Ambassador Joseph M. DeThomas' Speech at the Ceremony Welcoming Home the Estonian Peacekeepers from Iraq

Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Minister of Defense, Admiral Kouts and -- above all friends, family and loved ones of the members of Estonian Platoon Seven and Cargo One: I would like to join you all in welcoming home the members of these two distinguished units from a difficult and successful mission.

The officers and men of these units return from Iraq with the admiration and respect of their American brothers and sisters in arms. The commander and deputy commander and the platoon sergeant of Estonian Platoon Seven received the prized bronze star decoration from the U.S. Army. Every member of the unit was commended by the U.S. Army.

Over the past six months, your units and the American military served together, bled together and jointly accomplished the a vital mission for the world. This shared undertaking is slowly but steadily bringing security and freedom to a people that have known nothing but dictatorship and violence for a generation. Slowly but surely Iraq is being removed from the hands of dictators and terrorists and being placed in the custody of its people, who deserve peace, prosperity and freedom as much as we here in the west do.

It is to the credit of every member of the Estonian detachment that they undertook their mission as volunteers. They did so, knowing the environment they would face was uncertain and violent, knowing that they would be operating in an unknown military structure, and knowing that their mission was controversial and would be criticized. To have succeeded so brilliantly in such a situation should give us all optimism about the quality of the Estonian Defense Forces and of the nation they defend.

Captain Kinnunen, First Sergeant Sternfeld, on behalf of the U.S. government, its military and all Americans, I salute Estonian Platoon Seven and Cargo Team One for accomplishing your missions, I give thanks for your safe return and I wish the second group of Estonians that have succeeded you in Iraq the same. I wish you and your loved ones a joyous reunion and a Merry Christmas.