon providing vehicles and drivers for supply convoys which run from Kuwait into the Polish sector of Iraq, an ordnance disposal engineer team attached to the Salvadoran contingent, and a medical unit at Camp Echo. On
December 5 2005, the Armenian government declared its intention to stay in Iraq for another year,
[51], and did the same on
December 6 2006[52]
★
Macedonia - 40 special forces soldiers under U.S. command in Baghdad, conducting a wide range of missions including patrols, raids, training, and manning checkpoints.
[53] In December 2006 Macedonia extended its mandate through June 2007.
★
Bosnia and Herzegovina deployed a unit of 37 men to destroy munitions and clear mines, in addition to 6 command personnel. The unit was first deployed to Fallujah, then Talil Air Base, and is now located at Camp Echo. In December 2006, the Bosnian government formally extended its mandate through June 2007.
★
Estonia - 35 special forces troops known as the 'EstPla-11' unit under U.S. command in Baghdad. Their task is to conduct raids and combat patrols. Two soldiers were killed in Iraq in separate insurgent attacks. In December 2006, Estonia officially extended its mandate through December 2007.
★
Kazakhstan - 29 ordnance disposal engineers under Polish command. One was killed (09/01/2005) along with eight Ukrainians when a pile of booby-trapped munitions was detonated by insurgents.
★
Moldova - 12 de-mining and ordnance disposal specialists under U.S. Command. On
July 15 2004, it was reported that Moldova had quietly halved its contingent from 24 to 12. It was widely believed that Moldova withdrew these remaining troops in February 2005, but they were replaced by a fresh contingent. A third rotation took place in February 2006.
United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI)
★
Georgia (country) - 550 soldiers from the 'Shavnabada Battalion' were assigned to perform UN protection duties (separate from 300 Coalition troops). However, they were placed under U.S. command in a "Middle Ring Security" mission in the Green Zone. One soldier was severely injured in May 2005 in an IED attack on an American convoy, and treated at Walter Reed hospital in the United States.
★
Fiji - 168
Fijian troops protecting UN buildings and staff in and around the Green Zone as of August 2006. In early April 2007, it was reported that an additional 15 troops would be sent on the 25th of that month, with the remainder (number unspecified) to arrive during May.
[54] In response to an 'urgent request' by the UN, Fiji sent an additional 34 soldiers on
August 30 2006 to complement its existing 134.
[55] As many as 300 had been in Baghdad during the January 2006 elections. ABC News reported on the
October 20,
2004, that the contingent (trained, equipped and transported to Iraq by Australia) would be deployed the following month. A Fijian soldier died of a suspected heart attack on
March 16,
2006. According to a
BBC Monitoring report, the
Republic of Fiji Military Forces had abandoned plans to deploy a battalion to Iraq under the Coalition, for financial reasons.
★
Romania - 130 blue-helmets performing UN protection duties in addition to 405 Coalition soldiers under British command.
★
Denmark - 35 troops under UNAMI in addition to 180 Coalition soldiers under British command.
★
Canada - 1 liasion officer.
[56]
★
New Zealand - 1 liaison officer.
[57]
NATO-Sponsored Training of the Iraqi Police Force (NTM-I)
★
United States - The US provided 60 instructors and a protection company in addition to airlift support and logistics.
★
Poland - Poland has send 10 instructors and a transport platoon of 30 soldiers to serve under NTM-I.
★
Denmark - Denmark offered 10 instructors and 7 guards to NTM-I.
★
Netherlands - There are 15 Dutch soldiers in Iraq, training police as part of a NATO mission.
[http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/iraq_coalition_glance ]
★
Hungary - There are 15 Hungarian personnel are supporting the NTM-I mission.
[58]
★
Slovakia - 11 Slovak officers remain in Iraq to help train the Iraqi armed forces.
[59]
★
United Kingdom - The UK has deployed 11 soldiers to NTM-I.
★
Portugal - Portugal send 10 soldiers to Iraq as part of NTM-I.
