Gary Rumor’s Anti-Entropic Continuum

Tuvalu has decided to break ranks with the larger developing nations group and insist upon stricter standards to restrict global warming.
China, India and Saudi Arabia seem to be opposed to stricter standards. The USA and China are trading attacks each claiming the other has to do more but neither is willing to do the right thing. Things are heating up in Copenhagen.

This from the Times of India.

Small islands group force break in climate talks
Nitin Sethi, TNN 10 December 2009, 02:14am
Copenhagen
Small Island States

NEW DELHI: The G77+China group on Wednesday got its biggest jolt with small island country members, led by Tuvalu, sounding the first bugle of rebellion and forcing suspension of talks as the group fought doggedly with countries like India and China.

Many members of the Association of Small Island States — a subgroup within G77 — on Wednesday got up one after the other to demand the creation of a new protocol under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

In a move that is bound to dilute the talks on stronger commitments from the industrialised countries under Kyoto Protocol, to the consternation of the developing countries, the Danes came forward to back the AOSIS against India and China, helping further the rift.

The move took G77 members, including India and China, by surprise. While they made a counter-strike to ward off any window being opened for a new debate that would marginalise the Kyoto Protocol, the negotiations had to be suspended for two hours as the acrimony in the G77 group and the meeting became obvious.

G77 and China have held a clear line so far demanding that talks must focus on enhanced commitments of the rich countries under Kyoto Protocol and inclusion of the US — which refuses to sign the Kyoto Protocol — through another long-term agreement. It has put its resources and negotiators on full gear so far to prevent any dilution of this agenda set by the Bali Action Plan in 2007.

But on Wednesday, Tuvalu, speaking on behalf of the AOSIS group, demanded a contact group — jargon for a set of negotiators getting into a smaller huddle on the issue — be formed to discuss the creation of a new protocol that would help prevent global temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degree above pre-industrialised levels.

While the AOSIS group has been vocal in its criticism of the large economies within G77 in closed door meetings, this was the first time the convention saw divisions within the developing country bloc spill out in the open.

India was the first one to notice a concerted attempt being made by the AOSIS countries to set a different course for the negotiations. It pointed out that the talks had to focus on the two decided tracks and that Kyoto could not be weakened. But the chair, held by Danish climate and energy minister Connie Hedegaard, supported the formation of a contact group. China and Saudi Arabia too got up to oppose such a move.

But indications that the fissures were worse than immediately perceivable came with select African members of the G77 also supporting AOSIS while South Africa and Brazil — two of the four big economies in the bloc — staying quiet.

Tuvalu is one of the 14 countries that the UK has supported through the creation of the Vulnerable 14 group of countries, funding and supporting meetings of the group.

While the AOSIS was setting the stage for a rebellion, the chair of the G77 group, Sudan, accused the Europeans of playing the divide and rule game, saying it was a game they had mastered since the 16th century but this time it was about the new global resource — carbon space.”

President Obama is flying to Norway to accept the Nobel Peace prize. I understand he is planning on keeping it low key since he just announced a troop surge in Afghanistan. Protesters are planning to greet him in Oslo with chants of “Change, no war”, etc.

Yesterday at the congressional hearings McCrystal managed to walk around an awkward question when asked about the levels of aid offered by the 43 allies of the USA in Afghanistan. This sounds a lot like President Bush’s coalition of the willing.

After much digging around I finally found a listing of the ISAF nations in Afghanistan that President Obama spoke of. This is from Wikipedia.

“Summary of major troop contributions (42 nations, 22 October 2009)

ISAF total - 74,084.

United States - 34,800 United Kingdom - 10,000 Germany - 4,365
France - 3,095 Canada - 2,830 Italy - 2,795
Poland - 1,910 Netherlands - 2,160 Turkey - 1750
Australia - 1,350 Romania - 990 Bulgaria - 460
Spain - 1,000 Denmark - 750 Belgium - 530
Norway - 480 Czech Republic - 480 Croatia - 290
Sweden - 430 Hungary - 360 Slovakia - 245
Lithuania - 250 Macedonia - 165 Azerbaijan - 90
New Zealand - 300 Albania - 250 Latvia - 175
Finland - 165 Georgia - 173[21] Estonia - 289
Slovenia - 130 Portugal - 145 Greece - 145
Singapore - 9 Ukraine - 10 Luxembourg - 8
Iceland - 2 Ireland - 7 Jordan - 7
Austria - 4 Bosnia and Herzegovina - 10 United Arab Emirates - 25

This is prior to the American surge of 30,000 and it also does not seem to have the 30,000 troops committed by President Obama when he was elected. This number seems suspect to me. But then it is 6 weeks old.

