Multinational force in Iraq

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The Multinational force in Iraq, also known as the Coalition, refers to the nations whose governments have military personnel in Iraq. The media normally use the term "US-led coalition", to describe this force, since over 90% of the troops are American, however the U.S. media usually refer to it as an "international coalition".^{[citation needed]}

The term "Coalition of the Willing" refers to the countries who supported (most of them not militarily) the 2003 invasion of Iraq and subsequent occupation duties in Post-invasion Iraq, 2003–2006. The original list prepared in March 2003 included 49 members [2]. The war was however deeply unpopular in many of the coalition countries ^[1] and at least one, Costa Rica, requested in September 2004 not to be considered anymore as a member. Today the official White House list of the coalition shows 48 member states[3], excluding Costa Rica.

Contents 1 2003 Invasion of Iraq 1.1 Troop Deployment in Iraq 2003-present 2 The Occupation of Iraq 3 Mission objectives 4 Coalition of the Willing 4.1 The origin of the phrase 4.2 Criticism of the phrase 5 List of nations in the Coalition 5.1 More than 100,000 soldiers 5.2 More than 1,000 soldiers 5.3 More than 100 soldiers 5.4 Fewer than 100 soldiers 6 United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) 7 Nations no longer participating in ground operations 7.1 2006 Withdrawals 7.2 2005 Withdrawals 7.3 2004 Withdrawals 8 Private military contractors 9 See also 10 External links 11 References

[edit] 2003 Invasion of Iraq

The Bush administration made varying arguments regarding the purpose about the war; after the start of the war and discovery of no banned weapons, however, the primary^{[citation needed]} purpose became an effort to free the Iraqi people from tyranny and to promote stability in the region.

[edit] Troop Deployment in Iraq 2003-present

^{[citation needed]}

[edit] The Occupation of Iraq

Nominally, the occupation ended on June 28, 2004, but those who question the legitimacy of the interim government appointed by the United States believe it continued. Indeed, the expulsion of occupation forces is a major stated aim of Iraqi guerrilla fighters who launched a Guerrilla warfare. United States president Bush disagreed with the rationale of the insurgents, claiming that "...what is causing violence in Iraq is the fact that Iraq is heading toward freedom." [4]

The United States deployed more than seven-eighths of the soldiers in the occupying coalition with the majority of other troops coming from the United Kingdom and the rest made up from several other allies. Although their status as Coalition Provisional Authority, or "Occupying Powers" under a United Nations resolution, changed when the new government asserted its sovereignty on June 28, the mission of the multinational force has decreased only by small numbers.

As of December 2, 2006, the United States Department of Defense had confirmed that 2,890 US troops had been killed fighting in Iraq as United States forces struggle to put down the Iraqi insurgency, which continues years after President Bush declared the end of "major combat operations" in Iraq.

[edit] Mission objectives

MNF-I objectives as of May 2006

• Iraq is at peace with its neighbors
• Iraq is an ally in the War on Terror
• Iraq has a representative government that respects the human rights of all Iraqis
• Iraq has a security force that can maintain domestic order and deny Iraq as a safe haven for terrorists

The government of Iraq enjoys broad international support, including from nations of the Arab League. Jordan is assisting in training of the Iraqi Security Forces, the United Arab Emirates have donated military equipment (bought from Switzerland), and Egypt is actively helping in the reconciliation process, for example.

Iraq is a pluralistic democracy. Iraq's constitution guarantees freedoms of speech, assembly and religion, private ownership of property, privacy and equality before the law. The December 2005 parliamentary election had a 75% voter turnout.

As of September 2006, 302,000 Iraqi security forces have been trained and equipped. By the end of 2006, MNF-I believes that all 325,000 planned ISF members will be trained and equipped. ISF may be fully capable of maintaining domestic order sometime in 2007, perhaps with coalition help in logistics, close-air support and medical assistance.^[2]

In November 2006, the United Nations Security Council voted to extend the mandate of the multinational force in Iraq until the end of 2007. The move was requested by the Iraqi government, which said the troops were needed for another year while it built up its own security forces.^[3]

[edit] Coalition of the Willing

[edit] The origin of the phrase

The precise origins of the phrase are unknown, but it has been used since at least the late 1980s to refer to groups of nations acting collectively, often in defiance of the United Nations. Specific uses of the phrase in the context of disarming Iraq began appearing in mid-2001.

