U.S. Allies Rethinking Roles in Iraq
56 minutes ago
By NICK WADHAMS, Associated Press Writer
In a blow to U.S. hopes for more support in rebuilding Iraq (news - web sites), Japan on Thursday delayed sending troops and other American allies altered plans after a surge in anti-coalition violence
South Korea (news - web sites) decided to cap its possible troop deployment at 3,000, rebuffing Washington's request for a bigger force. And nations such as France that opposed the war that ousted Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) declared, again, that the U.S.-led coalition's postwar plan must be changed.
The reassessments came a day after a suicide truck bombing at a headquarters for Italian forces in southern Iraq killed at least 31 people — the latest in a series of attacks aimed at foreigners helping the United States rebuild Iraq.
Many countries and agencies in Iraq, including Spain, the Netherlands, the United Nations (news - web sites) and the international Red Cross, have been reconsidering their presence since they became targets.
Japan, one of Washington's most steadfast and vocal supporters, had planned to send its first troops to Iraq by the end of 2003. But after Wednesday's attack on the Italian compound, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda backed off, saying the security situation is not yet stable enough.
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