Thais asks US to provide security for Thai troops in Iraq

[dArKeR]

BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - Thailand has asked the United States to provide security for its non-combat soldiers in Iraq or consider moving them to a safer neighboring country if violence there escalates further, the foreign minister said Friday.

Surakiart Sathirathai said he'd discussed with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell by telephone the possibility of moving Thailand's 443 troops to Kuwait if violence in Iraq intensifies and impedes their work.

"I told him that Thai troops were deployed to Iraq for a humanitarian mission, and that when the situation there reaches a point that we cannot perform our duty ... there is no point in us staying,'' he told reporters after returning from an official visit to Saudi Arabia.

"We do not have our own armed men, so I told him that if they can provide enough security, we would stay as long as our soldiers are not in danger or move them to a safe area in a nearby country,'' Surakiart said.

http://thestaronline.com/news/story.asp?file=/2004/4/23/latest/17047Thailsask&sec=latest

[dArKeR]

1. US 'would understand', hopes Thai premier - going home alive

BANGKOK, April 23: Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Friday he hoped the United States would understand if Thailand withdrew its troops from Iraq because of growing insecurity.

"If the situation reached a crisis and our troops could not carry out their humanitarian mission, then we would have to cease operations since our troops have no combat tasks," Mr Thaksin told reporters.

"Thai troops have a humanitarian mission only, and I believe (US Secretary of State Colin) Powell understands that, as previously agreed," the premier said.

http://www.dawn.com/2004/04/24/int12.htm

[oblivious]

2. There's a big difference

Neocon invitation - peacekeeping, humanitarian, freedom, democracy, Iraq-for-Iraqis, nation-building, blah, blah, blah

Real life - kill, be killed

[NNN0LHI]

3. kick