The first U.S. President known to have publicly mentioned acting with a "Coalition of the Willing" in place of a UN Mandate was Bill Clinton. The phrase was later used by George W. Bush to refer both to actions in Afghanistan and Iraq, although usage primarily focused on the latter.

[edit] Criticism of the phrase

Iraq War critics such as John Pilger have pointed out that 98% of the military is from the US and Britain and is therefore accurately described as a predominantly Anglo-American force rather than as a coalition.

In a 2004 U.S. presidential debate, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry questioned the size of the coalition, saying that Bush portrayed the effort as a widespread international consensus when actually only two major allies of the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, had comparatively substantial numbers of soldiers on the ground during the initial invasion. President Bush responded by saying, "Well, actually, he forgot Poland". The phrase You forgot Poland subsequently became a humorous shorthand for the perception that most members of the coalition were not contributing much to the war effort compared to the main three allies. The majority of the population in most countries involved did not, according to some surveys, support the endeavour or their nation's participation.[5]

U.S. Senator Robert Byrd, ranking Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee, has referred to the coalition formed for the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the acronym COW, expressing his concern that the United States was being "milked" as a "cash cow." A Canadian MP Carolyn Parrish referred to the "Coalition of the Willing" as the "Coalition of the Idiots". She was reprimanded for these comments, and was eventually removed from the Liberal Party caucus.

Dave Chappelle parodied the phrase on his sketch comedy show Chappelle's Show with the sketch "Black Bush".

Michael Moore devoted one sub-chapter to the Coalition in his book Dude, Where's My Country?. He remarked that most countries in the Coalition did not really help and that several had no army. He dubbed it "The Coalition of the Coerced, Bribed, and Intimidated".

[edit] List of nations in the Coalition

[edit] More than 100,000 soldiers

•  United States - Reports indicate that there are currently around 150,000 Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps personnel deployed to the western, northern and central regions of Iraq [6]. As of 2 December 2006, 2,890 American military personnel from every branch of the US military had been killed in Iraq: 2,328 in engagements and ambushes (assault rifle and sniper fire; RPG, Katyusha and mortar attacks; the shooting down of several helicopters and a jet; but mostly roadside bombings) as well as vehicle accidents which occurred as a result of hostile fire. 562 were killed in non-hostile incidents including a small number of drownings, illnesses, electrocutions etc, but mostly accidental vehicle crashes and weapon discharges. At least 22,021 American military personnel have been wounded in action. One soldier, Matt Maupin, was kidnapped after an attack on his convoy on April 9, 2004 and remains missing.[7][8] Another soldier, Ahmed Qusai al-Taei, an Iraqi-American, was kidnapped on October 24, 2006 while visiting Baghdad and also remains missing [9].

[edit] More than 1,000 soldiers

•  United Kingdom - 7,500 troops in Iraq as of December 2006; also commanding a number of other coalition troops throughout the southeastern provinces. After the invasion, approximately 8,500 troops were stationed in the south of the country, but 1,300 were withdrawn in early 2006.[10] About 1,500 more are stationed in The Persian Gulf region. Prime Minister Tony Blair had considered an expansion of up to 2,000 troops to replace the troops of Spain and other departing nations. However, military commanders as well as former diplomats criticizing US military tactics put this into question. On the 6th of September 2006, the Ministry of Defence declared that 300 additional soldiers would be sent to Iraq temporarily to reinforce security during the upcoming six-monthly rotation, and that they would be withdrawn 'no later than January'.[11] The British forces command the Multi-National Division (South East) which consists of forces from several other countries. The deployment includes infantry, mechanised infantry and armoured units as well as water-borne patrol personnel and a range of aircraft. The UK has lost 125 soldiers in Iraq: 94 in ambushes, engagements, bombings or other attacks (including the shooting down of a C-130 Hercules transport plane which killed 10 soldiers). Out of the remaining 31, the cause of death included accidents, friendly fire, illnesses, and suicide. See also: Operation Telic (operational name for the UK's involvement in Iraq) for further information on the British contribution.

•  Republic of Korea - 2,300 troops in Iraq as of December 2006. 1,300 troops were withdrawn in early 2006 from an initial 3,600, after a December 2005 vote by the National Assembly^[4] (10-3 with one abstention), thus approving a government proposal. The main tasks of the troops are to offer medical services and build and repair roads, power lines, schools and other infrastructure. The 3,000 soldiers, mostly combat engineers of the Zaytun ("olive-peace") Division, were deployed in late September 2004 to Irbil in the Kurdish-controlled region of northern Iraq and combined with the 600 humanitarian troops that had been operating in southern Iraq since April 2003. Although South Korea has the third-largest military presence in Iraq after the United States and Britain, there have been no casualties (Korean nor Iraqi) in their area except two Iraqi civilians killed in a car accident.

