"The deployment of a Macedonian army contingent to Operation Iraqi Freedom is just the second peacekeeping mission - after Afghanistan - in the country’s history."

"Members of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM) Special Unit were dispatched to Iraq following a decision by the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia in May, 2003. A month later the 33-person unit deployed to Iraq. Since then, the level of interoperability demonstrated with other nations confirms Macedonia’s successful implementation of NATO standards."
06/2004 COALITION BULLETIN 

"Some missions are too small to be of military significance. Macedonia has 28 soldiers in northern Iraq."
07/03/03 Jim Krane 

"As a peace-loving member of the community of democratic nations, Macedonia did not want this war, but the regime of Hussein, despite the commitment of the international community did not leave any option but to be disarmed by force... I would like to take this opportunity to express the support of Macedonia, to the troops of the United States, the United Kingdom and other coalition forces who have put themselves in harm in order to accomplish the crucial task of disarming the regime of Saddam Hussein and bringing democracy to the long-oppressed people of Iraq."
03/26/03 WHITE HOUSE 

"For many others, membership in the war coalition is hardly a matter of choice. Like Bulgaria, Albania, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, all either want to join NATO or have recently done so. But they each need American support in case Moscow ever gets fiesty again so do the former Soviet republics like Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan, which is one of the most vicious and tyrannical regimes outside Iraq."
03/25/03 I.WILLIAMS 

"Let's begin with the small but mighty entrants -- the Marshall Islands, Micronesia. and Palau. The three former Pacific Trust territories' entire budget depends on the U.S. Congress, and treaties put their entire defense and a significant say in their foreign policy in the hands of Washington."
03/25/03 >I.WILLIAMS 

"Lets begin with the small but mighty entrants -- the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, and Palau. The three former Pacific Trust territories' entire budget depends on the U.S. Congress, and treaties put their entire defense and a significant say in their foreign policy in the hands of Washington."
03/25/03 I.WILLIAMS 

"Moldova withdrew its contingent of 12 troops from Iraq in February 2005. The withdrawal had not been previously noted."
03/15/05 Global Security 

"Other countries have reduced their already tiny contingents; Moldova, already the smallest group with 42 soldiers, is now down to 12."
07/20/04 P.BENNIS 

"Their [Mongolians] work is largely confined to construction and logistics at their base outside the town of Hilla. They do not patrol and have not yet been involved in direct gun battles with the Iraqi resistance fighters."
"Their mission is Iraq is likely to be the first of a series of international peacekeeping roles."
09/29/03 R.MCCARTHY 

"Those countries are looking for the Bush administration to return the favor for their support. Mongolia, which has 174 troops in Iraq, wants a free trade deal with the United States."

"In February, President Bush invited Mongolian President Natsagiyn Bagabandi in the White House to thank him for joining the coalition. In April Mongolia sought a return favor. It asked the U.S. departments of State and Commerce for a free trade pact, said Jambaldorj Tserendorj, a counselor at the Mongolian Embassy in Washington.

Tserendorj said Mongolia's backing of the war gave it an advantage. 'We cannot say that this will play the main role, but some extent it could help."
09/27/03 Jim Krane 

"The Iraqi regime has been highly reluctant to implement the successive resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and unable to prove to the international community that it has fully destroyed its weapons of mass destruction. Thus it failed to fully meet its obligations vis-a-vis the United Nations. This is where, as we see it, lies the main reason for the emergence of the crisis situation in the region."
03/26/03 WHITE HOUSE 

"On Monday [March 14, 2005], 160 Dutch soldiers arrived home as part of a phased withdrawal."
03/16/05 D.WILLIAMS & C.MURPHY 

"On March 14, 2005, The London Daily Telegraph reported that on March 7, 2005, Dutch military forces in Iraq handed over command in the province Al Muthanna to the British, thereby officially ending its mission in Iraq. It also reported that, as of March 14, 2005, only 200 Dutch troops were reported to still be in the province. They were scheduled to leave Iraq by the end of the month [March 2005]. The Associated Press reported on Mar. 15, that 150 troops had returned home on Feb. 21. The BBC reported on Mar. 15. that another 150 had returned home that day, but 800 troops were still in Iraq."
03/15/05 Global Security 

"The Netherlands will pull its soldiers out of Iraq on March 15, Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende confirmed after meeting today with his foreign and defense ministers Ben Bot and Henk Kamp."