★
Norway - 10 Norwegian instructors are deployed in Iraq.
★
Italy - As of February 2005, 8 Italian officers had been deployed, while the deployment of 16 more was under consideration.
[ http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/mideast/RL32105.pdf] Additionally, the Italian Navy began providing advice to its Iraqi counterpart in November 2006; while until February 2007 a 'Military Advisement and Liasion Team (MALT)' had provided training programmes for Iraqi troops tasked with the defence of NTM-I's Ar-Rustamiyah complex.
[60]
★
Czech Republic - Pledged to send 5 instructors as of February 2005.
★
Slovenia - In March
2006, Slovenia deployed 4 officers and an unspecified number of subordinate troops to a fortified compound in Rustamiyah, Baghdad to assist in the training of Iraqi police. The troops will ostensibly stay for six months, and are the first Slovenian soldiers that have been sent to the country.
[61]
★
Bulgaria - In October 2006, the Bulgarian government sent 4 officers.
[62]
★
Turkey - As of February 2005, 2 Turkish soldiers were serving in Baghdad.
★
Romania - As of February 2005, there were 2 instructors in Iraq, while the deployment of 5 more was a possibility.
★
Lithuania - As of February 2005, there were 2 Lithuanian trainers in Iraq, while the deployment of 2 more was expected.
★
Iceland - A 'public information officer' was expected to serve with NTM-I as of February 2005.
★
Estonia - One officer as of February 2005.
Nations no longer participating in ground operations
2007 withdrawals
★
Slovakia - On
January 27 2007, Slovak Prime Minister
Robert Fico announced that all but 11 of the 110 Slovak troops (primarily engaged in destroying ordnance) operating under the US-led Coalition had been transferred from
Diwaniya in Iraq to Kuwait. They arrived home the following month. The remaining troops were sent to Baghdad to participate in NTM-I (and have since been rotated). 4 Slovak soldiers were killed by mortars and roadside bombs during their deployment in Iraq.
★
Latvia - On the
June 18 2007, all but 7 of Latvia's 125 troops left Iraq to oversee the withdrawal of military equipment. As of 8th August 2007, 2 soldiers remain in Iraq, presumably fulfilling a liasion role.
[63]
2006 withdrawals
★
Italy - On
September 21,
2006, Italian forces handed over Dhi Qar province in southern Iraq to newly-trained Iraqi security forces, thus ending their military mission: "The Italian contingent is going back. The mission is accomplished — the security of the province is in your hands", Minister of Defence Arturo Parisi said to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
[64] About a month earlier, on
August 23, the Italian contingent stood at 1,600 troops. The 'Garibaldi Brigade' served its final four month tour of duty between May and September 2006, and included mechanized infantry, helicopters and
Carabinieri in South Central Iraq, based around
Nasiriyah. The original contingent consisted of about 3,200 troops, but on
July 9 2005, former PM Berlusconi announced that Italian soldiers would gradually be withdrawn in groups of 300. New Prime Minister
Romano Prodi had pledged to withdraw the troops in his first speech to the senate and called the war "a grave mistake that has complicated rather than solved the problem of security".
[65][66] Shortly after, on
May 26 2006, Italian foreign minister Massimo D'Alema announced that the Italian forces would be reduced from 1,800 to 1,600 by June. On
June 8, he said Italy's military presence in Iraq would end before 2007.
[67] The
Military of Italy have lost 33 soldiers in Iraq. 25 were hostile deaths: two in separate engagements, six in various roadside bombings, 17 in a late 2003 suicide bombing on the Italian HQ in Nasiriyah (which also killed at least two Italian civilians), eight were accidents and one, a ranking major general, was a
controversial friendly fire incident. Italy has another 84 troops stationed on bases in the Persian Gulf. Recently,
Agusta A129 Mangusta attack helicopters and more
Dardo IFVs have been sent to Iraq.
★
Japan - The last 280 of the original 600 medics and engineers based in
Samawah (Southern Iraq) had been withdrawn by
July 25,
2006, arriving home in Tokyo in the early morning.
