Balts back war, pledge non-combat troops (Lithuania and Latvia)

RIGA - The parliaments of Latvia and Lithuania approved deployment of peacekeeping troops to Iraq last week, symbolic steps that cement the countries' backing of military action and illustrated Baltic support for the United States.

"This is an important moment for us to prove we are not a small, scared country, but one that can stand up and take part in collective international security," Prime Minister Einars Repse told lawmakers during an emergency session of the Saeima (Latvia's parliament) on March 19.

Lithuania's Parliament approved troop deployment March 25, while government officials in Estonia said they would consider sending troops if asked.

Lithuania's vote came as Baltic government officials met in Brussels to sign preliminary documents on joining NATO.

Lawmakers in both legislatures stressed that the troops would not take part in military action.

The Baltics are among 10 Eastern European countries that are part of the "coalition of the willing," a group of at least 40 countries that support U.S.-led military action in Iraq.

In a 40-minute speech that kicked off nine hours of debate in Latvia's Parliament, Repse compared Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin.

"The lesson we have learned is that dictators should be stopped and stopped early," he said.

Lawmakers approved sending non-combat troops by a vote of 73 - 24, with three abstentions.

A handful of protesters marched outside the Parliament building during the debate.

In Lithuania's 140-seat Seimas (Lithuania's parliament), 59 MPs present for the vote approved troop deployment, 13 voted against it, and two abstained.

Latvia's Defense Minister Valdis Kristovskis told Parliament - which is required under Latvian law to approve troop deployment - that up to 130 soldiers, mostly medical personnel, minesweeping specialists and military police, could be sent to Iraq after the fighting is over.

Lithuania pledged at least 16 soldiers - 10 cargo handling specialists and six doctors.

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga, who has led Latvia's support of the United States, backed Parliament's decision.

Guntars Krasts, head of the Saeima's European Affairs Committee, said the Latvian government would maintain its support of the United States despite growing opposition to the war inside Latvia and elsewhere in Europe.

Krasts rejected charges that Latvia's overt support of the United States could damage relations with European countries, particularly France and Germany, whichoppose the war.

"There's no common stance in the European Union," he said. "We have the same right to express our opinion as Germany or France does."

But Krasts did not rule out a backlash from supporting the United States, nor did Mari-Ann Kelam, an MP with Estonia's Pro Patria Union.

"We should never exclude any effect on EU enlargement," she said. "Even the big political decisions are often made at the personal level. But it is very doubtful some EU members would exact revenge."

Despite government support of the United States, public opinion in all three Baltic countries remains staunchly opposed to the war, according to polls.

About 74 percent of people surveyed in Latvia in February opposed military action, according to Latvijas Fakti, a polling agency.

Latvijas Fakti representatives said they expect that number to increase in the latest poll, which is scheduled to be released later this week.

Karlis Streips, a popular radio talk show host in Latvia, said the government's support of the United States is a logical extension of one of its main foreign policy goals - joining NATO.

"The most important institution in the world for Latvia right now is the United States Senate," he said.

Though NATO enlargement hinges on legislative approval by all its members, the Senate - which determines the U.S. stance on enlargement - is seen by most as the key body.

"This decision is related to our country's integration into NATO," said Gediminas Kirkilas, the head of the Lithuanian parliament's foreign affairs committee.

That does not necessarily mean that the Baltics have to choose between NATO and the European Union, Streips said.

"It's not clear that Latvia has turned its back on the EU to kiss the feet of NATO," Streips said.

A couple of other earlier posts of mine touched on what I've placed here. This one covers the Baltic States as-a-whole to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Yes the numbers are small, but these are tiny (population-wise) countries. Quite poor too. Of course, pre-Soviet invasion, these nations enjoyed standards of living ranked among the highest of Europe.

These two countries were behind that Wall that President Reagan inveighed Gorbichov to tear down. Unlike Poland or East Germany or other members of the "Eastern Bloc," they had not even token autonomy; they were integral parts of the Soviet Union -- Lithuanian S.S.R. and Latvian S.S.R. All private wealth was confiscated by Moscow, all personal freedoms (even the freedom to leave) were terminated, and of course Moscow-directed governments were installed.

Few on this forum, I am confident in saying, have any concept of life under such conditions. It's a demonstration of the fact that you don't fully appreciate freedom until you lose it that the now independent governments of these two small countries turned their backs on Russia, Germany, and France, and made this magnificent gesture.

A couple of years ago, I visited all the of east Baltic countries (Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia). These peoples' histories are among the saddest of Europe's: trapped in the midst of the imperialisms of Russia, Germany and Sweden (yes, Sweden, one of the most hypocritcal countries in the world). These people know what slavery and oppresion are. God bless them.

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