Salvadorian Troops in Iraq, A Polemic
The controversy over the presence of Salvadorian military in Iraq, the only Latin American to have them, reached a head Wednesday when Defense Minister Otto Alejandro Romero disclosed the decision to keep troops there longer than was expected.

Romero recently declared that in response to "the Iraqi government request to the United Nations for coalition forces to remain longer," El Salvador could continue sending soldiers.

El Salvador s troops should return at the end of this year, when the permission given by the Legislature expires, Colatino local daily pointed out.

The evening newspaper noted that war privatization allows US to use mercenaries from different nations in Iraq, under the euphemism of "civic contractors."

In spite of the supposed "not deadly" employment of the Salvadorian military presence in Iraq, so far four of them have been killed and more than 20 wounded in that war of invasion and occupation.