"The Dutch security responsibilities in the patrol area in the southern Iraqi province al-Muthanna will then be handed over to the British in March. The main detachment of some 1,400 Dutch troops will depart from Iraq in March, but several hundred soldiers will remain in the region for six to eight weeks to dismantle the Dutch Camp, ANP [Dutch News Agency] reported."

"Two Dutch soldiers have been killed and Dutch troops have killed about a dozen Iraqis."
01/17/05 A.ElFASSED 

"[T]he Netherlands, with 1,400 troops, said this week that the latest rotation of troops would be its last contribution to Iraq."
11/04/04 J.DEMPSEY 

"Dutch troops have been based at Samawa in southern Iraq since July 2003 with a mandate to help with reconstruction and to provide security and stability in a region where Japan has sent 550 non-combat troops to help rebuild the country."

"The Dutch government said it would stay to ensure a smooth transition of sovereignty and later elections to establish a safe, stable and democratic Iraq."
06/11/04 ALJAZEERA 

"The Dutch have had a contingent of 1,100 troops in Iraq since summer 2003 (scheduled to remain until summer 2004) and have pledged 21 million euros for reconstruction. In addition, the Netherlands has pledged 300,000 euros to establish the Iraqi Bureau of Missing Persons."
04/29/04 U.S.DOS 

"In other cases, Washington's list seems to be a case of willful exaggeration. It includes, for example, the Netherlands, which promised a Patriot battery to protect Turkey in case of an Iraqi attack, and is at best a tangential member of the coalition."
03/25/03 I.WILLIAMS 

"New Zealand is withdrawing its 60 engineers."
11/04/04 J.DEMPSEY 

"The Dominican Republic withdrew 302 soldiers, Nicaragua 115 and Honduras 370."
11/04/04 J.DEMPSEY 

"The position of our ambassador to the UN has been clearly in support of Security Council Resolution 1441, which calls for disarming the Iraqi regime, even through the use of force, as the resolution clearly states. Peace and the peaceful coexistence of the free peoples of the world are now threatened by the widespread global scourge of terrorism. That is why Nicaragua has been a firm ally of the United States in its fight against terrorism... we cannot ignore threats from those who, sheltered by military dictatorships and the oppression of their peoples, jeopardize international security and world peace."
03/26/03 WHITE HOUSE 

"Operations in IRAQ

• In Iraq Norway has supported the reconstruction of the country with an Engineer Coy and Staff Officers in MND SE and MND CS.
• In cooperation with our coalition partners Norway is continuously evaluating and subsequently adjusting the contribution according to the Coalition's needs, Norway ’s available resources and her Governments security interests."
• "Norway is supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom with a number of Staff Officers in MND SE and MND CS. In addition Norway takes part in the NATO training mission with a number of officers."
  01/10/05 CENTCOM 

"Norway quietly pulled out its 155 military engineers this month, leaving behind only about 15 personnel to assist a new NATO-coordinated effort to help train and equip Iraqi security forces."
07/15/04 R.WRIGHT & B.GRAHAM 

"Although Norway did not participate in the Coalition to liberate Iraq, they have contributed a 150-man engineering contingent operating with the United Kingdom and six staff officers operating with the Poles to the reconstruction effort in southern Iraq. In 2003, Norway contributed $42 million to the reconstruction and stabilization effort in Iraq, and at Madrid it pledged more than $11 million per year through 2006 for this effort."
04/29/04 U.S.DOS 

