Berlusconi just announced a withdrawal in September.
I guess the French military will get a little respite now from the war jokes. Queue lots of bad jokes about Italian tanks.
The Coalition of the less and less willing is getting smaller and smaller.
I don’t really see the problem with this. Italy was there when the heavy lifting needed to be done. They are absolutely first rate in my book.
They are doing a partial withdrawal in six months. With good fortune, maybe we can do the same.
The coalition of the not terribly willing just got a little less willing. No problem with that. Nor any surprise there.
They had troops there? Really, I wasn’t aware that they were doing anything. Did they have any front line or straight legs, or were they all support types?
T.
P.S. You don’t need a coalition of any type when you’re the biggest, baddest and deadliest military force on the face of the planet (shameless plug for the military 
I can’t answer your questions well. I know they had 3,000 troops there, and have taken plenty of casualties, including one by a training accident today.
I will respect and thank them as they leave. Sometimes you gotta go. The thing that gave me the most respect for them was when one of the Italian soldiers was kidnapped and the bandits where going to execute him he refused to be blind folded saying “I want you to see my eyes as I die with honor.” Balls. Big, hangin’, hairy balls. Bless them and I hope they do well as a country.
They did their part and I thank each and every one of them for their help. They should feel proud for playing a part in making history. They don’t have the military resources for long deployment that countries like the USA and the UK have…they did what they could and that was all that was asked.
This is at least a small problem considering the fact that we’re trying to get the UN, NATO, European countries etc to take on more of the burden of stability operations around the world. The whole idea right now is to try to develop our allies into forces capable of taking over once we break down the door. If they are leaving, they aren’t getting the training, they aren’t staying engaged, and it means at least a few more spots we will have to continue covering with our boys instead of being able to phaes them out. I’m not saying I blame Italy, but it would be better if they stayed.
But what about Poland? You forgot Poland!
Did you hear about his libary burning down?
He’s pissed, he was really looking forward to finishing that coloring book.
Not fair but still funny.
I can’t answer that but I do know that my friend just got back with his Nat’l Guard unit and said hanging withe the Italians was a blast. Can’t remember where they were but south of the Sunni Triangle. They transported fuel and water all over … All the young American troops were pissed because the slick Italian boys picked up on all the little G.I. Janes. 
It’s really not a big deal–they really aren’t needed much anymore. Since Fallujah and the elections, violence is way down. All the troops in the world can’t stop a suicide bomber–Israel proves that.
I would miss the Italian rations–when I was in Turkey, we would trade our “C’s” for their rations in a heartbeat. They liked our spaghetti and meatballs. Theirs had brandy packets and a big ole’ slab of semi-sweet chocolate in them.
Considering Italians accounted for 2% of troops I’d say it’s not a big deal.
They had more troops there than anyone else except Britain and S.Korea, making them your 3nd largest ally, so I’d say it is a big deal.
Depends which way you look at it I guess.
P.S. You don’t need a coalition of any type when you’re the biggest, baddest and deadliest military force on the face of the planet (shameless plug for the military
I am pretty sure that China is the biggest. And virtually anyone with a nuke is equally deadly.
“virtually anyone with a nuke is equally deadly”
A nuke isn’t really a military weapon. Obviously it’s employed by the military, but it’s a national asset, not a weapon used in any kind of military strategy. If Iran gets a nuke, it doesn’t mean their military is as deadly, just that the country can do some damage.
What in the hell were the 10 dudes from Norway doing?
10 is just the number of guys they’ve pulled out. They probably had more under the “Other” heading. They’re probably staff guys or something.
fair enough, what makes a military deadly then?
**If Iran gets a nuke, it doesn’t mean their military is as deadly, just that the country can do some damage. **
Distinction without a difference.
I know we tend to say things that sound good on paper, but I can’t help but wonder how the supporters of the war, while sitting behind their computers, are going to make those risking their lives, or suffering death and injury, feel better. When our soldiers die, people repeat as a mantra such insightful things as “our thoughts and prayers are with you” while they go about their day, essentially not giving a second thought to what is going on in Iraq, and certainly not actually praying.
How many people’s only contribution to the war is to put a flag on their car?
**I often wonder about the people who support the war, and what they are doing to show their real appreciation. ** I met a few men on the weekend who served in Vietnam and they are absolutely disgusted and ashamed about how they were and continue to be treated by this country they served. Both are vehemently opposed to this war and it got me thinking about how much we take them for granted. The only thing I ever hear is lip service but out of curiosity, how do people actually support the troops?