This is a more detailed account of troops on the ground and history of troop commitments.

“NATO nations

A Bulgarian army up-armored M1114 patrol in Kabul, July 2009 Albania – 250 (as of October 22, 2009. Source ISAF Website). The Albanian contribution to ISAF operations in Afghanistan currently consists of 251 soldiers in three locations. The main contingent is composed of a company under Italian command in the province of Herat. Albania also has a squad of soldiers under Turkish command in Kabul and a contribution to a joint medical team with the Czech contribution. Prime Minister Sali Berisha stated in an interview he has ordered a doubling of the Albanian contingent to assist NATO partners in providing security for the upcoming Afghan elections.

Belgium – 530 (as of December 1, 2009. Source Belgian Army Website). The mission is named BELU ISAF 21. Their main task is to provide security at Kabul International Airport, while detachments (KUNDUZ 16) assist in the northern PRTs of Kunduz and Mazari Sharif. In September 2008, OGF 4 started: four F-16s with about 140 support personnel deployed. They operate from Kandahar Airport. The Belgian Air Force will operate close together with the Dutch F-16 fighter jets already deployed there. The Belgians are planning the send four more F-16s, along with 150 more troops and plan to stay at least through 2010.

Bulgaria – 460 (as of October 22, 2009. Source ISAF Website).

Canada – 2,830 in Kandahar (as of October 22, 2009. Source ISAF Website). Canadian forces have been actively engaged in fighting the Taliban in the dangerous South and have suffered a high proportion of the allied casualties. The Canadian Forces are officially there to help train Afghan National Army and police, facilitate reconstruction, and provide security, but in 2006, with the situation in Kandahar Province turned increasingly violent, the Canadian Forces have participated in several operations and battles since the beginning of the war in Afghanistan in 2001. The Canadian Air Force have a major presence in Afghanistan, including three CC-130 Hercules cargo planes, two CP-140 surveillance planes, six CH-147 Chinook transport helicopters, six Mil Mi-8 leased for one year from Skylink Aviation, eight CH-146 Griffon utility helicopters and three CU-170 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). The Canadian Army have increased her presence with main battle tanks, some ten Leopard C2 and twenty Leopard 2A6M CAN, approximately one hundred LAV III armoured vehicles and currently use six 155 mm M777 howitzers in Afghanistan. About 800 U.S soldiers from the 1st Battalion of the 12th Infantry Regiment from Fort Carson, now under the operational control of the Commander, Task Force Kandahar. The 1-12 Infantry was declared ready for operations since 18 June 2009, and assumed responsibility for Maywand District.

Croatia – 290 as of October 22, 2009. Source ISAF Website. Troops are involved in three locations. Croatian government announced that it will increase number of Croatian troops in Afghanistan to 550.

Czech Republic – 480 as of October 22, 2009. Source ISAF Website. Troops are involved in four locations, as of February 2009. The largest unit was deployed as a Provincial Reconstruction Team composed of 192 troops and 7 civilians in Logar Province, in place since 19 March 2008. Four BMP-2 IFVs are part of PRT Logar. Field Hospital at Kabul International Airport was deployed in March 2007 and consists of 81 medical and 13 NBC protection personnel. Eight helicopter pilots and technicians are part of the Operational Mentoring and Liaison Team (OMLT). Also, four weather forecast specialists and two air traffic controllers are part of the Czech contingent deployed to Kabul International Airport. A third unit was sent to Afghanistan at the end of April 2007, and involves 35 members of the Czech Military Police Special Operations Group, who are attached to British forces in the Southern Helmand province. Fourth unit was deployed in July 2008 and is composed of 63 troops who are in charge of force protection at Dutch FOB Hadrain in Uruzgan Province.

