Washington’s allies leave Iraq

[sonz]

The numbers of occupation forces in IRAQ dwindled on Tuesday as Ukraine and Bulgaria completed the withdrawal of their soldiers, while Poland said it would cut its force by 600 next year.

The Polish government’s decision to reduce its force reverses a previous plan to withdraw all Polish troops in early 2006.

Poland, a staunch ally of the United States, has about 1,500 soldiers stationed in south-central IRAQ. More than 17 has been killed in the war-torn country since the 2003 U.S.-led INVASION.

Recent opinion polls show the military presence in IRAQ is unpopular at home, with a majority of Poles wanting the soldiers to return.

Meanwhile, Ukraine and Bulgaria, who has their troops serving in Iraq under Polish command, announced that they completed the withdrawal of their soldiers.

The last Ukrainian troops left IRAQ on Tuesday, the defense ministry said, according to BBC. Their pullout coincided with that of the remaining 130 Bulgarian soldiers.

Ukraine initially opposed the INVASION but later sent 1,650 soldiers to IRAQ, becoming one of the largest non-NATO participants. About eighteen Ukrainian troops have been killed since the war began.

Bulgaria started withdrawing its forces shortly after Iraq’s parliamentary elections, transferring its military responsibilities to Iraqi soldiers.

Correspondents say the withdrawals would deal a major blow to the U.S. President GEORGE W. BUSH, who is facing mounting pressure at home and abroad over his handling of the war.

Last week, the Pentagon announced that it will cut the current level of 160,000 troops in IRAQ by two army brigades, which amounts to about 7,000 soldiers.

More than 2,100 American soldiers died in Iraq since the 2003 U.S.-led INVASION.

IRAQI DEATHS deaths are put at more than 30,000.

* U.S. pilots killed in copter crash

Two American pilots were killed when their helicopter crashed in western Baghdad Monday night, the U.S. army said on Tuesday, according to Reuters.

The crash is under investigation but the army says that "there was no hostile fire involved.”

Many U.S. troops have been killed in copter crashes in IRAQ since the 2003 U.S.-led INVASION, some in accidents and others in attacks by Iraqi fighters.

Of the worst incidents, two U.S. U.S. Black Hawk helicopters collided under fire in Mosul in November 2003, killing 17 troops, a week after another Black Hawk was shot down killing six.

A Black Hawk was shot down near Falluja in January 2004, killing all nine on board.

In January this year, a U.S. transport helicopter crashed close to the Jordanian border in Anbar province, western Iraq, killing 30 soldiers and one sailor.