The token coalition

First, this post is not intended to diminish the contributions of the Coalition, which has aided our troops in the Iraq war effort and sacrificed lives.

Sources for all information are linked at the bottom of this post.

In 2003, 50 nations joined what the Bush administration dubbed “The Coalition of the Willing.” Other nations joined later.

Perhaps as telling were the countries of the so-called “Coalition of the Unwilling.”

There have been suggestions that the United States “bribed” Coalition members with incentives and concessions, but I will leave that to your own research.

The current status of the nations of the Coalition, with the remaining 23 nations marked with an asterisk (*):

United States of America*

United Kingdom* – 7,100 troops in southern Iraq. Prime Minister Tony Blair announced withdrawal of 1,600.

Spain – withdrawn

Portugal – withdrawn

Denmark* – 460 troops patrolling Basra, will leave in August

Netherlands* - 15 soldiers training Iraqis at part of NATO mission – no plans to leave

Iceland – withdrew

Italy – withdrew

Estonia* – 35 troops under U.S. command in Baghdad

Latvia* - 125 troops under Polish command

Lithuania* – 53 troops in a Danish battalion near Basra - considering an August pullout

Poland* - 900 non-combatant troops – mission extended to end of 2007

Czech Republic* – 99 troops

Slovakia – withdrew

Hungary – withdrew

Albania* – 120 non-combatant troops – no plans to withdraw

Macedonia* - 40 troops in Taji, north of Baghdad

Romania* - 900 troops serving in the south under British command – Romanian PM wants them withdrawn

Bulgaria* – 155 troops, most guarding refugee camps

Turkey – withdrew

Croatia – withdrew

Slovenia* - Four instructors training Iraqi security

Ukraine – withdrew

Japan – withdrew

South Korea* - 2,300 troops in northern Iraq – 1,100 to leave in April – parliament insisting on complete withdrawal by the end of 2007

Singapore – withdrew

Philippines – withdrew

Afghanistan – withdrew

Azerbaijan* – 150 troops serving as sentries – no plans to leave

Uzbekistan – withdrew

Georgia* - 900 combat troops under U.S. command – no plans to withdraw

Marshall Islands – withdrew

Micronesia – withdrew

Solomon Islands – withdrew

Mongolia* - 160 troops – no plans to leave

Palau – withdrew

Tonga – withdrew

El Salvador* – 380 soldiers doing peacekeeping duty in southern city of Kut – no plans to leave

Colombia – withdrew

Nicaragua – withdrew

Costa Rica – withdrew

Dominican Republic – withdrew

Honduras – withdrew

Australia* – 550 troops training Iraqis – no plans to leave

Kuwait – withdrew, but still a supply conduit

Eritrea – withdrew

Ethiopia – withdrew

Uganda – withdrew

Rwanda – withdrew

Angola – withdrew

Joined in 2004:

Norway – withdrew

Moldava* - 11 “sappers,” bomb-defusing experts, returned home at end of January 2007 – still listed as coalition member

Kazakhstan* – 27 military engineers – no plans to withdraw

Thailand – withdrew

New Zealand – withdrew

Joined later:

Armenia* – 46 non-combatant troops – mission extended to end of 2007

Bosnia-Herzegovina* – 36 troops, mostly officers

Percentages of troops in Iraq:

United States – 91 percent
Great Britain – 5 percent
All other Coalition members – 4 percent

As of today, troop deaths since beginning of war:

In 1,435 days, U.S. deaths are 3,150; Great Britain, 132; and other Coalition members, 124 – for a total of 3406 deaths.

Non-mortal U.S. combat injuries – air transport required: 23,417

Total U.S. troops air transported including combat injuries, non-hostile injuries and diseases: 32.544

The Pentagon has stopped publicly listing the countries of the Coalition and troop levels.

Links to sources:

A comprehensive look at 2003-2004 Coalition members by an author who professes “objectivity” while claiming to refute the spin of the “anti-American left.” Worth examing. LINK

Associated Press looks at the current status of the 22 remaining Coalition members (other than the U.S.): LINK

The place to go on the Web for a comprehensive look at all Iraq war deaths and injuries. Scan the entire page! LINK

Excellent article by the Associated Press' Tom Raum, 21 February 2007. LINK