Denmark – 750 as of November 23 2009. Source ISAF Website. The main part of the Danish military contribution consists of a battle group, which is currently operating with British forces in the Green Zone in the central part of the Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan. The battle group consists of two mechanized infantry companies, a tank platoon and a flight of light reconnaissance helicopters. The battle group also consists of combat support and support units. In the nearby Kandahar Province, troops from the Royal Danish Air Force take part in manning the Kandahar Airfield Crisis Establishment (KAF CE), which is running the airfield. But Danish troops are also deployed to other parts of Afghanistan. In northern Afghanistan app. twenty troops are serving in the German-led PRT in Feyzabad. In western Afghanistan ten troops are serving in the Lithuanian led PRT in Chagcharan. There is also a small contribution to HQ ISAF in Kabul and to the staffing of Kabul International Airport. In Helmand Danish troops are involved in the worst fighting their armed forces have undertaken since the Second Schleswig War of 1864. Denmark has lost 30 soldiers in Afghanistan since 2002. A recent survey has determined that Denmark by far has the highest count of casualties relative to population. This has sparked controversy whether Denmark should withdraw troops to more safe regions in Afghanistan. Denmark’s leader recently said his country’s commitment depends on whether Afghanistan’s Nov. 7 presidential runoff produces a credible leader (the runoff was cancelled).

Estonia – 289 as of October 22, 2009. Source ISAF Website. The majority of Estonian troops have been deployed to PRT Lashkar-Gah in the southern province of Helmand, together with the forces of the United Kingdom and Denmark.

France – 3,095 as of November 22, 2009. Source ISAF Website. The French forces are deployed in Kabul under operation Pamir XVII and in Kapisa Province, a recurrent five-month deployment that was last renewed in December 2007. Six French Dassault Mirage 2000D fighters and two C-135F refuelling aircraft were based at Dushanbe Airport in Dushanbe, Tajikistan but relocated to Kandahar on 26 September 2007; from there they conduct operations in support of ISAF. A French naval force, including the Charles de Gaulle (R 91) aircraft carrier, was also situated in the nearby Indian Ocean. An assortment of 200 naval, air force and army special forces personnel were withdrawn from Southern Afghanistan in early 2007, but around 50 remained to train Afghan forces. On 26 February 2008 it was reported that Paris was planning to deploy hundreds of fresh troops to eastern Afghanistan in an attempt to free up American soldiers, who would then be able to assist their Canadian neighbours in the flash-point southern province of Kandahar. The deployment would mark a significant change in French policy in Afghanistan. The French Prime Minister, François Fillon, has announced that 100 additional troops with Aérospatiale Gazelle helicopters are to be sent in the country. According to the French newspaper Libération, Sarkozy is planning to send more several hundreds troops. France has decided to send Eurocopter Tiger attack helicopters to Afghanistan in the second quarter of 2009. According to French foreign policy observers, Sarkozy could decide by the end of the year 2010 to send new French reinforcements, almost 5,000 soldiers more.

Germany – 4,365 as of November 22, 2009. Source ISAF Website, making Germany the third-largest troop contributor to ISAF. Germany leads Regional Command North, which is based in Mazari Sharif. The task of German forces is to assist the Afghan government with security and reconstruction in the four northern provinces of Kunduz, Takhar, Baghlan and Badakhshan. Germany leads the Provincial Reconstruction Teams in the provinces of Kunduz and Badakhshan. A number of German troops are stationed at a supply and staging base in Uzbekistan (these are included in the troop figure). Additionally, in April 2007, six Panavia Tornado reconnaissance jets, with 188 corresponding personnel (also included), were deployed to Mazar i Sharif in support of ISAF combat operations in the country. The mandate issued by the Bundestag does not allow the Bundeswehr to take part in combat operations against the Taliban insurgency in the south and east of Afghanistan, other than in exceptional circumstances. However, German troops together with allied forces of Regional Command North have conducted own combat operations in northern and northeast Afghanistan, killing as many as 300 Taliban since April 2009 and leading to the arrest of many others. In June 2008, Germany agreed to send 1,000 additional forces to Afghanistan to safeguard the upcoming presidential elections. As of May 2009, 37 German soldiers and three policemen were killed in Afghanistan, 26 of which by hostile activities. Also 133 German troops and police officers have been wounded by hostile activities.
The Bundestag is scheduled to vote on the mission in December 2009. A temporary extension is regarded as likely. It is claimed that other European nations will follow Germany’s lead.