"Oman: Base for U.S. planes used in Afghanistan, but says will play no role in a war against Iraq. Oman has sent one battalion under Gulf Cooperation Council mission to defend Kuwait."
03/19/03 P.PASICOLAN & C.SATTERLEE

"Not so shy is Palau. The nations leadership has offered its ports and airfields to any units taking part in the Iraqi offensive."
03/28/03 A.PERROTT 

"'It's rather symbolic,' said Hersey Kyota, Palau's ambassador in Washington, of his country's willingness to be listed in the 46-member coalition of the willing engaged in the Iraq War. Kyota said the president of Palau, which depends on the U.S. military for its security, on a visit to Washington, 'thought it was a good idea to write a letter of support, so he did.' Kyota said Palau gamely offered its harbors and airports to the effort, but the offer was graciously declined, as Palau is nowhere near Iraq. Palau is one of six unarmed nations in the coalition, along with Costa Rica, Iceland, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and the Solomon Islands."
03/25/03 D.MILBANK 

"Let's begin with the small but mighty entrants -- the Marshall Islands, Micronesia. and Palau. The three former Pacific Trust territories' entire budget depends on the U.S. Congress, and treaties put their entire defense and a significant say in their foreign policy in the hands of Washington."
03/25/03 I.WILLIAMS 

"My government understands your decision to grant to the Iraqi people the chance to enjoy democracy, peace and respect for human rights."
03/26/03 WHITE HOUSE 

"Among a number of actions undertaken by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, two military officers have been sent as Armed Forces of the Philippines representatives to Coalition Headquarters at US Central Command. The pair were reinforced with a 3-man Joint Planning Team prior to the deployment of the Philippine Humanitarian Contingent to Iraq on Operation Iraqi Freedom."

"Under the Polish-led Multi-National Division-Central South 'CIMIC' Battalion, the Philippine component is significantly involved in the capability build-up of the new Iraqi Security Forces, where they train Iraqi Border Police and Civil Defense Corps. Their success was demonstrated when, during a training mission, they arrested five terrorists armed with weapons and ammunition.

Jointly, the component conducts routine patrols with the 442nd US MP and Polish MP units. The DOH component, as part of the Tactical Support Teams, conducts extensive medical outreach programs. These have brought hope and a chance for dignity to many Iraqis, oppressed for so long under Iraq’s former dictatorship."
05/2004 COALITION BULLETIN 

"The Philippines withdrew its 51 in July, a month early, after insurgents took hostage a Filipino truck driver working for a Saudi company."
11/04/04 J.DEMPSEY 

"The Philippines plans to send 175 personnel, including soldiers, police and medics."
07/03/03 Jim Krane 

"The Philippines is part of the coalition of the willing... We are giving political and moral support for actions to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. We are part of a long-standing security alliance. We are part of the global coalition against terrorism."

"We share deeply the values being fought for over Iraq, no less than the values of freedom and civilization... We reject the notion that the Philippines should sit on the fence and do nothing in the face of the crisis in Iraq."
03/26/03 WHITE HOUSE 

"Poland is planning to remove a few hundred of its 1,700 soldiers this summer and the rest by early 2006."
03/16/05 D.WILLIAMS & C.MURPHY 

"Poland's defense minister, Jerzy Szmajdzinski, told the Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza last week that Poland planned a 40 percent reduction of its forces in Iraq by the end of January 2005 and to have all its troops out by the end of that year."

"Poland commands one of the four military zones, where it has 2,500 troops deployed."

"Central Europeans leaders joined the United States in Iraq despite the reservations of their own public and in the face of intense pressure from certain European leaders."

"As Early as March, Kwasniewski [Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski] commented that 'naturally I also feel uncomfortable due to the fact that we were mislead with information on weapons of mass destruction.' A public opinion poll conducted in June [2004] found that 61 percent of Hungarians surveyed wanted to bring their 350 troops home rather than renew their mandate when it expires at the end of the year."

