Coalition of the Willing

A term coined by President William Jefferson Clinton to refer to the concept of governments lending military support to United Nations efforts. Co-opted by President George W Bush in 2001 to describe the concept of governments rolling over for him on his say-so. In the latter usage, "Willing" is meant in the same sense as an unrepentant frat boy would use it to describe a passed-out sorority sister who wakes up in his room with a sore crotch and a torn blouse.

Bush repeatedly used the phrase up through 2004 to paint the picture of Coalition Forces (the phrase which replaced it) being a massive international effort, uniting the freedom-loving governments of a dozen disparate cultures.

In reality, 98% of the military forces deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan are either in the service of the United States of America or the United Kingdom. And that being said, while America has deployed around 140,000 soldiers, the UK has fewer than 10,000, including 3,000 stationed in general points of the Gulf Region.

On the face of things, the Coalition of the Willing looks like the Justice League of international peace-keeping. Besides the U.S. and U.K., the Coalition is comprised of soldiers from South Korea, Italy, Poland, Romania, Georgia, Japan, Denmark, Australia, El Salvador, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Latvia, Albania, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Slovakia, Armenia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Estonia, Macedonia and Kazakistan.

Armenia, Bosnia Herzegovina, Estonia, Macedonia and Kazakistan have, combined, contributed less than 500 troops total.

Romania, Georgia, Japan, Denmark, Australia, El Salvador, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Latvia, Albania, the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Slovakia contributed, combined, around 5000 troops.

South Korea, Italy and Poland combine to provide about 7000 troops.

(There are fewer troops from non Anglo-American nations in Iraq and Afghanistan than there are private contractors)

That's who is still willing. In the meantime, the following nations have decided they're not so willing after all: Bulgaria, Ukraine, Nicaraugua, Spain, Honduras, Norway, the Dominican Republic, Phillipines, Thailand, Hungary, New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, the Netherlands, Moldova and Tonga. Two-Fifths of the participating nations have withdrawn from the conflicts.

On the upside, we never would have had the hilarious You forgot Poland moment were it not for the Coalition of the Willing.