Greece – 145 as of October 22, 2009. Source ISAF Website, some of whom were stationed at Kabul International Airport, while others manned various hospitals.

Hungary – 360 as of October 22, 2009. Source ISAF Website. The Hungarian infantry unit was situated in Kabul, however, on 1 October 2006, Hungary requisitioned its forces and took over responsibility, from the Dutch, for the Provincial Reconstruction Team in the town of Pul-e Khumri, the capital of Baghlan province. Hungary expects to send 60 more troops over the next five months. Since 1 October 2008, their main task is to provide security at Kabul International Airport.

Iceland – 2 as of October 22, 2009. Source ISAF Website. Consisting of a Mobile/Military Observation Team from the Icelandic Crisis Response Unit at the PRT in Ghor province and various personnel operating at Kabul International Airport.

Italy – 2,795 as of October 22, 2009. Source ISAF Website. Italian troops currently lead Regional Command West, and the PRT in Herat Province. Although the mandate issued by the Parliament of Italy does not allow Italian forces to take part in the battle against the Taliban insurgency in the south and east of Afghanistan, other than in exceptional circumstances, the current Italian Minister of Defense Ignazio La Russa has officially stated in July 2008 that such combat activities have indeed taken place over the last year in the Farah area.[39]. On September 18 2006 Italian special forces, of Task-Force 45 and the Air Assault Infantry of the ‘Trieste’ infantry regiment of the Rapid Reaction Corps composed of Italian and Spanish forces, took part in ‘Wyconda Pincer’ operation in the districts of Bala Buluk and Pusht-i-Rod, in Farah province. Italian forces killed at least 70 Taliban. Italian contingent including 5 helicopters Agusta A129 Mangusta, 2C-27 Spartan, 1 C-130, 3 AB-212,3 CH-47. Additionally, in April 2008, 4 Panavia Tornado reconnaissance jets and 3 helicopters AB-412, with corresponding 250 personnel (also included), were deployed to Kabul in support of ISAF combat operations in the country. In February 2009 the Italian government decided to boost its contingent by 800 and 2 more Panavia Tornado ( total 3,650 ) to help out with police training and economic development.

Latvia – 175 troops (as of October 22 2009. Source ISAF Website) divided between Kabul and the PRTs in Mazar-i-Sharif and Meymaneh as of December 2007.

Lithuania – 250 as of October 22 2009. Source ISAF Website. In June 2005, ISAF established in Chaghcharan, the capital of Ghor province, a Lithuanian PRT in which Danish, US and Icelandic troops also serve. Lithuanian special forces were sent south to help the British forces in their spring offensive.

Luxembourg – 8 as of October 22 2009. Source ISAF Website. Luxembourg is working together with Belgium in BELU ISAF 13. The Luxembourgian squad is integrated in a Belgian platoon (two NCOs and seven soldiers) and provides one officer to the staff of the Force Protection group at KAIA.

Netherlands – 2,160 as of October 22, 2009. Source ISAF Website. The main Dutch contingent, Task Force Uruzgan, consists of 300 troops in Deh Rahwod and 1,100 troops in Tarin Kowt, at Kamp Holland (both in Orūzgān Province). The Air Task Force consists of a AH-64 Apache detachment (six helicopters) in Tarin Kowt and a CH-47 Chinook and F-16 Fighting Falcon detachment (six helicopters and jets) at Kandahar Airport. The command and liaison staff for Regional Command South are also located in Kandahar. An unknown number Korps Commandotroepen (special operations) forces operate in southern Afghanistan as well.
The Dutch parliament passed a motion earlier this month (October 2009) barring the renewal of its Afghan presence.