"The other bone of contention that has emerged between the United States and Central Europe concerns postwar Iraqi contracting. While Halliburton Co. and several other U.S. companies have reportedly been awarded to companies from Central Europe. Although the U.S. embassy in Warsaw held a workshop in September [2004] to help Polish companies understand Iraqi contracting regulations, there is widespread disappointment that the eagerness of the Bush administration to draw Poland into the war was not matched by sharing the business of postwar reconstruction."
10/13/04 M.BRZEZINSKI 

"Members of Poland’s special forces took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and on 3 September a Polish-led multinational division assumed control of the Central-South security zone in Iraq. More than 2,000 Polish soldiers currently are serving in Iraq, and the Government of Poland has also offered to assist in training the new Iraqi police force."
04/29/04 U.S.DOS 

"Coalition soldiers have been involved in fighting in several Shia cities in the south: The Ukranians who retreated from Kut; the Bulgarians and Poles in Karbala; the Spaniards in Najaf; the Italians in Nasiriya."
04/08/04 B.MASON 

"Poland, with 2,400 troops in Iraq and command of a swath of south-central Iraq, finds itself reaping several windfalls.

The U.S. government spent about $250 million to airlift the Poles to Iraq, build their camps and provide equipment. Now, the Polish national airline, LOT, is among several European carriers with right to operate flights to Iraq. And Polish Bank Millennium is one of a consortium of 13 banks chosen to run the Iraqi Trade Bank."

"Poland has 116 suppliers and subcontracting firms registered with Bechtel Corp., the U.S. contractor charged with rebuilding much of Iraq. France, with a far larger economy, has just 24.

In July, more than 20 companies from Poland signed a memorandum of understanding with Kellogg, Brown and Root, the construction subsidiary of Houston-based oilfield services firm Halliburton. The Polish group is preparing for contracts to rebuild the Iraqi oil industry."

"Poles also have been negotiating purchase of some 450 new Humvees in a deal worth $45 million, financed through a U.S. loan, defense ministry spokesman Col. Eugeniusz Mleczak said Thursday.

Direct access to crude oil is Poland's 'final goal,' said Foreign Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz."
09/27/03 Jim Krane 

"International troops have delayed taking over from U.S. Marines in the Iraqi city of Najaf - site of a devastating mosque bombing - by nearly three weeks until Sept. 21, the Polish military said Tuesday".

Delaying the actual handover in Najaf will give time to peacekeepers for the city, who come from several Central American nations, to get familiar with the equipment they receive from the Marines, said Maj. Andrzej Wiatrowski, a spokesman for Polish forces in Iraq."

"Poland, with 2,400 troops in Iraq, is the largest non-U.S. troop contributor for the south-central zone of some 31,000 square miles that it will command. Spain and Ukraine also have large contingents in the 21-nation force. Some 2,500 U.S. troops in the zone will be outside Polish command."
09/02/03 M.SCISLOWSKA 

"Poland, which sent an advance force of 250 soldiers Wednesday, is one of America's more eager partners. By September [2003], the Poles will command one of three military sectors in Iraq, which includes the Shiite holy cities of Karbala and Najaf.

The Poles will lead a stabilization force of 9,000 soldiers from 15 countries, including Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Lithuania, Spain, Ukraine, the Dominican Republic, Honduras and El Salvador.