•  Australia - Australia's contribution officially comes under Operation Catalyst and consists of approximately 1,400 military personnel in and around Iraq. (See also: Australian contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq) The largest contribution is a battle group contingent of approximately 450 troops, initially deployed on February 22, 2005, for the purpose of replacing 1250 Dutch personnel. This contingent was previously the Al Muthanna Task Group but now is the Overwatch Battle Group (West)). Further deployments include; 400 personnel stationed in Kuwait, a military security detachment (SECDET) formation composed of approximately 100 troops assigned to protect Australian official representatives in Baghdad, an Australian Army training team of about 20 troops and several dozen liaison officers distributed throughout headquarter and command facilities throughout Iraq. There is also a naval deployment in the Persian Gulf as part of Australian-led Task Force 158 (TF158) including the rotation of Anzac class frigates (approx. 180 personnel) and two AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft (total of 150 personnel including ground crew). The Royal Australian Air Force has also deployed two C-130 Hercules transport aircraft with around 100 associated personnel. Casualties: in January 2005, eight Australian soldiers were wounded, two seriously, by a VBIED on the road to Baghdad International Airport. In mid-2005 one Australian private military contractor was ambushed and killed along with a British and American counterpart; another was killed by a roadside bomb in June 2006. On November 7, 2005, an Australian Special Air Service SASR soldier was killed in a vehicle training accident in Kuwait. On 21 April 2006 Private Jacob Kovco from 3RAR as part of the Baghdad SECDET, was accidentally shot and killed.

[edit] More than 100 soldiers

•  Poland - 900 in the 'First Warsaw Division'. The Polish forces command the Multi-National Division (South Central) which consists of forces from several other countries. The contingent was cut from 1,500 troops to 900 troops in March 2006, and Polish force will shift toward the training of Iraqi security forces. On 5 January 2006, Radio Polonia reported that Polish troops had handed over control of the central Babil province to US troops and would be stationed at camps in the cities of Kut and Diwaniyah for the remainder of their mandate. In accordance with the decision of the former Polish Minister of Defense Jerzy Szmajdziński, the number of troops was reduced from 2,500 to 1,500 during the second half of 2005. Poland's former leftist government, which lost 25 September 2005 elections, had planned to withdraw the remaining 1,500 troops in January. However, the new defense minister, Radosław Sikorski, visited Washington on the 3rd of December for talks on Poland's coalition plans, and Prime Minister Kazimierz Marcinkiewicz declared that he would decide after the Iraqi elections on 15 December, whether to extend its troops' mandate beyond 31 December. On Tuesday 22 December, Prime Minister Marcinkiewicz announced to reporters following a government meeting, that he had asked President Lech Kaczyński to keep Polish troops in Iraq for another year, calling it "a very difficult decision." Poland has lost 18 soldiers in Iraq: 12 in bombings or ambushes and 6 in various accidents. In a statement released in July 2004, Al Zarqawi released a statement threatening Japan, Poland and Bulgaria over their troop deployments. He demanded of the Polish government 'Pull your troops out of Iraq or you will hear the sounds of explosions that will hit your country.' Hours later Prime Minister Marek Belka denied, and deputy Defence Minister Janusz Zemke said pulling out would be a 'terrible mistake.'
•  Romania - 890 troops operated under British command (South-East Iraq). Romanian President Traian Basescu announced on the 30th of August 2006 that, within two months, Romania would withdraw its troops from Iraq. However, on 8 November, 2006, Romanian Defense Minister Sorin Frunzaverde stated that there was to be no scheduled withdrawal [12] One Romanian soldier died in a Kuwait City hospital in March 2006, ten days after shooting himself in the head, and another was killed in a roadside bombing (along with three Italians) the following month. 130 more troops were deployed for UNAMI.
•  Denmark - 515 troops under UK command (South-East Iraq) including infantry, medics and military police in South East Iraq near Basra at "Camp Danevang". This is in addition to 35 troops operating under UNAMI. Denmark has lost six soldiers in Iraq; one to friendly fire, one in a vehicle accident, one in a firefight and the three others to separate IEDs, while two were wounded in August 2005. From 2003 till 2006, Denmark extended its Iraq deployment by biannual parliamentary decisions. However in May 2006 the Danish parliament voted to extend the Danish military force in Iraq for a full year, until at least July 2007, or for so long as the Iraqi government wanted it. The Danish government has repeatedly guaranteed that it would remain as long as the Iraqi government requested it.
•  El Salvador - 380 troops from the 'Cuscatlan Battalion' under Polish command (Central South Iraq). El Salvador has lost five soldiers in Iraq, four in hostile incidents and one in an accident.
•  Georgia - 300 commandos under US command North of Baghdad. In June 2004, three soldiers were wounded in an attack on a US base, and in November 2005, four were wounded in a bombing in Baqouba. 550 more forces were deployed in June 2005, for UNAMI including liaison officers.
•  Azerbaijan - 150 troops under US command in the far North of Iraq. 100 soldiers were sent on 29 December 2004 to reinforce the 150 soldiers already in the country. They provide security for local Turkmen populations, religious sites and convoys.
•  Mongolia - 131 men in an infantry company known as the 'Peacekeeping Operations Battalion' under Polish command.
•  Albania - 120 non-combat troops under US command near Mosul.
•  Latvia - 136 troops under Polish command (Central South Iraq). Latvia lost one soldier in Iraq in an insurgent attack.
•  Slovakia - 110-man engineering unit under Polish command (Central South Iraq). Slovakia lost three soldiers in Iraq (06/08/04) along with two Poles and a Latvian, when a mortar landed on a truck laden with munitions prepared for transportation to a detonation site, while another soldier was killed by an roadside bomb along with a Pole. On October 18, 2006, Prime Minister Robert Fico announced plans to withdraw Slovakia’s military unit from Iraq by February of 2007. [13]

