Armenia to Deploy 46 Troops to Iraq

[Khephra]

YEREVAN, Armenia -- Armenia's parliament voted Friday to send 46 non-combat troops to Iraq, a move that was backed by President Robert Kocharian but drew sharp criticism from many Armenians and opposition groups.

After more than seven hours of debate behind closed doors, lawmakers in the National Assembly voted 91-23, with one abstention, to send the contingent, which will include bomb-disposal experts, doctors and transport specialists.

The troops could be deployed to Iraq as early as next month and could serve in Iraq for up to a year, said Defense Minister Serzh Sarkisyan, adding that the contingent would only conduct humanitarian operations.

"There is not, and will not be an Armenian military presence in Iraq," Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said. "In the humanitarian aspect, it is preferable for Armenia to contribute to the postwar reconstruction of Iraq, in establishing democracy in this country which has important significance for the region and which could have an impact on the Caucasus."

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-armenia-iraq,0,4417852.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[MidwestTransplant]

1. Hey Kerry, you forgot Armenia.

[darkism]

19. Beaten to it again! First thing I thought when I read the topic! n/t

[liberal N proud]

2. I'm sure that will help make the difference in the war and tip the balance

of power.
Look out "insurgents", here comes the Armenian troops, they will kick your ass.
Part of that grand coalition ah, I mean illusion.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

3. Well, this changes everything, doesn't it?

I guess victory truly is at hand for us, and I guess this deployment by the Armenians, vast and powerful as it appears to be, means our kids will be coming home momentarily.

Right?

[TahitiNut]

11. Yes, it's enough to strike fear deep in the hearts of Iraqi insurgents.

They can already hear the cavalry bugle call in the distance. :eyes:

... and a hearty "Hi-Ho ..." :scared:

[despairing optimist]

4. Must be for valet parking in the green zone

[NYC Liberal]

5. The Fuhrer is resting after all of his parties.

He'll thank the Armenians in about a year and a half, right around the 2006 elections.

[LynnTheDem]

6. That powerhouse will save us! Them and the 25 Moldovans. FORGET Poland!

Who needs em. We got 46 Armenians.

[leftofcool]

7. Since geography is not my forte.............

where in the hell is Armenia and what are the hell are they doing in our war?????????? okay ya'll shut up. I made a C in geography 101 in college. <sarcasm off>

Left of Cool

[0007]

8. Ya know how to google? Lot of maps and neat stuff`

[Skittles]

9. it will be 36 in no time

:(

[ScrewyRabbit]

10. Hooray! We're saved!

not

[Johnny_Ramone]

12. What A Sigh Of Relief

I will sleep much better tonight...

[TrueAmerican]

13. We are probably paying $1 million an Armenian

What say ye?

[IranianDemocrat]

14. how about 46 ethiopians?

Nothing beats 46 armenians than 46 starving children

[psychopomp]

23. I think 46 Ethiopians would be a blessing

Their recent experience in their war with Eritrea would mean that their troops are at least experienced in battle. The similar pointless futility of that border war would also be good psychological preparation for the conflict in Iraq.

It would be great if we could see our troops gradually replaced by a broader coalition next year.

[fshrink]

15. Anything to piss off Turkey?

Which, apparently, could be part of the plan, if one adds the Iraqi Kurds. Turkey is the key to ME. It holds the water that runs through it and is the transition between the arab and the european world. If it gets destabilized, it is the guarantee that the whole area, from the Mediterranean sea to Pakistan is on fire for decades. To the greatest profit of the USA, of its god and silk-suited ayatollahs.

[johncoby2]

16. Quick! Someone tell bush where Aremenia is.

Relief at last!!!

[Barkley]

17. I wonder what Armenia got in exchange?

I don't buy that bull about "establishing democracy in this country (Iraq)."

I know there is some dispute with its neighbor Azerbijian over the
Nagorna Karabakh area. Perhaps Bush is siding with Armenia.

Azerbijian has oil and access to the Caspian sea.

But Armenia has a border with Iran, which would make it a potential staging area in case of a US led invasion or raid.

[Delarage]

18. Aren't Armenians Christians?

It could be part of an early effort to Christianize Turkey. If you join the "coalition," we'll help you get revenge for the genocide the Turkish people committed on you.

[Barkley]

28. Congressional Recognition of the 1912 Genocide

I know a few years back Congress was debating whether they were going to officially recognize the Armenian genocide.

Turkey objected and threatened to NATO bases if the Congress recognized the genocide.

Geopolitically, Turkey is more important but Armenians have a very strong lobby.

[pinniped]

20. Yup, got these so-called insurgents right where we want them now.

.

[daleo]

21. If a mere 3000 more countries each supply 46 troops

It would be a force equivalent to the number of U.S. troops Bush has sent to his folly.

[psychopomp]

22. These are non-combat troops

It seems like a few people missed that.

[NYC]

24. I didn't miss it,

but they can die just as easily.

[psychopomp]

25. Quite true

Nobody should try to diminish their bravery for taking on this challenge. However, some posters scoffed at this small contribution from a country that most Americans deem insignificant.

I think this deployment is a good thing, unlike the Japanese deployment. The Japanese have no business being over there but for the hubris of their current leadership. Armenians have a stake in Iraq because it is a country in their part of the world so I see this as a small step toward localizing the prosecution of the effort to bring the situation to some semblance of stability.

[R Hickey]

26. Good. They can replace the Costa Ricans, who leaked out last month.

The coalition of the willing! What a brave little ban. Nothing scares them!

[Wilms]

27. Add Iran and Russia. Oh...and oil.

Energy-poor Armenia is in a land dispute with the well-oiled Azeri's who are in with (/under) The Enterprise which is all over Putin's back-porch since 911 (the other Draft I've been feeling lately).

That region's been a mess for thousands of years. And great for cartographers.

Here's a map:

<http://www.lonelyplanet.com/mapshells/europe/armenia/armenia.htm>


Here's how Armenia sees the map. (And, I think, they control most of the disputed areas.)

<http://www.armeniadiaspora.com/maps/#Bufferzone>

Don't forget Nakhichevan in the lower left, also in dispute.