Thailand may withdraw troops from Iraq after June 30

[kskiska]

BANGKOK - Thailand may withdraw its troops from Iraq immediately after the United States transfers power to a transitional Iraqi authority on June 30, a newspaper reported on Saturday.

Defence Minister Gen. Chetta Thanajaro was quoted as saying by the Bangkok Post that a review will be conducted on whether 443 Thai troops on a humanitarian mission in Iraq should come back in September as planned or sooner.

"We have the freedom to think and make decisions. When the time comes, we will think about it again,” Chetta was quoted as saying. Chetta’s spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

Chetta did not give a reason for the possible early withdrawal, but there are widespread fears that violence against coalition forces by insurgents opposed to the US-led campaign in Iraq could increase once power is returned to an Iraqi government. The United States has said it will relinquish governance on June 30.

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http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/focusoniraq/2004/April/focusoniraq_April11.xml§ion=focusoniraq

[Florida_Geek]

1. I guess calling Thailand a "terrorist nation"

was another dumb move.

[saigon68]

2. Winning Friends

with thugish behavior