[68] The
reconstruction mission in Samawa had limited the troops' activities to "non-combat zones". Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet decided on
December 8 2005 to allow its 600 troops to stay for another year,
[69] despite a poll by the Asahi newspaper which found that 69% of respondents were against renewing the mandate, up from 55% in January. Despite the apparent year-long extension of the mandate, PM Koizumi announced on
June 20 2006 that the Japanese contingent would be withdrawn within 'several dozen days',
[70] citing the completion of the Japanese mission in Samawah. However, he suggested expanding airborne logistical support from southern parts of the country to Baghdad in place of the ground force. Three Japanese hostages were captured in Iraq in early 2004 but were released unharmed a week later. Later, in a statement released in July 2004, Al Zarqawi released a statement threatening Japan, Poland and Bulgaria over their troop deployments. He demanded the Japanese government to 'do what the Philippines have done' and withdraw its troops, and said that 'lines of cars laden with explosives are awaiting you' if his demands were not met. Mortars and rockets have been lobbed at the Japanese camp several times, causing no damage or injuries.
★
Norway - 140 of 150 troops (engineers and mine clearers) withdrawn on
June 30,
2004 citing growing domestic opposition and the need for the troops elsewhere; the 10 remaining liaison officers had been withdrawn by August 2006. The Bondevik II government insists the troops were never part of the invasion force, citing a UN humanitarian mandate. This does not seem to have come to the attention of the international community, as Al-Qaeda has included Norway in videotaped threats on at least two occasions, and U.S. organizations have included Norway on their lists of participating nations. The actual status of Norwegian engineering and administrative personnel past and present is still a matter of domestic controversy, in part because troops serving in a war zone are entitled to better pay.
★
Singapore - 161
Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) personnel onboard RSS ''Endurance'' returned on
31 January 2004 after a two-month deployment.
[71] The
amphibious transport dock conducted logistical tasks, such as replenishing supplies for other naval vessels in the Persian Gulf, and conducted patrols to enforce maritime presence. It also served as a platform for helicopter missions and maritime boarding operations missions by teams from other coalition countries when they inspected ships leaving Iraq.
[72] A
Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) C-130 transport aircraft carrying a crew of 31 returned on
4 April 2004 after a two-month deployment. During its deployment, the C-130 detachment conducted air support missions, including providing airlift and transportation of logistics supply to coalition forces.
[73] A RSAF KC-135 tanker aircraft with a crew of 33 returned on
11 September 2004 after a three-month deployment. During its deployment, the KC-135 provided air-to-air refuelling for coalition forces.
[74] Another RSN amphibious transport dock, RSS ''Resolution'', returned on
19 March 2005 with 180 personnel after a three-month deployment,
[75] while another RSAF KC-135 returned on
17 September 2005 with 35 personnel after a three-month deployment.
[76] In the RSN's latest deployment, a total of 180 personnel onboard the amphibious transport dock RSS ''Resolution'' returned on
27 May 2006 after a three-month deployment.
[77] This deployment saw the ship taking on the expanded role of taking charge of coalition and Iraqi Navy ships to defend Iraq's oil platforms.
[78] Currently, there are no Singapore Armed Forces personnel in or around Iraq.
2005 withdrawals
★
Portugal - had 128 military policemen under Italian command (South East Iraq). Troops were withdrawn on
February 10 2005, two days ahead of schedule.
★
Netherlands - An independent contingent of 1,345 troops (including 650
Dutch Marines, three or four Chinook helicopters, a military police unit, a logistics team, a commando squad, a field hospital and
Royal Netherlands Air Force AH-64 attack helicopters) was deployed to Iraq in 2003, based in
Samawah (Southern Iraq). On
June 1 2004, the Dutch government renewed their stay through 2005. The
Algemeen Dagblad reported on
October 21 2004, that the Netherlands would pull its troops out of Iraq in March 2005, which it did, leaving half a dozen liaison officers until late 2005. The Dutch Government reportedly turned down an Iraqi Government request to extend the Dutch contingent for another year. The Netherlands lost 2 soldiers in separate attacks.