Poland is supposed to deploy 2,300 soldiers and the Ukrainians are sending a mechanized unit of 1,800 soldiers. Both asked Washington to foot part of the bill."
07/03/03 Jim Krane 

"Poland's Deputy Defense Minister Janusz Zemke told public radio Washington had asked Warsaw to contribute 4,000 troops and command one of the zones of Iraq, but Poland would seek U.S. funding to pay for the mission before committing."
04/30/03 P.GRAFF 

"For many others, membership in the war coalition is hardly a matter of choice. Like Bulgaria, Albania, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, all either want to join NATO or have recently done so. But they each need American support in case Moscow ever gets fiesty again so do the former Soviet republics like Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan, which is one of the most vicious and tyrannical regimes outside Iraq."
03/25/03 I.WILLIAMS 

"We are ready to use a Polish contingent in the international coalition to contribute to making Iraq comply with the U.N. resolutions... It’s clear that the problem of existing weapons of mass destruction in Iraq is a fact."
03/26/03 WHITE HOUSE 

"AFP reported that Portugal would have withdrawn its troops from Iraq by Feb. 12. They left Iraq on Feb. 10, two days ahead of schedule."
03/15/05 Global Security 

"Portugal's centre-right Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso in November dispatched 128 national guards to southern Iraq to back the US-led coalition in the war-torn country, where they operate under British command."
04/19/04 AGE 

"Portugal promised 120 police officers."
07/03/03 Jim Krane 

"The responsibility falls exclusively on the Iraqi regime and its obstinacy in not complying with the resolutions of the United Nations for the last 12 years... On this difficult hour, Portugal reaffirms its support to his Allies, with whom it shares the values of Liberty and Democracy, and hopes that this operation will be as short as possible and that it will accomplish all its objectives."
03/26/03 WHITE HOUSE 

"Permission for use of military bases/airspace: Bahrain; Kuwait; Qatar; Croatia; Spain (Security Council); Jordan; Italy; Portugal; United Arab Emirates; Ireland; Turkey."
03/19/03 P.GALLAGHER 

"Although they have not been named, commentators have suggested they include Israel, the Arab states hosting US forces such as Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Bahrain, and anti-war Germany which has allowed access to its land bases."
03/28/03 A.PERROTT 

"Permission for use of military bases/airspace: Bahrain; Kuwait; Qatar; Croatia; Spain (Security Council); Jordan; Italy; Portugal; United Arab Emirates; Ireland; Turkey."
03/19/03 P.GALLAGHER 

"BBC Monitoring reported on Feb. 17, that Romania was deploying troops for its IV Engineer detachment to Iraq...According to a BBC Monitoring report from Feb. 14, the 2nd Infantry Battalion from Romania had replaced the 812th Infantry Battalion at camp Mittica at Tallil Air Base. On Feb. 9, it reported that the new unit was the 2nd Calugareni Battalion."
03/15/05 Global Security 

"On Sept. 19, 2001, the Romanian Parliament approved basing and overflight permission for all U.S. and coalition partners."
01/10/05 CENTCOM 

"James Dobbins, a former U.S. envoy on postconflict missions in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Bosnia, told RFE/RL that Georgia and Romania are unlikely to have a major impact. They may on the margins provide some military capability, but I would think [with] Georgia, [it's] hard to think that they would provide very much. Romania may be a little bit more. But these countries don't have serious military capabilities, let alone serious capabilities of projecting that military power at any distance."
12/20/04 R.MCMAHON 

"Since July 2003, Romanian Armed Forces have been participating in the security and reconstruction of Iraq with more than 700 soldiers –infantrymen, engineers, Military Police, and staff officers."

"Task Force Red Scorpions, a unit of the 26th Infantry Battalion, is based at Camp White Horse, near An Nassiryia. The unit’s wealth of experience, accumulated in missions in Angola, Albania, Kosovo, and Afghanistan, has guided it in its approach to local issues. One of the most important issues is that of security. The collapse of Saddam’s regime has destroyed much of the social order in Iraq, with thievery, hijackings and armed groups commonplace. Romanian soldiers patrol the roads day and night to provide security. They have been able to sustain their work by continuously training, thoroughly preparing for each mission and by adopting new methods to counter unexpected attacks."

