Dominican Rep., Honduras withdrawing Iraq troops

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N20646949.htm

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic, April 20 (Reuters) - The Dominican Republic will withdraw its 300 troops from Iraq "as soon as possible" and Honduras will bring home its 370 soldiers within two months, officials from the two Latin American countries said on Tuesday.

The pullouts, which follow Spain's move to bring its soldiers home, were a double blow to the United States and its coalition allies.

The Dominican Republic's secretary of the armed forces, Lt. Gen. Jose Miguel Soto Jimenez, said President Hipolito Mejia had decided on a withdrawal "as soon as possible" after meeting on Tuesday with senior aides. An agreement with the United States on troops in Iraq had been due to expire in June but until now there had been no word on when the Dominican troops would come home.

"The president has decided on the withdrawal of our troops in Iraq as he believes there is no need to run unnecessary risks," Soto Jimenez said.

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[Tatiana]

1. Latin solidarity.

I suspect Central America will follow. Good for them.

[arcos]

3. only El Salvador is left from Central America...

Nicaragua didn't send more last month when they were supposed to rotate them... apparently no one gave them money to finance it. Honduras is withdrawing them now. Costa Rica doesn't have an army, and Guatemala was planning to send a few last month, but I guess they won't do it now.

[Tatiana]

4. I'm hoping El Salvador will withdraw as well.

Didn't know that Nicaragua didn't sent troops as planned. Guatemala shouldn't send any troops, and I think with Honduras withdrawing, they will hesitate to throw their troops into this mess.

I wonder how much BushCo is paying the Salvadorian government.

[schultzee]

2. Remember that GW and supporters don't need the UN and other

countries. This is the mess that George created.

[David Zephyr]

5. Spain, Dominican Rep., Honduras. Which Nation's Next?

Australia?
Italy?

[NNN0LHI]

7. I believe the Japanese cut a deal to leave to get their people back too

They are just being quiet about what went down during the negotiations. But I think they will be leaving no later than June 30, if not sooner.

Don

[David Zephyr]

8. I Think You Are Probably Right.

Iraq turned out to be even a greater fuck-up than I preached it would be.

[Philosophy]

6. We should withdraw our troops from Honduras

Since their's are back they don't need ours there any more.