★
Ukraine - As of
December 22,
2005, all remaining Ukrainian troops crossed the Iraqi border into Kuwait and arrived home in Ukraine by
December 30. This fulfills a long-planned withdrawal pledged by President
Viktor Yushchenko who was sworn in on the
January 23,
2005, and executes a ruling by the Ukrainian legislative body, the
Verkhovna Rada, which passed a motion for the withdrawal of all troops. An independent contingent originally consisting of 1,650 mechanized infantry troops in
Kut (South Central Iraq), had been slashed to around 900 between
March 15 and
May 15,
2004.
[79] This number was then reduced continuously until the 44 remaining troops were pulled out along with the last of the vehicles within the final days of 2005.
[80] Defense Minister
Anatoliy Hrytsenko announced that 30 Army officers, ten specialists from the border service and ten representatives from the Interior Ministry would stay in Iraq, and that they would work at headquarter and command facilities, they have since been withdrawn. Ukraine lost a total of 18 soldiers in Iraq: 12 in attacks, 3 in accidents, 2 in suicides and 1 as a result of a heart attack, while 32 were wounded or injured. Early in 2004, three Ukrainian
engineers were taken hostage in Iraq but were freed shortly after. Total wounded/inured: 32
2004 withdrawals
★
Nicaragua - 230 troops left in February 2004, no replacement, attributed to financial reasons. While in Iraq, the troops were under Spanish command.
★
Spain - had 1,300 troops (mostly assigned to policing duties) in
Najaf and commanded the troops of
Honduras,
El Salvador, the
Dominican Republic, and of
Nicaragua. Newly elected
Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero fulfilled one of his campaign pledges and declared the end of the mission on
April 28,
2004 with the withdrawal of the last 260 troops. While in Iraq, Spain lost 11 military personnel: ten killed in insurgent attacks and one in an accident. Already during the mandate of the previous pro-invasion executive, Spanish permanent representative
Inocencio Arias raised questions about the legitimacy of the Iraq war.
★
Honduras - 368 troops withdrawn by end of May 2004 along with Spain's contingent, citing that the troops were sent there for reconstruction, not combat. While in Iraq, the troops were under Spanish command (South East Iraq).
★
Dominican Republic - 302 troops withdrawn by end of May 2004, shortly after Spain and Honduras withdrew their contingents, citing growing domestic opposition and the fall from power of PRD candidate Hipolito Mejia and the election of center-left PLD candidate Leonel Fernandez to the presidency in 2004. Dominican troops were under constant mortar attacks but suffered no casualties. While in Iraq, the troops were under Spanish command (South East Iraq).
★
Philippines - 51 medics, engineers and other troops withdrawn
July 14 2004 in response to kidnapping of a truck driver. When the hostage takers' demands were met (Filipino troops out of Iraq), the hostage was released. While in Iraq, the troops were under Polish command (Central South Iraq) and during that time several Filipino soldiers were wounded in an insurgent attack but none died.
★
Thailand - Withdrawal of last 100 troops from Thailand's 423-strong humanitarian contingent completed on
September 10 2004, in accordance with Thailand's mandate in Iraq which expired in September. Prime Minister
Thaksin Shinawatra had previously announced early withdrawal if the situation became too dangerous. Thailand lost 2 soldiers in Iraq in an insurgent attack.
★
Hungary - Hungary's contingent of 300 transportation troops had begun arriving home in Budapest from Iraq on
December 22 2004, reported AFP. All of Hungary's troops were reported by the Defence Ministry to have left Iraq by the end of that day. While in Iraq 1 Hungarian soldier was killed in an insurgent attack.
★
New Zealand - Two rotations of 61 military engineers, known as Task Force Rake, operated in Iraq from
September 26,
2003 to
September 25,
2004.