Norway – 480 as of December 3, 2009. Source ISAF Website. Norwegian ISAF forces are divided between Meymaneh in Faryab province where they lead a Provincial Reconstruction Team; and Mazar-e-Sharif, where they operate alongside Swedish forces. Four Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16s operated from Kabul airport alongside Dutch F-16s in support of NATO ISAF forces in southern Afghanistan during 2006. Decisions have been made to reinforce the Norwegian contribution with 150 special forces, three Bell 412 helicopters armed with door-mounted machine guns and around 60 personnel from 339 Squadron - code named Norwegian Aeromedical Detachment (NAD) - to be based at Camp Meymaneh for 18 months from 1 April 2008, and 50 troops tasked with training Afghan soldiers. As of March 2008 the deployment of the special forces unit has not been confirmed due to internal disagreements in the Norwegian cabinet, with the Socialist Left Party opposed to the mission. After the attack on the Serena Hotel on 14 January 2008, the decision was made to send a team of military explosives experts to Kabul.[49] Building new compounds for ANA has been one way the Norwegian ISAF contribution has supported the modernisation and expansion of the Afghan military. Four Norwegian soldiers have been killed in action.

Poland – 1910 as of October 22 2009. Source ISAF Website, most of whom operate in the south-eastern provinces of Ghazni and Paktika. An unknown number of Polish special forces are deployed in the flashpoint southern province of Kandahar. Additionally, 400 soldiers and eight helicopters (four Mil Mi-17 and four Mil Mi-24) are to be sent in 2008. On 19 April, Poland took over Ghazni Province in east Afghanistan. The President of Poland announced on April 8 that 320 additional combat troops would be sent to safeguard elections.

Portugal – 145 as of October 22 2009. Source ISAF Website. The national participation in operations in Afghanistan began in February 2002. A military health detachment composed of the three branches of the Armed Forces remained in Kabul for 3 months in a British campaign hospital of the ISAF (International Security Assistance Force). Followed by a C-130 Detachment who acted from Karachi (Pakistan), between April and July of that year. NATO took over leadership of ISAF in 2003, and in May 2004, Portugal became involved in this new mission with a C-130 Detachment and supporting staff of the Portuguese Air Force, as meteorologists, firefighters, drivers, based at King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA). After finishing this mission for 1 year, in August 2005, the Portuguese Air Force took command of KAIA with several of its services (for a period of 3 months), but now without aircrafts. The Portuguese Army began between June and August 2005 the task of Quick Reaction Force (QRF) of the ISAF Command with a light infantry company (alternated 4 Commandos companies and 2 of Paratroopers), and a TACP Detachment of the Air Force. Officers and sergeants of the three branches have served in the ISAF HQ and other regional structures, more or less discreet. Between late July 2008 and mid-December a detachment of the Portuguese Air Force, incorporating a C-130 and support staff in various specialties, like maintenance and force protection, totaling some 40 soldiers, met the new mission from Kabul. In addition to a serious injured and several light injureds, the Portuguese army have suffered two dead, the Commando Sergeant João Paulo Roma Pereira in November 18 2005 and the Paratrooper Soldier Sérgio Miguel Vidal Oliveira Pedrosa in November 24 2007.

Romania – 990 personnel as of October 22 2009. Source ISAF Website, consisting of a battalion in Qalat. Additionally, a special forces squad (39 personnel) operates from an unknown location, and a training detachment of 47 personnel is in Kabul under the US-led Operation Enduring Freedom.

Slovakia – 245 as of October 22 2009. Source ISAF Website. Multifunctional engineer company located in Kabul International Airport. Responsible for demining, building and repairing the airport. Slovakia’s parliament agreed in June 2008 to send up to 176 additional troops in 2009.

Slovenia – 130 troops in Herat Province as of October 22 2009. Source ISAF Website.

Spain – 1000 troops as of October 22 2009. The collective Spanish military contribution to ISAF is known as ASPFOR. Spanish forces are divided between Herat Province, where they form a quick-reaction company, an instructors team for Afghan National Army training and a Combat Search & Rescue unit; Kabul, and Badghis Province, where they lead PRT Qala-i-Naw. The deployment involves engineers, infantry, a transport helicopters unit, and a logistics component. Spanish soldiers are constrained by caveats. The mandate issued by the Spanish Parliament does not allow Spanish forces neither to engage Taliban insurgents unless being directly attacked first, nor to move into the south and east of Afghanistan. Spain has rejected three times to lead the ISAF when its shift to do so has come.

