LATVIA STEPS UP – AT 10:44 P.M. ET:  Our friend and contributor Renee Nielsen, who sent us those superb reports from Mumbai last year in the midst of the terrorist attacks – is now headquartered with her husband and kids in Latvia. 

She notes that Latvia is now a NATO member and is doing its part to assist us in Afghanistan.  Some "realists" in the American foreign-policy establishment – you've seen how "realistic" they actually are – had opposed including Latvia and other Baltic and East European nations in NATO because of Russian uneasiness.  They were wrong, and the Latvian case shows it:

Latvia is ready to ensure a transit route to Afghanistan for non-military NATO cargo, according to today's positive decision by the government to sign agreements with two international companies which will assist Latvia in ensuring the transit routes.

Defense Ministry State Secretary Janis Sarts told members of the press that the first cargo shipments to Afghanistan via Latvia will be shipped in the near future, however, he did not mention the NATO members who are intending to ship their cargo through Latvia, informs LETA.

Sarts mentioned Great Britain, Canada and the Netherlands as possible countries, and said that others might send their cargo through Latvia as well.

Maersk Latvia and DSV Air&Sea were selected by the Latvian government to assist in the shipment of cargo to Afghanistan.

At the moment, Latvia ensures United States non-military cargo to Afghanistan.

The route from Latvia down to Afghanistan is a very valuable one for the West, as it avoids the security problems inherent in routes coming from the other direction, and passing through the Muslim world.

Whether foresight or just good policy, the expansion of NATO is working for us.

February 12, 2010