About that NATO mission to Iraq: how large is the contribution from member countries? According to a June report (pdf) from the Congressional Research Service, it’s… less than robust.
The State Department’s last weekly Iraq update lists six non-MNF-I NATO countries on the ground (sorta) in Iraq: Slovenia, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Iceland and Portugal. It says there are seven, however, and judging from CRS, State may be forgetting Hungary. (For shame!) If so, that gets us to the magic number of 34 countries on the ground in Iraq. (Alas, GlobalSecurity.org casts doubt on whether the Hungarians made it over there.) We’re almost to 36, Mr. President!
So, according to CRS, what are those countries providing to Iraq? Here goes.
From the report:
Hungary: “Sixteen officers currently in Iraq in support of [Nato] mission. Plans to supply 150 force protection troops for training facilities at Ar Rustamiya.”Iceland: “Public information officer will serve with NATO mission in Baghdad. Offered $196,000 to fund training outside the country and help transport equipment to Iraq.”
Italy: “Eight officers currently serving in support of [Nato] mission in Baghdad. Considering sending up to 16 more.”
Netherlands: “10 military police and 15 trainers currently serving on [Nato] mission. Considering sending more.”
Portugal: “Sending up to 10 soldiers to Iraq to support [Nato mission].
Slovakia: “Sending two instructors to Iraq, $53,000 in support funding.”
Turkey: “Two officers serving in Baghdad; offered to train Iraqis in Turkey. Pledged $125,000 in April 2005.”
So let’s say that all the commitments listed here are met. That gives us a combined Nato non-combat force of… 230 troops. If we count only the Nato troops actually in-country in June, it gives us 52. Can you feel the tide turning?