Turkey – 1750 as of December 4 2009. Turkey’s responsibilities include providing security in Kabul (it currently leads the Kabul Command), as well as in the as the central-eastern province of Wardak Province, where it leads PRT Maidan Shahr. Turkey was once the third largest contingent within the ISAF. Turkey’s militaries are not engaged in combat operations and Ankara has long resisted pressure from Washington to offer more combat troops. In December 2009, after the US President Obama announced he would deploy 30,000 more U.S. soldiers, and that Washington wants others to follow suit, the Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan, reacted with the message that Turkey would not contribute additional troops to Afghanistan. “Turkey has already done what it can do by boosting its contingent of soldiers there to 1,750 from around 700 without being asked”, said Erdogan, who stressed that Turkey would continue its training of Afghan security forces.

United Kingdom – 10,000 troops deployed in Helmand Province as of November 2009. Source The Telegraph. The Royal Air Force and Army Air Corps have a major presence in and around the country, including BAE Harrier II GR7 attack jets, C-130 Hercules cargo planes, CH-47 Chinook transport helicopters, Nimrod surveillance planes, Westland Lynx utility helicopters and Westland WAH-64 Apache attack helicopters. They are officially there to help train Afghan security forces, facilitate reconstruction, and provide security, but in 2006, the situation in the north of Helmand turned increasingly violent, with British troops involved in fierce firefights against the Taliban and anti-coalition militia, particularly in the towns of Sangin, Musa Qala, Kajaki and Nawzad. According to the BBC, on the 30th November 2009 Gordon Brown has announced an increase in British troop numbers, which will bring the total to 10,000 personnel, (500 extra ground troops, and 500 Special Forces) additionally more modified Merlin helicopters will be deployed. The MoD have stated that all the equipment is ready for such a deployment. The deployment in December 2009/January 2010 will mean British troop levels in the theatre will be the highest since the invasion in 2001.

United States – 34,800 as of October 22, 2009. Source ISAF Website Around 32,500 are currently deployed in Afghanistan: 23,550 under the command of NATO-ISAF as of December 2007 and the remaining 10,000 troops are under U.S. command to train the Afghan National Army and to hunt Taliban leaders and al-Qaeda members. There is also a sizeable civilian U.S. presence as part of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. In December 2009 President Obama announced an increase of 34,000 US troops from Spring 2010 onwards.

Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) nations

Austria – 4, as of October 22 2009. They are deployed in Kabul. In 2002, 75 soldiers were temporarily deployed in Kabul and in the year 2005 a contingent of 100 soldiers served in Afghanistan.

Azerbaijan – 90, as of October 22 2009. The country announced that it will further increase its troops by the end of 2009.

Bosnia and Herzegovina - 10 senior military officers as of October 22 2009

Finland – 165, as of October 22 2009. They are stationed in currently in four provinces of around Mazari Sharif, as all of Finnish troops serve in the PRT Mazari Sharif since early 2009.

Georgia – 173, as of November 18 2009. In October 13, 2009, Georgia announced that a total amount of 900 Georgian peacekeepers will be deployed by the end of 2010, making the country, to one of the major contributors of peacekeeping and counter insurgency operations in the south-eastern parts of Afghanistan.

Ireland – 7, as of November 12 2009.

Macedonia – 165, as of October 22 2009. Macedonia is expected to send 80 reinforcements to back the US surge.

Sweden – 430 as of October 22 2009, as of October 2009 Sweden leads the PRT Mazari Sharif.

Ukraine – 10, as of October 22 2009. Military doctors serve in the Lithuanian-led PRT Chagcharan, while one officer works at the ISAF HQ in Kabul.

Non-NATO and non-EAPC nations

Australia – 1,350, as of October 22, 2009.[4] The core of the Australian contingent is based in the southern province of Uruzgan. Of these, an unspecified number are members of the Dutch-led PRT Tarin Kowt and are based at Kamp Holland; while 300 are members of a Special Operations Task Group (involving the Australian SAS), which provides security for the PRT. A further 111 soldiers are logistics, command and liaison personnel deployed to Kandahar and Kabul; while 75 personnel form the Air Force Control and Reporting Centre, situated at Kandahar International Airport, which is responsible for managing air traffic in Afghan airspace. Some Australian units are involved in both Operation Slipper, the Australian military’s designation for its operations in Afghanistan, and its Iraqi equivalent, Operation Catalyst; including HMAS Arunta and two P-3 Orion reconnaissance aircraft operating in the Persian Gulf, a small number of soldiers in an anti-IED task force, and liaison personnel at Australia’s Baghdad-based regional military HQ Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has confirmed that Australia will send 280 more soldiers to permanently increase the strength of the Australian contingent to the ISAF mission. He also stated 120 soldiers would also be temporarily deployed before the upcoming elections.