[edit] Fewer than 100 soldiers

•  Czech Republic - 96 police trainers under British command (South-East Iraq). (Reduced from 300 troops, a small detachment of MPs, and 3 civilians running a field hospital as of November 2003.) After 2006, the goal will change from Iraqi police training to Shaibah Base protection and patrolling.
•  Lithuania - 50 troops under Polish command (Central South Iraq). The Lithuanian government has declared its intention to stay until the end of 2007.
•  Armenia has deployed a unit of 46 soldiers under Polish command (a mixture of non-combat support soldiers). On 5 December 2005, the Armenian government declared its intention to stay in Iraq for another year. Armenian government again on 6 December 2006, declared its intention to stay in Iraq for another year. declared
•  Bosnia and Herzegovina deployed a 36 man force to destroy explosives and clear mines as of June 2005. One Bosnian truck driver employed by a firm serving coalition troops was killed in an ambush on his convoy, while a Bosnian carpenter died of a heart attack.
•  Estonia - 35 infantry troops known as the 'EstPla-11' unit under US command in Baghdad. Two soldiers were killed in Iraq in separate insurgent attacks.
•  Macedonia - 33 special forces soldiers under US command somewhere in the centre of Iraq. In late 2004 three Macedonian workers building barracks on American bases were executed after being captured by insurgents.
•  Kazakhstan - 29 military engineers under Polish command. One was killed (09/01/2005) along with eight Ukrainians when a pile of booby-trapped munitions was detonated by insurgents.
• Moldova - 12 de-mining specialists and medics. The Washington Post, on 15 July 2004, reported that Moldova had quietly halved its contingent from 24 to 12. It was widely believed that Moldova withdrew these remaining troops in February 2005, in fact, they were replaced by a fresh contingent. A third rotation took place in February 2006.

[edit] United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI)

•  Georgia - 550 soldiers from the 'Shavnabada Battalion' were assigned to perform UN protection duties (separate from 300 Coalition troops). However, they were placed under US command in a "Middle Ring Security" mission in the Green Zone. One soldier was severely injured in May 2005 in an IED attack on an American convoy, and treated at Walter Reed hospital in the United States.
•  Fiji - 168 Fijian troops protecting UN buildings and staff in and around the Green Zone as of August 2006. In response to an 'urgent request' by the UN, Fiji sent an additional 34 soldiers on the 30th August 2006 to complement its existing 134[14]. As many as 300 had been in Baghdad during the January 2006 elections. ABC News reported on the October 20, 2004, that the contingent (trained, equipped and transported to Iraq by Australia) would be deployed the following month. A Fijian soldier died of a suspected heart attack on March 16, 2006. According to a BBC Monitoring report, the Republic of Fiji Military Forces had abandoned plans to deploy a battalion to Iraq under the Coalition, for financial reasons.
•  Romania - 130 blue-helmets performing UN protection duties, separate from the larger Romanian contingent operating under the US-led Coalition.
•  Denmark - 35 troops under UNAMI and NATO in addition to 515 Coalition soldiers.

