Over 60 Bulgarian soldiers quit Iraq-bound unit

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L14430296.htm

SOFIA, Jan 14 (Reuters) - A total of 62 Bulgarian soldiers have quit a peacekeeping unit due to replace troops in Iraq after a car bomb killed five of their compatriots last month, Chief of Staff Nikola Kolev said on Wednesday.

The Balkan country, a staunch supporter of the U.S.-led military campaign that toppled Saddam Hussein, has sent a 480- strong light infantry battalion to serve in the Polish-led force in Iraq's holy city of Kerbala.

Bulgaria plans to rotate the peacekeepers in Kerbala with another 480 soldiers by mid-February, but dozens of the new unit have decided to abandon the mission after the Kerbala deaths.

State radio quoted Kolev as saying some of the Bulgarian contingent's duties would be taken over by coalition allies because of increased tension among soldiers after the bombing.

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[Dhalgren]

1. These Bulgarian soldiers are showing

the US and the world that you don't have to do what you are told. Sometimes you just have to do what you feel is right. These soldiers did not want to be sent to be cannon fodder in this war for Emperor George II (Christos)and his rich war-profiteering cronies. They all should quit - the US, British, Spanish, Polish soldiers should all just quit.

[Mikimouse]

3. The poor fools only got ON the bandwagon...

because they thought that they would gain economic rewards from the US. What do you bet that they were promised the sun, moon and stars if they participated in the 'coalition of the willing'. Many of the former soviet bloc nations (my own ancestral home as well, damn it!), signed on to this 'adventure' hoping to get into *'s good graces. Fools!. I would have thought that at least the Hungarians would have learned their lesson after 1956.

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. "government raised daily pay. . . to $82-$90" - wow, & get shot at to boot

.
.
. From the Article:

Kolev and President Georgi Parvanov went to a military base in Kazanlak, central Bulgaria, on Wednesday to kick off the rotation of Iraq-based troops. The peacekeepers are volunteers from the NATO-candidate country's professional army.

The Kerbala deaths have sparked debate in Bulgaria about security at their base in the Polish sector, with many asking why the troops had not been better protected.

Earlier this month 40 soldiers of the new Iraq-bound unit said they would quit but later their number grew to 62, despite raised payment and Sofia's attempts to boost morale.

On Tuesday the government raised daily pay to troops in Kerbala to $82-$90 from $62-$75 after soldiers demanded their compensation be doubled because of higher risk.

/snip/

from 40 to 62 quit in less than two weeks; I'll expect more in the near future

Anyone that goes into Iraq to help with the "liberation" while the BFEE's WarMachine is still in there might as well put targets on themselves.

[htuttle]

4. Pay is $90/day?

I know guys that are making two and three times that driving a taxi.

They *probably* get shot at less often driving a taxi (depends on the season), and you also get to keep your tips.

[Crunchy Frog]

5. Sounds like a smart move

to me. It's clear that our government just wants to use impoverished Eastern Europeans as cheap cannon fodder. It's good that they have enough self respect to not go for it.

Iraq is our mess, we have no business asking people of other nations to clean it up for us on the cheap.