FORMING ANOTHER COALITION

The “coalition of the willing” assembled by the United States to support its attack on Iraq was not an impressive force. Critics asked what specific contribution Micronesia would be making, and in the great majority of cases it became clear that the promised assistance was confined to overflying permission for the US Air Force and other similar low–risk commitments. The membership of the so–called Iraq stabilisation force, details of which were released yesterday, is not likely to impress either. Take out the expected forces from Italy, Spain, the UK and US, and there is not a single country contributing more than a few hundred troops: 70 from Albania, 150 from Azerbaijan, 380 from Denmark. Expectations that Poland would make a major contribution of as many as 7'000 were dashed yesterday when it became clear that the Polish government was having second thoughts about its involvement which had been announced only 48 hours earlier. US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld had said that Poland would take responsibility for one of the three zones into which Iraq is to be divided under US plans. But detailed examination of the Polish offer has revealed that outside funding would be required if more than 1'500 troops were needed; reservations were also expressed about the Polish military's planning capabilities and its shortage of English speakers. Waiting in the background are about a dozen countries willing to help in post–war Iraq if there is a UN resolution mandating such involvement; but in the absence of UN authority any country contributing troops might become an “occupying force” under the Geneva Convention – a status which not all these countries would wish to have.