Spain orders troops out of Iraq a.s.a.p.

Today, Sunday the 18th of April 2004, the new Spanish government has decided to withdraw the troops out of Iraq as soon as possible.

In the context of the recent Madrid bombings and the recent kidnappings in Iraq with the intention of forcing countries to withdraw their troops out of Iraq, what would you think the signal is that is given by Spain to for instance the US, UK, other European countries, Japan and Al Qaida ?

....... or doesn't this decision give any signal or message at all ?
.

Originally posted by ivanhoe
Today, Sunday the 18th of April 2004, the new Spanish government has decided to withdraw the troops out of Iraq as soon as possible.

In the context of the recent Madrid bombings and the recent kidnappings in Iraq with the intention of forcing countries to withdraw their troops out of Iraq, what would you think the signal is that is given by Spain to for ...[text shortened]... and Al Qaida ?

....... or doesn't this decision give any signal or message at all ?
.

Originally posted by ivanhoe
Today, Sunday the 18th of April 2004, the new Spanish government has decided to withdraw the troops out of Iraq as soon as possible.

In the context of the recent Madrid bombings and the recent kidnappings in Iraq with the intention of forcing countries to withdraw their troops out of Iraq, what would you think the signal is that is given by Spain to for ...[text shortened]... and Al Qaida ?

....... or doesn't this decision give any signal or message at all ?
.

Originally posted by chancremechanic
It means that when the going gets tough...well, the Spanish caved in to Al-Qaeda. It would be one thing to withdraw troops on one's own accord, but to do so because of what happened in Madrid speaks volumes about Spain's inability to deal with terrorism as a result of having troops in Iraq. Oh, well...at least they contributed more than the French...🙄

perhaps it says spain is a democracy!

I think Spain was wrong to send troops in the first place, just as the US and UK were wrong - the whole war was wrong. But I also think that for Spain to withdraw troops now is an abdication of responsibility.

The fact is, the Iraq war was always going to create a great big, unholy mess. But once you've helped cause such a mess, you have to stick around long enough to clear it up. That means long enough to restore infrastructure and security, and to ensure a proper handover first to the UN and then to an Iraqi government.

The Spanish socialists took the position that because they personally were opposed to the war (for which I applaud them), they bore no responsibility for its consequences. But I believe there's such a thing as national responsibility. It may not have been the Spanish socialists who took Spain to war, but it was a government elected by the Spanish people. The troops should have stayed.

I'd be very interested in hearing the Spanish perspective on this.

Rich.

Originally posted by richhoey
I think Spain was wrong to send troops in the first place, just as the US and UK were wrong - the whole war was wrong. But I also think that for Spain to withdraw troops now is an abdication of responsibility.

The fact is, the Iraq war was always going to create a great big, unholy mess. But once you've helped cause such a mess, you have to stick aroun ...[text shortened]... ve stayed.

I'd be very interested in hearing the Spanish perspective on this.

Rich.

First Spain announced they would withdraw their troops.
Then Honduras.
Now the Domican Republic has followed suit.

Will the last coalition member to leave Iraq please turn out the lights.

Originally posted by rwingett
First Spain announced they would withdraw their troops.
Then Honduras.
Now the Domican Republic has followed suit.

Will the last coalition member to leave Iraq please turn out the lights.