[81][82] They were deployed to undertake humanitarian and reconstruction tasks consistent with
UN Security Council Resolution 1483; they were not part of the invading force. While in Iraq the unit was under British command (South East Iraq) and was based in Basra.
★
Tonga - 45 Royal Marines. Arrived in Iraq at the beginning of July 2004 to augment the I Marine Expeditionary Force in the Al Anbar Province. Withdrew all forces in mid-December 2004.
★
Iceland - Iceland had 2
Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts, a medical advisor, and some transport experts assigned to the Danish unit immediately after the occupation began; they have since been withdrawn.
YouTube channel
In early
March 2007, MNF-I announced
[83] that the coalition had launched an official
YouTube channel.
[84] The channel has reportedly climbed to 16th in subscription numbers, and its videos supposedly have over a million views.
[85]
The stated purpose of the Youtube channel is to "document action as it appeared to personnel on the ground and in the air as it was shot" In reality, the clips posted to the site are edited for "time, security reasons, and/or overly disturbing or offensive images."
Private security companies
In addition to regular troops there are 35,000-120,000
[86] private military contractors in Iraq. One such example is
Blackwater USA, which has been discussed often in recent news. These contractors also differ from military troops as they are outside a
Uniform Code of Military Justice, and follow a separate system of legal accountability through registration with the Iraqi Ministry of Interior. PSCs are regulated under CPA Memorandum 17, which has been endorsed with the Government of Iraq.
'Contractor Casualties'
As of 3 April 2007, at least 390 contractors have been killed in Iraq: the vast majority of them security personnel killed in ambushes or bombings. These include at least 120 Americans, 40 Britons, 21 South Africans, 17 Fijians, 5 Canadians as well as smaller numbers of fatalities from various other nations. Siginificant numbers of translators, engineers, truck-drivers and other workers have been killed including around 40 Americans, 34 Turks, 12 Nepalis, 9 Filipinos, 6 Bulgarians and 5 Jordanians; amongst others.
Incentives given by the U.S. to coalition members
Many nations received monetary and other incentives from the United States in return for sending troops to or otherwise supporting the Iraq war.
[87] Critics of the Bush Administration such as Senator
Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, has said this approach smacks of "bribery"
[88] Below is a partial list of some of the incentives offered to coalition members:
★ Turkey - Turkey was offered approximately $8.5 billion in loans in exchange for sending 10,000 peacekeeping troops in 2003. Even though the US did say the loans and the sending of troops to Iraq were not directly linked, it also said the loans are contingent upon "cooperation" on Iraq.
[89]
★ Singapore - In May 2003 the Bush Administration signed a free trade agreement with Singapore, the first with an Asian country. In announcing the deal, President Bush hailed Singapore as "a strong partner in the war on terrorism and a member of the coalition on Iraq."
Asia Times columnist Jeffrey Robertson argued was a reward for Singapore's support of the Iraq invasion.
[87][91][92]
★ Australia: In 2004 the Bush Administration "fast tracked" a free trade agreement with Australia. The Sydney Morning Herald called the deal a "reward" for Australia's contribution of troops to the Iraq invasion.
[93][94]
★ Great Britain: As of 2006, the Independent reported that British companies have received at least £1.1bn contracts for reconstruction work in postwar Iraq.
[95]
In addition to direct incentives, critics of the war have argued that the involvement of other members of the coalition was in response for indirect benefits, such as support for NATO membership or other military and financial aid. Indeed, almost all of the Eastern European nations involved in the Coalition have either
recently joined or are in the process of joining the US-led NATO alliance (namely Bulgaria, Georgia, Albania, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia).
[96] Estonian Foreign Minister
Urmas Paet, for example, said on April 21 that Estonian troops had to remain in Iraq due to his country's “important partnership” with the United States.
[97]
At least one country,
Georgia, is believed to have sent soldiers to Iraq as an act of repayment for the American training of security forces that could potentially be deployed to the break-away regions of
South Ossetia and
Abkhazia.
[98] Indeed, Georgian troops that were sent to Iraq have all undergone these training programmes.
