Messages In This Digest (5 Messages)

1.: Estonian Troops In Afghanistan: Proving Loyalty To NATO From: Rick Rozoff

2.: Egypt, Gulf States: U.S. Boosts Arms To Mideast Military Allies From: Rick Rozoff

3.: Georgian Leadership Threat To Peace In Caucasus: Russia From: Rick Rozoff

4.: Dutch Troops Killed Over 100 Afghan Civilians From: Rick Rozoff

5.: U.S. War Budget Larger Than All 50 States' Spending Combined From: Rick Rozoff

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1.: Estonian Troops In Afghanistan: Proving Loyalty To NATO

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Dec 25, 2009 2:39 pm (PST)

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=66876

Stars and Stripes
December 26, 2009

Tiny Estonia keen to make large contribution in Afghanistan fight
By Heath Druzin

-Estonia has been keen to prove itself to its NATO allies, maintaining a combat force of about 150 soldiers in some of Afghanistan's most dangerous areas and doubling that briefly during the country's elections in August.
-Estonian soldiers have been engaged in heavy combat since arriving in 2006. Despite their small numbers, they've lost seven soldiers...."Of course it's hard for a small country to accept the casualty numbers, but it's the war; it's our responsibility as a NATO country."
-Like many of their neighbors eager for a security buffer from Russia, Estonia has been an enthusiastic U.S. ally and NATO member, sending troops to Iraq and now Afghanistan.

NAD ALI DISTRICT, Afghanistan:— An hour earlier, the tiny patrol base had been rocked by the low thud to which the soldiers here have become grimly accustomed. It was the fatal sound of a comrade tripping an insurgent bomb. Silence hung over the normally chatty platoon.

But there was little time for reflection in...central Helmand province. The soldiers, 2,500 miles from their homes in tiny Estonia, clipped their chin straps, readied their rifles, and walked out the front gate just a few hundred yards from where their friend's body had been carried off the battlefield.
....
While other larger European countries have limited how and where their soldiers can operate, Estonia has been keen to prove itself to its NATO allies, maintaining a combat force of about 150 soldiers in some of Afghanistan's most dangerous areas and doubling that briefly during the country's elections in August.

Estonia's combat contingent is spread across two rough-hewn compounds in a rural valley that alternates between lush green and tan-gray desert, where farming is the main source of livelihood and many of the roads are riddled with mines.

Estonian soldiers have been engaged in heavy combat since arriving in 2006. Despite their small numbers, they've lost seven soldiers, the latest being Sgt. Kristjan Yalakas, 19. Yalakas tripped the booby trap near Patrol Base Wahid while preparing to check a compound Dec. 15. Two days before that, another soldier was seriously injured in a similar bombing, the 57th Estonian to be injured in Afghanistan.

This year has been the deadliest for the Estonians in Afghanistan, with four soldiers killed. In a country with just 1.3 million people, everything the soldiers do is scrutinized, every death a big national story.

"Of course it's hard for a small country to accept the casualty numbers, but it's the war; it's our responsibility as a NATO country," said Maj. Sergei Guselnikov, 36, the company's stony-faced, chain-smoking commander.
....
Like many of their neighbors eager for a security buffer from Russia, Estonia has been an enthusiastic U.S. ally and NATO member, sending troops to Iraq and now Afghanistan.

"....Estonia has been a staunch ally of America and Britain and they have sacrificed a lot of soldiers in this campaign."
....
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2.: Egypt, Gulf States: U.S. Boosts Arms To Mideast Military Allies

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Dec 25, 2009 2:44 pm (PST)

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2009/12/23/Egypt-eyes-US-missiles-equipment/UPI-79271261610473/

United Press International
December 23, 2009

Egypt eyes U.S. missiles, equipment

-News of Egypt's arms requests follows similar bids from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

CAIRO: The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency has signaled its intent to consider a rash of foreign military sales to Egypt, including the transfer of anti-tank missiles.

The government of Egypt has also requested anti-ship missiles, engine upgrades for its fleet of F-16 jet fighters and Fast Missile Crafts worth an estimated $1.18 billion.

