"In an unofficial way, the coalition includes many of Iraq's neighbors.

'Although their support is muted and often limited to allowing logistics operations to flow through their countries, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and even Syria plus the Gulf States are all providing significant support to the US-coalition operation in Iraq,' says retired Navy Capt. Larry Seaquist, a former pentagon strategist. 'Each of those governments must be feeling a chill up their spine right now,' says Captain Seaquist. 'None want their people - the Arab 'street' - out in the streets demonstrating sympathy with their Iraqi brethren. Loss of support by these governments could be equally as serious as the uprising in the country.'"
04/12/04 B.KNICKERBOCKER 

"RSS Resolution and its 180-person crew left Singapore Nov. 27 for a three-month deployment in the Persian Gulf. The Singaporean Ministry of Defense Web site said the ship will help protect waters around oil terminals and provide logistics support for coalition vessels and helicopters. It also will conduct patrols, queries and boarding operations."

"Singapore had earlier deployed a landing ship tank, C-130 transport aircraft and KC-135 tanker aircraft to the region to conduct similar missions, the web site said."
11/29/04 D.MILES 

"Other countries have reduced their already tiny contingents; Singapore left only 33 soldiers in Iraq out of 191."
07/20/04 P.BENNIS 

"Singapore is a member of the 'coalition for the immediate disarmament of Iraq'... Singapore has a memorandum of understanding with the US which was signed in 1990 whereby we allow US aircraft to over fly Singapore and we allow US military assets, ships and aircraft to call at Singapore... It is a matter of grave concern that the Iraqi people do not suffer, and if any measures can be taken to alleviate their suffering, Singapore will do its part."
03/26/03 WHITE HOUSE 

• "On Sept. 21, 2001, Slovakia notified the U.S. that it would grant blanket overflight and basing rights to all coalition partners.
• There are currently two personnel at CENTCOM."
  01/10/05 CENTCOM: "International Contributions to the War on Terror" 

"CURRENT COALTION CONTRIBUTIONS:

• Afghanistan - 40 members of an Airfield Construction Unit at the Bagram airfield.
• Iraq – 100 members of an Engineering unit (mineclearing); 4 officers at MNFI HQ, 1officer at CJTF-7."
  05/2004 COALITION BULLETIN 

"The Slovaks sent a 75-person NBC contingent to Iraq, integrated into the Czech NBC unit. The Slovak unit was later replaced by an 82-person military engineering unit deployed to the Polish sector. The Parliament in February 2004 approved sending an additional 23 troops to Iraq."
04/29/04 U.S.DOS 

"We come to Iraq with respect for its citizens, for their great civilization and for the religious faiths they practice. We have no ambition in Iraq, except to remove a threat and restore control of that country to its own people."
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 

"CURRENT COALTION CONTRIBUTIONS:

• Afghanistan - 18 soldiers with ISAF; 2 officers at USCENTCOM; 1 police expert in Afg., 10 firefighters deploying to Kabul; 1 officer to PRT.
• Iraq – 5 police instructors in Amman, Jordan."
  05/2004 COALITION BULLETIN 

"Slovenia is planning to deploy special forces to Afghanistan in March 2004 and has made modest humanitarian contributions to Iraq. A very active Slovene NGO, the TOGETHER Center, is working to bring hope to children in the Balkans and in Iraq to prevent them from becoming a disaffected youth, and thus targets for recriutment by terrorists."
04/29/04 U.S.DOS 

"Slovenia: Signed the Vilinius 10 declaration supporting the United States."
03/19/03 P.PASICOLAN & C.SATTERLEE

"Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sir Allan Kemakeza yesterday said 'Thanks but no thanks' after hearing his nation had been shanghaied into the US-led Coalition of the Willing.

'The Government is completely unaware of such statements being made, therefore wishes to disassociate itself from the report,' said Sir Allan.

The Solomon Islands has no military capability, but according to the CIA World Factbook they do boast the above mentioned reconnaissance and surviellance unit and a Royal Police Force."
03/28/03 A.PERROTT 

"South Korea deployed its forces in the Kurdish town of Irbil last month, becoming the third-largest contributor of troops to the coalition after the United States and Britian."
12/31/04 RFE/RL 

"South Korea is increasing its force from 600 to 3,700."
07/15/04 R.WRIGHT & B.GRAHAM 

"Just a short while ago, I called a meeting of the National Security Council and reaffirmed the position of our Government to support the measure taken by the international community, including the United States. At a time when diplomatic efforts have failed to resolve the Iraqi problem peacefully, I believe that the action is inevitable to quickly remove weapons of mass destruction. Koreans tend to join forces when things get tough. The challenges lying before us may be tough, but we have ample potential to tackle them."
03/26/03 WHITE HOUSE 

"We should also appreciate the whole picture as Spanish troops leave Iraq. Spain remains a member of the Coalition. Its delegation in Tampa [Florida, USA] is not leaving. Spanish ships will continue to support maritime counterterrorist operations and Spain will remain engaged in Afghanistan. Its forces may be leaving Iraq, but Spain is not leaving the Coalition"
06/2004 A.DIEHL 

"In August, Spain deployed 1,300 troops to southern Iraq."
04/29/04 U.S.D.O.S. 