Jordan – 7 as of October 22, 2009. Jordanian troops were deployed in December 2001 to establish a 50-bed medical facility in the city of Mazar-e-Sharif in the northern Balkh province. According the US Department of Defense, the hospital provides care for up to 650 local patients a day, and as of February 2006, over 500,000 people had been treated by the Jordanians.

New Zealand – 300, as of October 22, 2009. The majority of the New Zealanders were deployed to Bamian Province in October 2007, where they lead the respective Provincial Reconstruction Team. Of the eight remaining personnel, two are instructors are attached to the UK’s Afghan National Army Training Team; and six are liaison staff attached to the ISAF, UNAMA, and US-led CJTF-76 HQs, all three of which are located in Kabul. Additionally, twelve logistics personnel are located at Bagram Air Base, and a small number of New Zealand Police instructors have been involved in training local police forces in Bamian since March 2003. From late 2001 to November 2005, three 6-month rotations of between 40 and 65 Special Air Service troops were sent to southern Afghanistan.

Singapore – 9 as of October 22, 2009. In May 2007, a five-man medical team was sent to central Afghanistan to set up and run a dental clinic serving local citizens, while training Afghans in dentistry so that they could eventually assume responsibility.

United Arab Emirates – 25 as of October 22, 2009.[80] - The UAE had 170 soldiers serving in Tarin Kowt province in March 2008 as reported by the BBC.

Expected contributions

Armenia – Will send about 30 troops early next year to serve under German command.

Colombia - Colombia plans to deploy around 100 forces in Spring 2009. These forces are expected to be demining experts. General Freddy Padilla de Leon has announced to CBS that operators of Colombia’s Special Forces Brigade will be deployed to Afghanistan in either August or September 2009.

Kazakhstan - Kazakhstan will deploy five troops to help the ISAF mission.

Mongolia - Mongolia is planning on sending 40 more to back the US surge in country.

Montenegro - Montenegro will send 40 soldiers to Afghanistan, according to the Defense Minister. A military medical team and squad will be sent at the beginning of 2010, and two officers will be sent under German command in September-October of that year.

South Korea - South Korea will send 530 troops in total around 2010.

Withdrawn nations

Switzerland - On 23 February 2008, the Swiss Ministry of Defence announced that its small deployment had concluded two weeks prior. Two officers had worked alongside German troops in the PRT responsible for the northeastern Kunduz province. The stated reason for the withdrawal was the burden placed on other troops for their protection, which had begun to hinder operations. A total of 31 Swiss soldiers were sent to Afghanistan since the beginning of their country’s participation in 2003.

South Korea - South Korea’s 210-strong contingent was withdrawn by 14 December 2007 due to the expiration of its mandate, despite American calls for its continued presence. The withdrawal had been one of the pledges made to the Taliban captors of 21 South Korean missionaries in July 2007, in return for the hostages’ release. The deployment consisted of 60 medics comprising the ‘Dongui’ unit and 150 military engineers forming the ‘Dasan’ unit at Bagram Airbase, north of Kabul. They had been sent to Afghanistan in 2002 and 2003 respectively. One South Korean soldier, Yoon Jang-ho, was killed by a suicide bomber in February 2007. On 30 June 2008, South Korea did return as a member of the coalition, operating a small hospital near the airbase in Bagram with military and civilian personnel, according to a statement of the coalition. In December 2009, the South Korean defence ministry announced it would send 350 troops in 2010 to protect South Korean civilian engineers working on reconstruction. These troops would not engage in any fighting except to protect the aid team. These new troops would be backed by helicopters, armoured vehicles and an unmanned reconnaissance drone to protect the 100 civilian engineers and 40 police. The South Korean contingent would be based in Parwan province, just north of Kabul for 30 months from 1 July 2010.

