Armenia to send troops to Afghanistan

[Armenum]

Unfortunate that Armenia has to be dragged into this war as well. Armenian troops will be under German command.

Armenia To Send Troops To Afghanistan

Thirty Armenian soldiers will be sent to Afghanistan

November 09, 2009
YEREVAN -- A senior NATO official says Armenia will soon send a small contingent of troops to Afghanistan to assist the United States and its NATO allies against the Taliban insurgency, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.

Robert Simmons, NATO's special representative to the South Caucasus, said during a visit to Yerevan on Friday that 30 Armenian soldiers are expected to be sent to Afghanistan early next year.

Simmons expressed NATO's "appreciation to Armenia for its strong contributions" to alliance missions, which he said began in Kosovo and will now be repeated in Afghanistan.

An Armenian Defense Ministry official said the government will soon ask parliament to approve the deployment. The Armenian military and NATO representatives have reportedly been discussing the deployment for the past two years.

Despite not yet having troops on the ground, Armenia is already listed by NATO as one of the 43 member and partner states that make up the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. ISAF currently includes more than 70,000 soldiers, about half of them American.

Armenia's neighbors Turkey and Azerbaijan also participate in ISAF with 720 and 90 troops, respectively.

[Captain Jin]

30 Armenian troops probably acting in a force protection manner or there as observers in order to learn a few things first hand. They're not going to be running and gunning outside the wire, man.

[Armenum]

30 Armenian troops probably acting in a force protection manner or there as observers in order to learn a few things first hand. They're not going to be running and gunning outside the wire, man.

Yeah, initially it's 30 but more troops may have to be sent as the war deteriorates. Armenians have some experience in Afghanistan from the Soviet Invasion, so definitely that experience will be utilized.

[Captain Jin]

Yeah, initially it's 30 but more troops may have to be sent as the war deteriorates. Armenians have some experience in Afghanistan from the Soviet Invasion, so definitely that experience will be utilized.

Okay, that was 30 years ago man. That experience isn't around anymore.

[lordoftheT]

Yeah, initially it's 30 but more troops may have to be sent as the war deteriorates. Armenians have some experience in Afghanistan from the Soviet Invasion, so definitely that experience will be utilized.

An veterans of that war that are still in the military after all this time were likely promoted past the point of serving anywhere near the front line a long time ago.

[alhoon]

Yeah, initially it's 30 but more troops may have to be sent as the war deteriorates. Armenians have some experience in Afghanistan from the Soviet Invasion, so definitely that experience will be utilized.

Is Armenia in NATO? If yes, they have to send army there.

Remember, Afghanistan hit a NATO country.

[Gertrudius]

Is Armenia in NATO? If yes, they have to send army there.

Remember, Afghanistan hit a NATO country.

They are not a member, and as such not subject to the joint security clause. They are however part of the Partnership for Peace program and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, but that's the extent of their relationship to NATO.

Take it easy,

[Hookah Smoking Caterpiller]

30 men is hardly joining a war, this barely deserves the bandwith its on.

[Downey]

30, dang thats almost a platoon. Do they come supplied or are we going to have to arm them?

[Armenum]

30, dang thats almost a platoon. Do they come supplied or are we going to have to arm them?

I don't know details, I am assuming they'll come armed but the Germans will supply them as well. Armenia is looking however to increase the troop number after this deployment. Armenian soldiers are very good mountain fighters (armenia is in mountainous region) and may take the terrain better.

[Armenum]

Also remember that during the Karabakh war in the 90's, Azerbaijan recruited Muslim mercenaries mainly from Afghanistan to fight against Armenians and many of those Muslim mercenaries which Armenians fought against included the current enemy (Taliban, etc.). One of the reasons those mercenaries fought also was because Armenians are Christians. However those mercenaries didn't stand a chance against Armenian Army.

[dogukan]

Also remember that during the Karabakh war in the 90's, Azerbaijan recruited Muslim mercenaries mainly from Afghanistan to fight against Armenians and many of those Muslim mercenaries which Armenians fought against included the current enemy (Taliban, etc.). One of the reasons those mercenaries fought also was because Armenians are Christians. However those mercenaries didn't stand a chance against Armenian Army.

Frogs die when they get old....my grandfather died, therefore he was a frog.

[Remember1843]

I have a feeling Mov that you see it as a game for the glory of Armenia...

[Downey]

I don't know details, I am assuming they'll come armed but the Germans will supply them as well. Armenia is looking however to increase the troop number after this deployment. Armenian soldiers are very good mountain fighters (armenia is in mountainous region) and may take the terrain better.

as stated its just symbolic.

[Prodigal]

I don't think this really means much. Probably just symbolic.

[Armenum]

I don't think this really means much. Probably just symbolic.

It's a sign of Armenia's growing support of NATO and US.

[Prodigal]

It's a sign of Armenia's growing support of NATO and US.

Good for Armenia.

[Armenum]

Good for Armenia.

I personally think we should also move towards this pro-west direction. I'm getting tired of my country always being controlled by a mafia run country (russia) and in a military alliance with countries like Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, you get the point

cool... I am sure the nato forces are in desperate need of more taxi cab drivers and falafel stand vendors.

what the hell are you talking about? Falafel vendors are Turks and plus falafel is not a real Armenian dish. Where do you get these stupid stereotypes from?

Oh no. Half of the Armenian army is going to Afghanistan

very funny...look there's only 3 million people in Armenia and the active troop number is 60,000 in addition to a large reserve.

[Viking Prince]

This may just be the European way to 'cooperate' without committing. It appears that the Germans have also agreed to up their forces as well with a massive 100 troops.

Germany to send 100 more troops to Afghanistan

KUNDUZ, Afghanistan—Germany will send more than 100 extra troops to Afghanistan in January, the country's defense minister said Friday. Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg said the quick-reaction force soldiers would be deployed in the northern Afghan province of Kunduz, a formerly relatively peaceful area that has seen an increase in Taliban activity in recent months. Most of the 4,365 troops Germany already has in Afghanistan are stationed there. Thirty-six German soldiers have been killed so far in the mission to Afghanistan, and support in Germany for the war is low. Guttenberg announced the slight increase in troop numbers during a visit to his country's forces in Kunduz, a day after he met with Afghan and NATO officials in the capital, Kabul. The minister was due to return to Germany later Friday.

http://www.denverpost.com/nationworld/ci_13777844

But then there needs to be a total of 40,000 more troops. To paraphrase Sen. Everett Dirksen, 30 troops here and 100 troops there and pretty soon you will be talking about a thousand troops. Hmmm? That is not going to get us to 40,000.

Afghanistan troop increase: Obama and his advisers, meeting for ...‎ - 1 day ago

Stanley mcchrystal, the commander of US and allied forces in Afghanistan, who has told Obama that more than 40000 troops are needed to stabilize the country ...

[Ahlerich]

But then there needs to be a total of 40,000 more troops. To paraphrase Sen. Everett Dirksen, 30 troops here and 100 troops there and pretty soon you will be talking about a thousand troops. Hmmm? That is not going to get us to 40,000.

yeah well but you need to be a bit fair here. america says we need 40000 man. that does not mean this is a hard fact. every country has to made up its own mind about what is needed where. following every american call and assesment without making up its own mind would make a country seem like a slave vassal.

mmany in gemrny and i am one of them say lets take our men home and be done with it. of course for international relations that would be terrible. so th epoliticians are reasonable and will keep our guys there until america found a way to withdraw making the mission looking like a success.