23 May 2002
International Coalition Against Terror Grows
(More countries participating and providing more assets) (640)
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, May 23, 2002 - The coalition against global terrorism
continues to be robust, DoD officials said today.
More countries are participating in the coalition and more countries
are providing more assets, officials said.
The Defense Department has released a list of 37 countries and the aid
they are providing to the war on terrorism. Officials stressed that
this list does not include all countries participating in coalition
efforts. Many countries are not participating militarily, but are
helping in other ways.
Many countries are aiding the anti-terror coalition through law
enforcement efforts, by trying to choke off funding of terrorists or
by exerting pressure diplomatically, U.S. State Department officials
said.
Still other countries are participating in the coalition against
global terror, but for internal political reasons choose not to
broadcast their participation.
The scope of coalition support is evident in Afghanistan. More than
half of the 14,000 anti-terror troops in the country come from
coalition countries. Canada, for example, has 2,025 service members in
the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Belgium, Jordan,
Australia, the United Kingdom and many other allies have contributed
troops, supplies or expertise.
Special operations forces play a critical role in the war in
Afghanistan. Many countries have provided this capability including
Australia, the United Kingdom, Norway, New Zealand, Denmark, Canada,
France and Germany.
Afghanistan is a land-locked country. Operations in Afghanistan could
not happen without the cooperation from the nations in the area.
Pakistan remains a steadfast ally in the fight. Pakistan has provided
basing and overflight permission for U.S. and coalition forces. The
country has also placed large numbers of troops on its border with
Afghanistan to stop al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists from escaping.
Pakistan has also shared intelligence with the United States and
coalition partners.
Uzbekistan - Afghanistan's neighbor to the north - has also provided
basing and overflight permission.
Countries that cannot help in Afghanistan are helping in other areas.
The Baltic Republic of Latvia, for example, has offered to double the
number of people assigned to the Stabilization Force in Bosnia, to
backfill forces participating in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Latvia and the other Baltic Republics of Estonia and Lithuania are
working with the Danish military to provide logistics support to the
operation.
In another example, Dutch ships have relieved U.S. units in U.S.
Southern Command's area of responsibility.
Many countries are providing humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan.
Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, South Korea and Russia have
provided food, clothing and medical aid to hundreds of thousands of
Afghans. Russia, alone, has provided almost 450,000 tons of food, more
than 2,000 tons of medical supplies and thousands of beds, blankets
and heaters.
On the sea, many countries are supporting Operation Enduring Freedom
and maritime interdiction efforts. The United Kingdom has been part of
Enduring Freedom since the beginning, launching cruise missiles at al
Qaeda and Taliban targets as hostilities started. The UK has sent the
largest fleet of ships since the Persian Gulf War to the operation.
Italy sent a carrier battle group to the effort, and at one point had
more than 13 percent of its naval forces in Operation Enduring
Freedom.
France, too, sent a carrier battle group for combat operations out of
the North Arabian Sea.
Australia, Germany, Canada, Greece, the Netherlands and Spain have
deployed ships in support of maritime interdiction efforts.
Turkey commands the International Security Assistance Force deployed
in the Afghan capital of Kabul. Many countries have supported the
effort to help the Interim Afghan Administration with troops and
supplies.
The terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 killed citizens from more than 80
countries, U.S. officials have said. "The war on terrorism is truly a
global struggle and it affects all nations," Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld said in February.
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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