Australia will not send peacekeepers to Iraq even if the U.N. Security Council supports a new multinational force to help U.S. troops there, Prime Minister John Howard has said.

A staunch U.S. ally, Howard defied public opinion earlier this year to send 2,000 troops to join the coalition assault on Baghdad. Once Washington declared the war over, Howard ordered most of them home.
source (http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/auspac/09/05/sp
rj.irq.aust.ap/index.html)


France's president Tuesday ruled out sending French troops to Iraq, following India and Germany in rejecting U.S. calls for help without approval from the United Nations.

India also rejected a U.S. request for peacekeepers for Iraq, saying Monday it would consider such a move only under a U.N. mandate. And German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said last week that his country would consider sending peacekeepers only if asked by an interim Iraqi government or the United Nations.

source (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/15/iraq/main563422.shtml)


The government considered the various options available at its disposal and took the decision not to send troops to Iraq without a UN mandate. The CCS made it clear that it would pledge its troops to Iraq only under a clear cut UN mandate.

The CCS meanwhile reiterated that India would extend all possible help to reduce the sufferings of Iraqi people by sending in medical supplies and helping in reconstruction works.

"Stationing of troops under UN aegis can be considered. But the question of taking any money from the US for placing Indian forces under its command does not arise," Malhotra said.

source (http://autofeed.msn.co.in/pandoraV15/output/B80E1FEA-E3E4-4BD6-A734-DC3DF2986FF8.asp)

I guess Karl Rove is an idiotic fool after all
http://www.azstarnet.com/star/tue/30902DOWD-Iraq2fanarchy.html

http://autofeed.msn.co.in/pandoraV15/output/B80E1FEA-E3E4-4BD6-A734-DC3DF2986FF8.jpg
"No thanks, monkey man. Here's some spicy curry flavored pretzels for you to enjoy"




http://www.nrc.nl/images/bush,7.jpg

I am sad that the poor Iraqi ppl have to suffer under the incompotence of the US. Ahh yes the US is going to have to fork out at least $100 billion- up to $600 billion. And the US knows she can't afford that alone. So it seems the US bit more then she can chew. Now she had the nerve to ask the world the same world she ostracized to help her! I think the world is giving the US a collective "bug off". France is 100% right, the US shouldn't be at the head of the UN mandate in Iraq, what would be the difference btwn now and then? Nothing same ineptitude, and same irresponsibility with a new name and new clothes. The US is now stuck in Iraq, because of this failed imperial adventure, I cannot see how the US can fight in Iraq, and NK at the same time. My estimations put it as such, 160,000 troops in the ME (source Time) , 300,000 needed to level the field in Korea, and post war Korea, that is 460,000 men, that leave 20,000 free troops! Don't let the US' numbers fool you, 1.2 million men. More like most are cooks, and engineers. I think if the situation get's worse the draft is not that imaginary. GOOD GOING BUSH!

What we did in Iraq is a mentality a teenager uses.

"Do now, ask permission later."

I would have liked to see Howard Dean come on as a real leader and remove the military but not anymore.

The least we (America & England & Spain aka "The coalition") can do is fix or return the country back to "operational" stages. But that maybe easier said than done.

Howard is IMO one of the smartest and slickest politicians around, he knows when to get in and when to get out...