[edit] Nations no longer participating in ground operations

[edit] 2006 Withdrawals

•  Canada - Canada disclosed that there have been Canadian military liasion personnel "embedded in American and coalition forces since the beginning of the conflict." [15] In addition, an undisclosed number of JTF2 operators were deployed to Iraq temporarily, working closely with US and British special forces to carry out the rescue of the Christian Peacemaker Hostages. [16] The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Canadian Security Intelligence Service were also involved in that operation. [17]. Canada was criticised by opposition parties for the participation of less than ten navy personnel participating in Iraq on a NATO exchange.

•  Japan - The last 280 of the original 600 medics and engineers based in Samawah (Southern Iraq) had been withdrawn by July 25th 2006, arriving home in Tokyo in the early morning [18]. The reconstruction mission in Samawa had limited the troops' activities to "non-combat zones". Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's Cabinet decided on 8 December 2005 to allow its 600 troops to stay for another year, despite a poll by the Asahi newspaper which found that 69% of respondents were against renewing the mandate, up from 55% in January. Despite the apparent year-long extension of the mandate, PM Koizumi announced on the 20th of June 2006 that the Japanese contingent would be withdrawn within 'several dozen days'[19], citing the completion of the Japanese mission in Samawah. However, he suggested expanding airborne logistical support from southern parts of the country to Baghdad in place of the ground force. Three Japanese hostages were captured in Iraq in early 2004 but were released unharmed a week later. Later, in a statement released in July 2004, Al Zarqawi released a statement threatening Japan, Poland and Bulgaria over their troop deployments. He demanded the Japanese government to 'do what the Philippines have done' and withdraw its troops, and said that 'lines of cars laden with explosives are awaiting you' if his demands were not met. Mortars and rockets have been lobbed at the Japanese camp several times, causing no damage or injuries.

•  Italy - On Sept 21 2006, Italian forces handed over Dhi Qar province in southern Iraq to newly-trained Iraqi security forces, thus ending their military mission: "The Italian contingent is going back. The mission is accomplished — the security of the province is in your hands," Minister of Defence Arturo Parisi said to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.[20] About a month earlier, on August 23rd, the Italian contingent stood at 1,600 troops. The 'Garibaldi Brigade' served its final four month tour of duty between May and Sepetember 2006, and included mechanised infantry, helicopters and Carabinieri in South Central Iraq, based around Nasiriyah. The original contingent consisted of about 3,200 troops, but on 9 July 2005, former PM Berlusconi announced that Italian soldiers would gradually be withdrawn in groups of 300. New Prime Minister Romano Prodi had pledged to withdraw the troops in his first speech to the senate and called the war "a grave mistake that has complicated rather than solved the problem of security".[21][22] Shortly after, on 26 May, 2006, Italian foreign minister Massimo D'Alema announced that the Italian forces would be reduced from 1,800 to 1,600 by June. On June 8, he said Italy's military presence in Iraq would end before 2007. [23]. The Italian forces have lost 33 soldiers in Iraq. 25 were hostile deaths: Two in separate engagements, six in various roadside bombings, 17 in a late 2003 suicide bombing on the Italian HQ in Nasiriyah (which also killed at least two Italian civilians), eight were accidents and one, a ranking major general, was a controversial friendly fire incident. Italy has another 84 troops stationed on bases in the Persian Gulf. Recently, A-129 Mangusta attack helicopters and more Dardo tracked IFVs have been sent to Iraq.

[edit] 2005 Withdrawals

• Portugal - had 128 military policemen under Italian command (South East Iraq). Troops were withdrawn on 10 February 2005, two days ahead of schedule.

