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10% Of Estonian Army In Afghan Tradeoff For NATO Versus Russia
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rwro-@yahoo.com
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Nov 05, 2009 14:35 PST
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http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/nov/05/estonian-troops-boost-nato-forces/
Washington Times
November 4, 2009
Estonian troops boost NATO forces
By Richard Tomkins
-"The people in Estonia understand we're a member of NATO. We can't just consume security; we have to contribute to it.
"Looking at who is our neighbor, you can understand why we have to be a good and active member."
MASOOD, Afghanistan: The bursts of automatic weapons fire caught them in an open field. There was no cover. They hugged the earth, shot back at Taliban gunmen they could see and slowly extricated themselves as a second squad of infantrymen farther back in an orchard laid down covering fire with rifles and shoulder-fired rockets.
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The troops were from Estonia, one of NATO's newest and smallest members. The Estonians' numbers in the U.S.-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) are few, with just 289 men and women in Afghanistan. Yet in proportion to the size of Estonia's National Defense Force, the Afghan deployment represents nearly 10 percent of the nation's full-time military.
The 20-minute firefight occurred slightly more than a half mile from Patrol Base Masood, a small compound of dust and earthen barriers in Helmand province.
"In general, the Estonian people support our being here," said Maj. Janno Mark, commander of the contingent. "The people in Estonia understand we're a member of NATO. We can't just consume security; we have to contribute to it.
"Looking at who is our neighbor, you can understand why we have to be a good and active member."
Estonia, located along the Baltic Sea, was once part of the Soviet Union. It regained its independence after the fall of communism and is a full member of NATO and the European Union.
Its population is about 1.4 million. Its professional military numbers about 3,300. About 30,000 other Estonians serve at any given time in its territorial force - a sort of National Guard - or its 10,000-person reserve.
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According to ISAF statistics, other non-U.S. contingents in southern Afghanistan as of September included 8,371 Britons, 1,978 Dutch, 853 Romanians, 116 Belgians, 664 Danes, 250 Bulgarians, 238 Slovaks, 248 French and 3,550 Canadians. U.S. troops in the south numbered 17,490.
More than 30,000 soldiers from other countries have joined U.S. forces throughout Afghanistan, which is nearly the size of Texas. By the end of the year, there will be 68,000 U.S. forces in-country, and the U.S. commander here - Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal - has asked for more.
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Maj. Mark said the Estonian contingent is divided into two groups. One works with British troops in the northern and central areas of the province where gunbattles and explosions of improvised explosive devices are a daily occurrence. It's a hotbed for Taliban gunmen, who, he says, move freely in the countryside.
Three Estonians were killed there recently, and about a dozen were wounded.
"I haven't seen any real improvement in central Helmand" over the past six months, Maj. Mark said. "We (ISAF) don't have enough forces to improve things significantly. Down south it's a bit different."
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