The proposed sale is expected to "contribute to the foreign police and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country which has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East," the U.S. Defense agency said.

Among Egypt's grab-bag of requests: 450 AGM-114K3A Hellfire II air-to-surface anti-armor missiles, along with associated parts, equipment training and logistical support. This package alone is estimated at $51 million.
....
Egypt also wants to procure 20 RGM-84L/3 Harpoon Block III anti-ship cruise missiles, 4 Harpoon shipboard command launch control systems, including all consoles, software and shipboard canister launcher units.

The potential sale would also feature support equipment, personnel training and training equipment - all estimated at $145 million.

Should the deal go through, the principle contractor will be U.S-based Boeing company.

Another export opportunity includes Egypt's request for upgraded F-110-GE-100 engines that power its fleet of F-16 jet fighters. The proposed upgrades will be spread out over six or seven years, in increments of approximately 24 upgraded engines per year, local media reported.

This contract would amount to a value of approximately $750 million and would be carried out by General Electric Aviation, the Defense Professionals Web site reported.
....
News of Egypt's arms requests follows similar bids from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Saudi Arabia recently disclosed that its intent to buy wire-guided radio frequency missiles was aimed at supporting the kingdom's efforts to modernize its national guard.
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3.: Georgian Leadership Threat To Peace In Caucasus: Russia

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Dec 25, 2009 7:58 pm (PST)

http://www.panarmenian.net/news/eng/?nid=41217&page=4

PanArmenian.net
December 24, 2009

Sergey Lavrov: Saakashvili poses peace threats to Caucasus

Georgia's current leadership poses peace and security threats to the region which has already faced a heated war against South Ossetia, Russian peacekeers and Russia, RF Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

According to Russia's top diplomat, his country is doing its utmost to prevent the repetition of warfare.

Russia is hopeful that any party involved in restoring the Georgian army will be able to keep Georgia back from new adventures, realizing the entire seriousness of the issue, Lavrov said.
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4.: Dutch Troops Killed Over 100 Afghan Civilians

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Dec 25, 2009 8:12 pm (PST)

http://www.rnw.nl/english/radioshow/dutch-caused-over-100-afghan-civilian-deaths-tv-news-claims

Radio Netherlands
December 24, 2009

Dutch caused over 100 Afghan civilian deaths, TV news claims

Civilian deaths in Afghanistan

The Dutch television channel RTL news has obtained evidence that, it claims, shows that Dutch troops in Afghanistan have been responsible for more than 100 civilian deaths.

Under freedom of information legislation, RTL was able to force the Ministry of Defence to hand over documents detailing both civilian deaths and compensation paid to civilians who were injured.

It took two years of legal battling to obtain the information, which relates to actions by Dutch troops in the provinces of Uruzgan and Helmand.
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5.: U.S. War Budget Larger Than All 50 States' Spending Combined

Posted by: "Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff@yahoo.com rwrozoff

Fri Dec 25, 2009 8:19 pm (PST)

http://www.allgov.com/ViewNews/War_Costs_Americans_More_Than_All_State_Governments_Combined__Sherwood_Ross_91225

AllGov
December 25, 2009

War Costs Americans More Than All State Governments Combined: Sherwood Ross

America has become a "warfare state," spending more on its military than state or local governments do to provide for their citizens' welfare, according to former journalist Sherwood Ross.

Each year, Department of Defense expenditures exceed that of all 50 states combined in providing medical services, educating children, offering a safety net to the poor and protecting citizens against crime and fires.

According to Joseph Henchman, director of state projects for the Tax Foundation, the 50 states collected $781 billion in taxes in 2008.

Meanwhile, the U.S. defense budget for fiscal year 2010 will be at least $880 billion.

To demonstrate that the federal government's priority is more on making war than preventing it, Sherwood points out that for every dollar spent by the State Department, the Pentagon spends $20. "As for the Peace Corps, its budget is a paltry $375 million—hardly enough to keep the Pentagon elephant in peanuts," he writes.
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