• Netherlands - Half a dozen liaison officers remain as of late 2005. An independent contingent of 1,345 troops (including 650 Dutch Marines, three or more Chinook helicopters, military police, a logistics team, a commando squad, and a field hospital and Royal Netherlands Air Force AH-64 attack helicopters in support) based in Samawah (Southern Iraq) left Iraq in June 2005. On June 1, 2004, the Dutch government renewed the troop stay through 2005. The Algemeen Dagblad reported on October 21, 2004, that the Netherlands would pull its troops out of Iraq in March 2005, at the end of the troop's mandate. Citing the Dutch Defense Minister, the Dutch Government had reportedly turned down an Iraqi Government request to extend the Dutch contingent's stay in-country. Netherlands lost two soldiers in separate insurgent attacks.

• Ukraine - As of December 22, 2005, all remaining Ukrainian troops crossed the Iraqi border into Kuwait and arrived home in the Ukraine by December 30. This fulfills a long-planned withdrawal pledged by President Viktor Yushchenko who was sworn in on the January 23, 2005, and executes a ruling by the Ukrainian legislative body, the Verkhovna Rada, which passed a motion for the withdrawal of all troops. An independent contingent originally consisting of 1,650 mechanized infantry troops in Kut (South Central Iraq), had been slashed to around 900 between March 15 and May 15, 2004.This number was then reduced continuously until the 44 remaining troops were pulled out along with the last of the vehicles within the final days of 2005. Defense Minister Anatoliy Hrytsenko announced that 30 Army officers, ten specialists from the border service and ten representatives from the Interior Ministry would stay in Iraq, and that they would work at headquarter and command facilities. Ukraine lost a total of 18 soldiers in Iraq: 12 in attacks, 3 in accidents, 2 in suicides and 1 as a result of a heart attack, while 32 were wounded or injured. Early in 2004, three Ukrainian engineers were taken hostage in Iraq but were freed shortly after.

• Bulgaria - As of December 27, 2005, the last of the Bulgarian contingent in Iraq withdrew into Kuwait following a decision made by the Parliament in May. Bulgaria had announced on November 3, 2004, that it would reduce the size of its contingent to 462 troops during the next scheduled unit rotation. This number dropped to 380 by late November 2005. The Dnevnik Newspaper reported on 8 December 2005 that 120 soldiers would guard a prison housing rape and murder convicts in Ashraf, thus switching Bulgaria's role in Iraq to one of policing duties rather than military occupation. They started duty on January 1, 2006, and would sdupposedly be there for four months at the most. The original contingent of 380 mechanized infantry troops, which was under Polish command, guarded municipal buildings and the town centre in Kerbala (South Central Iraq). Bulgaria lost 13 soldiers in Iraq: one to friendly fire, seven in attacks and five in accidents. In addition, two Bulgarian truck drivers working for companies serving coalition troops have been captured and killed in Iraq, with another ambushed and killed. Three Bulgarian pilots were killed when their Mi-17 transport helicopter (transporting a team of private military contractors) was shot down in April 2005.

[edit] 2004 Withdrawals

• Nicaragua - 230 troops left in February 2004, no replacement, attributed to financial reasons. While in Iraq, the troops were under Spanish command.

• Spain - had 1,300 troops (mostly assigned to policing duties) in Najaf and commanded the troops of Honduras, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, and of Nicaragua. Newly elected Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero fulfilled one of his campaign pledges and declared the end of the mission on April 28, 2004 with the withdrawal of the last 260 troops. While in Iraq, Spain lost 11 military personnel: ten killed in insurgent attacks and one in an accident. Already during the mandate of the previous pro-invasion excecutive, Spanish permanent representative Inocencio Arias raised questions about the legitimacy of the Iraq war.

• Honduras - 368 troops withdrawn by end of May 2004 along with Spain's contingent, citing that the troops were sent there for reconstruction, not combat. While in Iraq, the troops were under Spanish command (South East Iraq).

• Dominican Republic - 302 troops withdrawn by end of May 2004, shortly after Spain and Honduras withdrew their contingents, citing growing domestic opposition. While in Iraq, the troops were under Spanish command (South East Iraq).

• Norway - 140 of 150 troops (engineers and mine clearers) withdrawn on June 30, 2004 citing growing domestic opposition and the need for the troops elsewhere; the ten remaining liasion officers had been withdrawn by August 2006. The Bondevik II administration insists the troops were never part of the invasion force, citing a UN humanitarian mandate. This does not seem to have come to the attention of the international community, as Al-Qaeda has included Norway in videotaped threats on at least two occasions, and US organizations have included Norway on their lists of participating nations. The actual status of Norwegian engineering and administrative personnel past and present are still a matter of domestic controversy, in part because troops serving in a war zone are entitled to better pay.