"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."

"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."
04/08/04 B.MASON 

"Right up until the end, the Iraqi regime defied international law by ignoring its obligations to disarm... it threw away its last chance... With a full sense of our responsibilities, the government of this nation supports the re-establishment of international law so that conditions for peace and security prevail."
03/26/03 WHITE HOUSE 

"Taiwan: Taipei opened its airspace to U.S. military aircraft."
03/19/03 P.PASICOLAN & C.SATTERLEE

"Thailand said it would bring home its 450 troops."
11/04/04 J.DEMPSEY 

"Nourishing the desire to help Iraqis rebuild the new Iraq, Thailand committed to Operation Iraqi Freedom on September 5, 2003. The mission of the Thai Humanitarian Assistance Task Force in Iraq is to relieve the present suffering of Iraqis and help restore their quality of life."

"Corresponding to this intention, the Thai Humanitarian Task Force, with a strength of 443 personnel, was mainly tailored to conduct reconstruction tasks, CIMIC (civil-military cooperation) activities and humanitarian assistance. It consists of an engineer battalion, six level-one medical teams, one CIMIC team and one selfprotection platoon."

"The Thai Task Force deployed to Karbala in September 2003 under the Multinational Division Central South (MNDCS). Its mandate is to provide engineering support, CIMIC and Humanitarian Assistance (HA) to MNDCS stabilization operations in the sector, with the aim of creating a secure and stable environment for transition to post hostility and civil administration. Thailand completed its first rotation of troops at the end of March."

"In addition to tasks assigned by MNDCS, the Thai Task Force also launches its own CIMIC and HA projects. Widely cooperating with Thai Non-Governmental Organizations, the Thai TF has been in charge of transferring donations monthly from Thai citizens to Iraqis using a Thai C-130 Hercules. Most of the donations meet basic needs, such as medicines, food, clothes, and blankets."

"Other HA projects include: the donation of medical equipment and medicine to a local hospital in Karbala; the building of nine roads in the Area of Responsibility, allowing increased aid to be brought into the area; the renovation and reopening of schools; the construction of community sport grounds; the establishment of a treatment clinic to improve the standard of health care; and, the establishment of rural health care teams: in the last six months, 19,623 Iraqis have been treated."

"Thailand strongly believes that the rebuilding of Iraq must be done by Iraqis themselves, with the support of the international community. Our intent is sincere. Our success in Iraq will help Iraqis rebuild their society and progress at their own pace from individuals to societies, to communities, to one nation."
06/2004 COALITION BULLETIN 

"The Kingdom of Tonga withdrew its contingent of 40+ troops from Iraq in December 2004. The withdrawl had not been previously noted."
03/15/05 Global Security 

"Tonga commenced Military to Military talk with the United States Armed Forces in March 2003. The government of the Kingdom of Tonga offered a military contingent to participate in the post-war reconstruction of Iraq with the purpose of making its own contribution to this laudable cause."

"Tonga, with a population of 100,000 spread over 170 coral islands to the north of New Zealand, had an obligation to the Coalition of the Willing to make a commitment when US asked for assistance."

"With the Tonga Defense Services totaling 450 personnel, it offered to send 45 light infantry Marines to join the United State led forces in Iraq."

"As the final support arrangements were finally in place May 2004, the 45 Royal Tongan Marines led by the Chief of Defense of the Tonga Defense Services, Colonel Tau’aika ‘Uta’atu, departed Tonga on the 13th of June 2004."

"The Royal Tonga Marines currently augment the 1st Marine Expeditionary Forces in the Al Anbar Province. Tonga first served with the 1st MEF on the Solomon Island during the World War II."

"This is the first Peacekeeping deployment for the Tonga Defense Services outside the South Pacific. It has 45 Peacekeeping soldiers currently deployed to the Solomon Island under the auspices of a Pacific Islands forum Agreement."
07/2004 COALITION BULLETIN 

"In an unofficial way, the coalition includes many of Iraq's neighbors.

'Although their support is muted and often limited to allowing logistics operations to flow through their countries, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and even Syria plus the Gulf States are all providing significant support to the US-coalition operation in Iraq,' says retired Navy Capt. Larry Seaquist, a former pentagon strategist. 'Each of those governments must be feeling a chill up their spine right now,' says Captain Seaquist. 'None want their people - the Arab 'street' - out in the streets demonstrating sympathy with their Iraqi brethren. Loss of support by these governments could be equally as serious as the uprising in the country.'"
04/12/04 B.KNICKERBOCKER 

"On 7 October, the Turkish parliament approved a government motion allowing troops to be sent to Iraq. However shortly before the vote, some members of the US-appointed Governing Council in Baghdad said they would not accept troops from any neighbouring state on its soil.

The Turkish Government motion allows for an unspecified number of troops to be deployed in Iraq for one year - with the details to be left to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his ministers.