"In these circumstances, civil-military cooperation(CIMIC) missions have been playing a significant role in the reconstruction of Iraqi facilities. With the help of programs like the school renovation projects at Suq ash-Shuyukh, Al Fuhud, and Al Fudliyah, Iraqi children are guaranteed a better future. The Romanian CIMIC team has supervised the refurbishing of ten schools in its area of operations...At the same time, many other projects such as medical equipment and medicine for hospitals, water sanitation facilities, pumping stations and communication lines continue so Iraqis can manage the work of transitioning their homeland to freedom."

"Not far from Camp Whitehorse lies Camp Mittica, where a Romanian Military Police (MP) detachment is situated carries on patrol and peacekeeping activities with Italian Carabinieri and Portuguese gendarmeries."

"The personnel have been through extensive training on international humanitarian law, UN standards for peacekeeping operations and even mandatory training on environmental protection in their areas of operation."

Travelling 200 miles north of Camp Mittica to Al Hillah, you can meet yet more Romanians – an Engineers Detachment based at Camp Charlie. Romanian engineers are seen as the good guys, hard workers and work hard and constantly adjust their engineering missions to the needs of the local people building houses, schools, bridges and so forth. The Romanian engineers also are working to protect coalition forces; they built a church of sorts, some 'Chuts' for people (small wooden structures) and an art school for the children in Al Hillah, numerous police security checkpoints, and base entrances. Every construction raised by them even the spotters’ watch-towers carries the proud emblem of the Romanian Engineers. Most of their mission involves inspection of bridges; spending five days on a 140 miles loop checking a variety of spans for resistance, stability, traffic flow; and explosives. Safety of the bridges is their number one mission and concern in Iraq. It’s worth to know that twice per day they sent squads in circulation in the nearby towns, for distributing water, food and materials - missions of mercy and goodwill."
07/2004 COALITION BULLETIN 

"CURRENT COALTION CONTRIBUTIONS:

• Afghanistan – One Infantry Battalion (405 troops) in Kandahar; 47 troops with ISAF plus one C-130; 25 troops for ANA training in Kabul; 6 officers in Bagram (CJTF 180); 2 CIMIC officers and 2 engineers in Kabul; one military observer in a British-led PRT; and 7 liaison officers at USCENTCOM headquarters in Tampa, Florida.
• Iraq – One Infantry Battalion (405 troops) in An Nasiriyah; 1 Engineers Detachment (149 troops) in Al Hillah; 1 Military Police Company (100 soldiers) in An Nasiriyah; One Intelligence Detachment (56 troops) in Babylon; 28 staff officers in Basra; 3 expert officers, 2 within CPA and one within CJTF Baghdad; and 2 liaison officers in London and Rome. The Romanian government will also deploy an additional 56 civil/military personnel."
  05/2004 COALITION BULLETIN 

"In 2003, about 1,200 Romanian troops served at the same time in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Romania has promised to maintain its commitment of troops in 2004."

"Romania has made its airspace, ground infrastructure, and naval facilities available to US and NATO forces engaged in the global war against terrorism."
04/29/04 U.S.DOS 

"We have already made a decision. The decision made by us is valid, it is in effect, we have responded to a demand coming from the United States and this does not mean that we get involved in a military conflict but the assistance which we grant to our allies."

"Romania has interests and responsibilities in Iraq. We intend to bring our contribution to providing human assistance and to the reconstruction process in this country, including the reconstruction of the Iraqi society, economy and democracy."
03/26/03 WHITE HOUSE 

"For many others, membership in the war coalition is hardly a matter of choice. Like Bulgaria, Albania, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, all either want to join NATO or have recently done so. But they each need American support in case Moscow ever gets feisty again so do the former Soviet republics like Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan, which is one of the most vicious and tyrannical regimes outside Iraq."

03/25/03 I.WILLIAMS 

"They should act when they are right to act because the Security Council can be wrong. It was wrong in Rwanda... You might avoid war and have a worse situation... That is why I was giving a comparison with our case. People avoided a war or doing very much and it ended up with a genocide."
03/26/03 WHITE HOUSE