• Philippines - 51 medics, engineers and sand soldiers withdrawn July 14, 2004 in response to kidnapping of a truck driver. When the hostage takers' demands were met (Filipino troops out of Iraq), the hostage was released. While in Iraq, the troops were under Polish command (Central South Iraq) and during that time several Filipino soldiers were wounded in an insurgent attack but none died.

• Thailand - Withdrawal of last 100 troops from Thailand's 423-strong humanitarian contingent completed on 10 September 2004, in accordance with Thailand's mandate in Iraq which expired in September. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra had previously announced early withdrawal if the situation became too dangerous. Thailand lost two soldiers in Iraq in an insurgent attack.

• Singapore - A total of 192 Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel returned on 31 January 2004 after a two month deployment. A Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) amphibious transport dock conducted logistical tasks such as replenishing supplies for other naval vessels in the Persian Gulf, and conducted patrols to enforce a maritime presence. It also provided a platform for helicopter missions and maritime boarding operations missions by teams from other coalition countries when they inspected ships leaving Iraq. A (SAF) C-130 transport aircraft returned on 4 April 2004 after a two month deployment. During its deployment, the C-130 detachment conducted air support missions, including providing airlift and transportation of logistics supply to coalition forces. A SAF KC-135 tanker aircraft returned on 11 September 2004 after a three month deployment. During its deployment, the KC-135 provided air-to-air refuelling for coalition forces. A RSN amphibious transport dock with 180 personnel returned on 19 March 2005 after a three month deployment. Currently, there are no SAF personnel in or around Iraq.

• Hungary - Hungary's contingent of 300 transportation troops had begun arriving home in Budapest from Iraq on 22 December 2004, reported AFP. All of Hungary's troops were reported by the Defence Ministry to have left Iraq by the end of that day. While in Iraq one Hungarian soldier was killed in an insurgent attack.
• New Zealand - Two rotations of 61 military engineers, known as Task Force Rake, operated in Iraq from September 26, 2003 to September 25, 2004 [24] [25]. They were deployed to undertake humanitarian and reconstruction tasks consistent with UN Security Council Resolution 1483; they were not part of the invading force. While in Iraq the unit was under British command (South East Iraq) and was based in Basra.

• Tonga - 45 Royal Marines. Arrived in Iraq at the beginning of July 2004 to augment the I Marine Expeditionary Force in the Al Anbar Province. Withdrew all forces in mid-December 2004.

• Iceland - Iceland had two Explosive Ordnance Disposal experts, a medical advisor, and some transport experts assigned to the Danish unit immediately after the occupation began; they have since been withdrawn.

[edit] Private military contractors

In addition to regular troops there are roughly 35,000^[5] private military contractors in Iraq. These contractors also differ from regular troops as they are outside a Uniform Code of Military Justice, and have little or no legal accountability. However under the Geneva Conventions private contractors, along with everyone in Iraq, may be tried by fair and impartial military tribunals set up by one of the Occupying Powers.

[edit] See also

• Gulf War (1990–1991) Coalition

[edit] External links

• Site with Iraq news and detailed database of all Coalition and Contractor casualties in Iraq
• Official site of Multi-National Force - Iraq
• Breakdown of Coalition Members by Contributions
• Images of coalition troops in Iraq
• MNF Patch
• Top UN envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello killed in terrorist blast in Baghdad - UN News Centre
• Bush: Join 'Coalition of Willing (CNN)
• White House list of 49 Coalition Members
• Corrected White House list of 48 Coalition Members
• Coalition of the Willing List, Map and Troop Numbers from Perspectives on World History and Current Events.
• A Coalition of the "Willing"? Misnomer, February 11, 2003, summary of public opinion on the invasion of Iraq.
• Coalition Troop Deployment Data and Graphs, Collected from various news sources.
• Coalition of the Willing Count Current numbers of Coalition forces, from multiple sources

[edit] References

• ↑  Multi-National Force - Iraq Combined Press Information Center

1. ^ http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/breuropera/74.php?nid=&id=&pnt=74&lb=breu
2. ^ MNF-I Press briefing May 11, 2006
3. ^ "UN renews mandate for Iraq troops", BBC News, November 28, 2006.
4. ^ [1]
5. ^ "Private Security Company Association of Iraq", PSCAI, 2006-9-01.