Diplomat: BUSHCO 'Threatened, Spied On, Mocked & Punished' Countries That Did NOT Support Iraq War

[kpete]

Diplomat: U.S. ‘threatened’ countries that didn’t support Iraq war.»

In an upcoming book, Heraldo Muñoz, Chile’s ambassador to the United Nations, writes the efforts by the Bush administration to cajole other countries into supporting the invasion of Iraq “generated lasting ‘bitterness’ and ‘deep mistrust’ in Washington’s relations with allies in Europe, Latin America and elsewhere.” Muñoz describes how the “rough-and-tumble diplomatic strategy” employed by the Bush administration to pressure allies for support included threats and punishment:

In the months leading up to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the Bush administration threatened trade reprisals against friendly countries who withheld their support, spied on its allies, and pressed for the recall of U.N. envoys that resisted U.S. pressure to endorse the war, according to an upcoming book by a top Chilean diplomat.

“In the aftermath of the invasion, allies loyal to the United States were rejected, mocked and even punished” for their refusal to back a U.N. resolution authorizing military action against Saddam Hussein’s government, Muñoz wrote.

more at:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/22/diplomat-us-threatened-countries-that-didnt-support-iraq-war/

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. Many in America didn't support junior's escapade, we have suffered

in so many ways it isn't funny. We are allies of the U.S. and we have been plowed under financially.

[seemslikeadream]

2. Oh good it wasn't just us

[Contrary1]

3. Did you read this comment?

If true, we can add this to the mounting debt caused by Bush's war.

Incentives given by the U.S. to coalition members

Many nations received monetary and other incentives from the United States in return for sending troops to or otherwise supporting the Iraq war.<96> Critics of the Bush Administration such as Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, has said this approach smacks of “bribery”<97> Below is a partial list of some of the incentives offered to coalition members:

Turkey - Turkey was offered approximately $8.5 billion in loans in exchange for sending 10,000 peacekeeping troops in 2003. Even though the US did say the loans and the sending of troops to Iraq were not directly linked, it also said the loans are contingent upon “cooperation” on Iraq.<98>
Singapore - In May 2003 the Bush Administration signed a free trade agreement with Singapore, the first with an Asian country. In announcing the deal, President Bush hailed Singapore as “a strong partner in the war on terrorism and a member of the coalition on Iraq.” Asia Times columnist Jeffrey Robertson argued was a reward for Singapore’s support of the Iraq invasion.<99><100><101>
Australia: In 2004 the Bush Administration “fast tracked” a free trade agreement with Australia. The Sydney Morning Herald called the deal a “reward” for Australia’s contribution of troops to the Iraq invasion.<102><103>
Great Britain: As of 2006, the Independent reported that British companies have received at least £1.1bn contracts for reconstruction work in postwar Iraq.<104>
In addition to direct incentives, critics of the war have argued that the involvement of other members of the coalition was in response for indirect benefits, such as support for NATO membership or other military and financial aid. Indeed, almost all of the Eastern European nations involved in the Coalition have either recently joined or are in the process of joining the US-led NATO alliance (namely Bulgaria, Georgia, Albania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Romania and Slovakia).<105>, the exceptions being Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic which joined NATO in 1999. Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, for example, said on April 21 that Estonian troops had to remain in Iraq due to his country’s “important partnership” with the United States.<106>

At least one country, Georgia, is believed to have sent soldiers to Iraq as an act of repayment for the American training of security forces that could potentially be deployed to the break-away regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.<107> Indeed, Georgian troops that were sent to Iraq have all undergone these training programs.<108>

El Salvador’s President Antonio Saca has been accused of deploying troops in return for membership in the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA),<109> and as a member of the right-wing ARENA party that was supported heavily by the United States during the El Salvador Civil War, is certainly influenced by the United States.

Conversely, Greece’s non involvement (a poll indicated 90% against the Iraq Invasion), may have led to the US recognizing the Republic of Macedonia under its constitutional name.<110>