[99]
El Salvador's President
Antonio Saca has been accused of deploying troops in return for membership in the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA),
[100] and as a member of the right-wing
ARENA party that was supported heavily by the United States during the
El Salvador Civil War, is certainly influenced by the United States.
Conversely, Greece's non involvement (a poll indicated 90% against the Iraq Invasion), may have led to the US recognising FYROM as 'Macedonia'.
[101]
See also
★
Gulf War (1990–1991) Coalition
References
1. http://www.iraqtimeline.com/mar04.html,
2. http://edition.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/11/20/prague.bush.nato/
3. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030327-10.html
4. http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/breuropera/74.php
5. http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/iraq/news/20030327-10.html
6. http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,917741,00.html
7. http://www.worldtribune.com/bush43.html
8. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HC11Ak01.html
9. Iraq Bill Demands U.S. Troop WithdrawAssociated Press, ''Fox News'', May 10, 2007
10. Iraqi parliament wants say in extension of US-led forces Associated Press, ''The Jerusalem Post'', June 5, 2007
11.
12. http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=1696
13. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/HC11Ak01.html
14. MNF-I Press briefing May 11, 2006
15. UN renews mandate for Iraq troops
16. http://www.gallup-international.com/ContentFiles/survey.asp?id=10
17. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070907/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq/[ Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Marine Corps personnel deployed to the western, northern and central regions of Iraq. The latest figure includes the 28,500 troops sent to Iraq as part of the troop surge plan, which began in early 2007. When completed, the increase will consist of about 17,500 troops deployed to Baghdad, around 4,000 to Anbar Province, 2,200 military police to guard an increasing number of prisoners, and 6,000 - 7,000 support soldiers. An additional 30,000 troops are deployed in the Gulf region.][http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/iraq_orbat_es.htm]
18. http://www.armymedicine.army.mil/news/releases/20070504mhat.cfm
19. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/14/us/14military.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5124&en=c8daf02623d6a853&ex=1329195600
20. http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/64426.html
21. http://www.nysun.com/article/61783?page_no=1
22. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6974611.stm
23. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6958395.stm
24. http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/02/20/uk.iraq.troops/index.html
25. http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/03/13/uk.iraq/index.html
26. Operation Catalyst
27. http://www.defence.gov.au/opcatalyst
28. http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/LindsayAlerttpl.cfm?CurrentId=6728
29. http://www.defence.gov.au/opcatalyst
30. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/kovco-died-in-gun-bungle/2006/12/01/1164777779394.html
31. http://english.aljazeera.net/news/archive/archive?ArchiveId=16866
32. http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=99439
33. http://www.forbes.com/finance/feeds/afx/2005/12/05/afx2368699.html
34. http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/12/27/poland.troops.ap/
35. http://www.radio.com.pl/polonia/article.asp?tId=31510&j=2
36. http://today.reuters.com/News/CrisesArticle.aspx?storyId=N01201621
37. http://www.forter.ro/index.php?leg=irak
38. http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-05-30-iraq-coalition_x.htm
39. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-11/09/content_5306736.htm
40. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1186066397991&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
41. http://www.newspress.com/Top/Article/article.jsp?Section=WORLD&ID=565064868601135129
42. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6433289.stm
43. http://www.focus-fen.net/?id=n117912
44. http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6430163,00.html
45. http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/04/28/europe/EU-GEN-Denmark-Iraq.php
46. http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1386709&C=europe
47. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/mek.htm
48. http://www.turkishweekly.net/news.php?id=29780
49. http://www.serbianna.com/news/2006/02341.shtml
50. http://www.army.cz/scripts/detail.php?id=6589
51. Armenian peacekeepers to stay an extra year in Iraq