Serbia - Serbia had, in late 2006, contributed 5 specialists in airport security. In October 2003, Serbia and Montenegro announced that they were willing to send 1,000 combat troops and police officers to join the American forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, the United States accepted the offer and would function as an operational command for the troops. In December 2003, the number of troops to be sent to Afghanistan was at 700. The previous announcements were withdrawn after parliamentary elections so no Serban troops are serving with ISAF.

Announced withdrawals

Netherlands - The Netherlands announced in December 2007 that it will begin withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan in July 2010. “I do not have assurances that other countries will be ready to replace Netherlands troops, but I am certain that Dutch troops will leave in 2010,” Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said. “I indicated that in writing … to the NATO secretary general, who has confirmed it.” In January 2009, Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende reiterated that the 1,600 Dutch troops in Afghanistan would end their mission in 2010, saying “We will stop in Uruzgan in 2010.” He ruled out the possibility of the Netherlands keeping its troops in Afghanistan past 2010 with any force comparable to its current deployment. In december 2009, reacting to three requests received from the side of the US by Vice President Biden, the special American representative fo Afghanistan Holbrooke and Secretary of State Clinton, and also a request by Secretary General of NATO Rasmussen, the Dutch government announced that the final decision on the continuation of the mission in Uruzgan would be on its agenda in March 2010. Two ministers from the Dutch Labour Party, Koenders (Development Aid) and Bos (Finance and Vice PM) in the meantime pleaded termination, which is also the opinion of the majority of the Dutch parliament.

Canada - Canada has announced that it will withdraw the bulk of its troops from Afghanistan in 2011. In September 2008, Conservative leader Stephen Harper pledged that Canada will withdraw the bulk of its military forces in Afghanistan in 2011, saying a decade at war is enough. He acknowledged that neither the Canadian public nor the troops themselves had any appetite to stay longer in the war and said that only a small group of advisers might remain.

Approximate Afghanistan/ISAF Troop Strength Over Time (Military and Police)
01DEC2008 17FEB2009 22OCT2009 RECENT UPDATES
ISAF Troop Contributing Nations (TCN)
Albania 140 140 250
Armenia 0 0 0
Australia 1,090 1,090 1,350
Austria 1 1 4
Azerbaijan 45 45 90
Belgium 400 410 530
Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 0 10
Bulgaria 460 510 460
Canada 2,750 2,830 2,830
Croatia 300 270 290
Czech Republic 415 415 480
Denmark 700 700 690
Estonia 130 90 150
Finland 80 110 165
France 2,785 2,780 3,095
Georgia 1 1 1 173
Germany 3,600 3,460 4,365
Greece 130 140 145
Hungary 240 360 360
Iceland 8 8 2
Ireland 7 7 7
Italy 2,350 2,350 2,795
Jordan 0 4 7
Lativa 70 160 175
Lithuania 200 200 260
Luxembourg 9 9 9
Netherlands 1,770 1,770 2,160
New Zealand 150 150 300
Norway 455 490 480
Poland 1,130 1,590 1,910
Portugal 70 30 145
Romania 740 900 990
Singapore 0 20 2
Slovakia 180 120 245
Slovenia 70 70 130
Spain 780 780 1,000
Sweden 400 310 430
Republic of Macedonia 135 170 0
Turkey 860 700 720
Ukraine 10 10 10
UAE 0 25 25
United Kingdom 8,745 8,300 9,000
United States (ISAF) 19,950 24,900 34,800
[edit] Approximate Subtotal Troop Strength (ISAF only) 51,350 56,420 71,030 71,202
[edit] Non-ISAF TCN
Afghan National Army (ANA) unknown 79,300 93,890 97,200
Afghan National Police (ANP) unknown unknown unknown 93,800
United States (non-ISAF) unknown 8,189 31,200
[edit] Approximate Total Troop Strength (ISAF and Non-ISAF) 51,350-01DEC2008, 143,909-17FEB2009, 196,120-22OCT2009, 293,402-RECENT UPDATEs”

That is the best factual description that I have been able to find of the coalition of the willing to fight Obama’s war. What supprises me is that Spain sent troops after it pulled out of Iraq when terrorists blew up Madrid trains. South Korea pulled out after its social workers were kidnapped. What will it take for the USA to decide that it is time to go?

Tags: Coalition forces in Afghanistan. Tuvalu Stands Tall.

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