National Defense Intelligence College Paper: Mongolia's Peacekeeping Commitment - Training, Deployment, and Evolution of Field Information Capabilities - Iraqi Freedom, Afghan Army Training

This unique and informative paper was produced by the National Intelligence University / National Defense Intelligence College. Mongolia's military peacekeeping experience is a recent and remarkable development, having only begun in 2002 when the State Great Hural passed a law establishing the legal framework for participation in international peace operations. This Mongolian capability, while nascent, exists at a time when the international need has never been greater and is likely to continue unabated.

In August 2002 Mongolia provided two officers to serve as Military Observers in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. At the time, there were just over 44,000 United Nations troops deployed worldwide. Now, just five years later, the United Nations has over 81,000 troops and Mongolia's over 260 troops ranks it 47th among the 114 countries that provide troops. Their contribution will be all the more significant because, according to the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations Mr. Jean-Marie Guehenno, by the end of 2007 the United Nations will have over 140,000 peacekeepers deployed.

In addition to its impressive participation in United Nations missions, Mongolia has been an unwavering partner on the Global War on Terrorism. It was among the first countries to join the coalition formed for Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. The Mongolian National Security Council authorized its military to participate in this operation on 10 April 2003. Mongolian troops were deployed to Iraq to undertake peacekeeping missions within the Polish-led Multinational Division. Mongolia also deployed a Mobile Training Team to Afghanistan to support the training of the Afghan National Army.

In this research paper, Colonel Jargalsaikhan Mendee, serving Defense and Military Attache to the Embassy of Mongolia in the United States, provides an excellent account of the evolution of his country's peacekeeping experience and capacity. The paper provides a detailed description of U.S. support for Mongolia's initiatives to professionalize their force and "develop a 2,500-man world-class peacekeeping force." Most useful and insightful are Colonel Mendee's views and observations on the lessons learned thus far, as well as the challenges that remain for Mongolia. This paper also provides both civilian and military leaders | with a thorough and timely case study on what countries and partners can do to build and expand credible and ready peacekeeping capacity that is so critically needed for international peace support operations.

Foreword * Background * Political Will and Implementation * Peacekeeping Training Center and Preparation * U.S. Support for Mongolia's Initiatives * Building Expertise Through Participation * Intelligence * Lessons Learned * Challenges Ahead * Conclusion * Footnotes