52. Armenian defense minister to visit Iraq as Armenia is to extend small troop presence
53. http://www.vlada.mk/english/News/December2006/ei4-12-2006.htm
54. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200704/05/eng20070405_364108.html
55. http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/news/stories/s1728439.htm?Fiji
56. http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/Operations/current_ops_e.asp
57. http://www.mfat.govt.nz/Foreign-Relations/1-Global-Issues/Security/Peacekeeping-Operations.php
58. http://www.afsouth.nato.int/JFCN_Missions/NTM-I/Articles/NTMI_A_01_07.htm
59. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-01/27/content_5662652.htm
60. http://www.difesa.it/Operazioni+Militari/operazioni+in+atto/Iraq-NTM-I/Contributo+Nazionale.htm
61. http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,85212,00.html
62. http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9211&Itemid=129
63. http://www.mod.gov.lv/Nacionalie%20brunotie%20speki/Misijas/Iraka.aspx
64. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060921/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_italy
65. http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,1778041,00.html
66. http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/CC7BDEF3-289F-4287-8987-4E2E2F07D4A7.htm
67. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060526/ap_on_re_eu/italy_iraq
68. http://sg.news.yahoo.com/060725/1/42b0d.htm
69. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-12/08/content_3893543.htm
70. http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Japanese_Forces_Begin_Iraq_Pullout_999.html
71. SAF's LST Returns from Middle East
72. SAF Deploys LST and C-130 to Assist in Reconstruction of Iraq
73. SAF C-130 Aircraft Returns from the Gulf
74. SAF KC-135 Returns from Gulf
75. SAF LST Returns from Persian Gulf
76. SAF KC-135 Aircraft Returns from the Gulf
77. SAF Ship Returns from Persian Gulf
78. A taste of home after successful Gulf deployment
79. http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/VBOL-6JTE65?OpenDocument
80. http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/12/27/poland.troops.ap/index.html
81. http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO0409/S00218.htm
82. http://www.army.mil.nz/?CHANNEL=OPERATIONS&PAGE=Iraq+-+UNMOVIC
83. Coalition operations on YouTube
84. http://www.youtube.com/MNFIRAQ
85. US military takes Iraq war to YouTube
86. Private Security Company Association of Iraq (from May 4, 2006 web archive)
87.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/armtwist/2003/0511alliesrewarded.htm
88. "US is direct in seeking troops". The Boston Globe, October 10, 2003.
89. http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/1008/p01s02-woiq.html "Turks pitch in: new troops to Iraq"
90.
http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/armtwist/2003/0511alliesrewarded.htm
91. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/05/20030506-11.html
92. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Asian_Economy/GG12Dk01.html
93. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/08/20040803-1.html
94. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/15/1089694452858.html
95. http://news.independent.co.uk/world/middle_east/article350959.ece
96. http://www.usiraqprocon.org/pop/coalitionuptodate2.htm
97. http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=1722324&C=europe/
98. http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0517/p08s01-woeu.html
99. U.S. Army Europe to train more Georgian troops, ''Stars and Stripes'' European edition, 27 June 2006
100. http://www.coha.org/2006/08/21/el-salvador-dispatches-additional-contingent-to-iraq/
101. Balkan Crisis Report: Macedonia Looks to US to Lean on Greece Tamara Causidis
External links
★ http://mnf-iraq.com Official site
★
Official YouTube channel
★
Coalition of the Reluctant (web comic)
★
Site with Iraq news and detailed database of all Coalition and Contractor casualties in Iraq
★
Breakdown of Coalition Members by Contributions
★
Images of coalition troops in Iraq
★
MNF Patch
★
Top UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello killed in terrorist blast in Baghdad -
UN News Centre
★
Bush: Join 'Coalition of Willing (CNN)
★
White House list of 49 Coalition Members
★
Corrected White House list of 48 Coalition Members
★
Coalition of the Willing List, Map and Troop Numbers from ''Perspectives on World History and Current Events''.
★
A Coalition of the "Willing"? ''Misnomer'',
February 11 2003, summary of public opinion on the invasion of Iraq.
★
Coalition Troop Deployment Data and Graphs, Collected from various news sources.
★
Coalition of the Willing Count Current numbers of Coalition forces, from multiple sources
★
British Casualty Monitor: Tracking the war in Iraq
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