The issue of sending troops to Iraq is controversial in Turkey and a recent opinion poll indicated that nearly two-thirds of Turks opposed it."
10/07/03 BBC 

"The most obvious question mark is Turkey, which originally decided not to support the war, stunning the administration by refusing a generous financial package (read: bribe). The Turks have now grudgingly granted use of their airspace, but they're still denying access to U.S. ground forces."
03/25/03 C.OLDWEILER 

"The cabinet sitting under the chairmanship of HE Yoweri Museveni, the president of Uganda, on 21 March 2003, decided to support the US-led coalition to disarm Iraq by force. The cabinet also decided that if need arises, Uganda will assist in any way possible."
03/26/03 WHITE HOUSE 

"On Tuesday [March 15, 2005], Ukraine welcomed back more than 130 members of its 1,500-person force and has said it will complete its pullout by October [2005]."
03/16/05 D.WILLIAMS & C.MURPHY 

"Ukraine has begun plans to withdraw its 1,600 troops, a move backed by the new president, Viktor Yushcenko, whose campaign included a promise to bring the troops home."
01/31/05 S.HEDGES 

"More than 1,600 Ukranian troops have been deployed since August 2003 in Iraq's Wasit region where US-led coalition forces are under Polish command."
01/10/05 AFP 

"Recently not far from the Iraqi city As-Suveyra, the Ukrainian soldiers from the staff of 62 Detached Mechanized Battalion, which maintains the security of the US Engineer sub-unit, had prevented an attack on the marching column of the Multinational Coalition forces."

"Recently Ukrainian peacekeepers revealed the plan of a local criminal group to blast the house of one of the Al-Mahavi City Administration officials. By means of the Ukrainian Army’s 6th Detached Mechanized Brigade radar installation facilities, soldiers of the Ukrainian Reconnaissance Company succeeded in intercepting the comprehensive data and informing the Multi-National Division 'Central South' Command about the impending attack."
07/2004 COALITION BULLETIN 

"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 

"Ukrainian trrops pulled out of the town of Kut south-east of Baghdad on Wednesday after coming under attack by militia supporting the cleric, Moqtada Sadr."

"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 

"We are against war as a means of solving international problems and we believe everything should be done to avoid large casualties among civilians and the military on both sides. But in my opinion, we should not forget about the actions of Saddam Hussein. By his aggressive policies and ambition to possess weapons of mass destruction he has called this great tragedy upon his people."
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 

"United Arab Emirates: Base for U.S. reconnaissance aircraft and refueling; host to an estimated 3,000 western troops. Has pledged 4,000 troops supported by Apache attack helicopters, Leclerc tanks, BMP3 amphibious armoured vehicles, a missile boat and a frigate to defend Kuwait in case of war in Iraq"
03/19/03 P.PASICOLAN & C.SATTERLEE

"Britain, for instance, plans to shift about 600 soldiers already in Iraq to take up the training of Iraqi security forces that was being carried out by about 1,100 Dutch troops. It will also dispatch about 200 fresh troops to Iraq."
01/31/05 S.HEDGES 

"Currently there are 8,000 British troops in the 14,000-strong 'multinational division' in southern Iraq, which has responsibility for about 4.5 million people."

"The cuts will occur in the combat elements of the deployment - the 5,000-strong infantry and armoured brigade that is committed to the provinces of Basra and Maysan. Four Royal Navy ships will remain in the Gulf."
09/19/04 J.BURKE 

"The British Government was also a staunch ally in the international effort to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1441 in Iraq. The British contributed more than 40,000 troops to the Iraqi conflict and continue to play a critical role in the Coalition’s efforts to construct a democratic, market-oriented Iraq that is a model for the region rather than a threat to its neighbors and global security."
04/29/04 U.S.DOS 

"Role:
Control of southern Iraq with HQ in Basra the second biggest city in Iraq

Status:
Massive anti-Bush demonstrations planned next week. Blair government in trouble over 'dodgy intelligence'."
11/14/03 R.CORNWELL & P.REEVES

"If the only means of achieving the disarmament of Iraq of weapons of mass destruction is the removal of the regime, then the removal of the regime has to be our objective. It is important that we realize that we have come to this position because we have given every opportunity for Saddam voluntarily to disarm, that the will - not just of this country but of the United Nations - now has to be upheld."
03/26/03 WHITE HOUSE 

"The Pentagon officials displayed a chart showing a total of 136,065 Iraqi forces 'trained and equipped' or 'operational' as of Monday, including 56,284 army troops and 57,290 police."
02/5/05 B.GRAHAM 

"The U.S. Army expects to keep its troop strength in Iraq at the current level of about 120,000 for at least two more years, according to the Army's top operations officer.

While allowing for the possibility that the levels could decrease or increase depending on security conditions and other factors, Lt. Gen. James J. Lovelace Jr. told reporters yesterday that the assumption of little change through 2006 represents 'the most probable case.'"
01/24/05 B.GRAHAM 

"Role:
Control of north and central Iraq, HQ in Baghdad

Status:
57% back war, down from 68% in May [2003]. Senate investigates US intelligence. War is election issue."
11/14/03 R.CORNWELL & P.REEVES