Danish Defense Minister Quits Amid Criticism Over Iraq War
The Danish defense minister resigned Friday as parliament members questioned whether the military exaggerated the threat posed by Saddam Hussein to justify the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
Svend Aage Jensby, 59, stepped down just days after the prime minister reiterated that Denmark would not pull its troops out of Iraq despite the continuing violence there and the failure to find Hussein’s alleged weapons of mass destruction.
Jensby’s resignation does not mean Denmark will pull its troops out, analysts said.
Jensby said he was tired of a “smear campaign” by opponents of the war.
Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen said that he deeply regretted Jensby’s decision, and that 41-year-old lawmaker and former army officer Soeren Gade would be appointed as the new defense minister today. Denmark is the latest U.S. ally whose government has been criticized and questioned over its reasons for backing the war.
This week, Spain, Honduras and the Dominican Republic announced they would bring their soldiers home.
The Danes have nearly 500 troops in Basra and Qurnah.
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