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Have the Swedish forces been in the Balkans 10,15 years?

I'm confused is this Lieutenant General Anders Lindström saying the Swedish military have been involved in ground operations in the Balkans for that long of time? Could somebody help me with this I didn't know they were involved for this period of time, thanks

If they were involved for this period of time or anytime I would like to read about if someone knows of a website or other source where I could check it out, thanks
Fighter planes to be sent to Afghanistan


Published: 15 Mar 08 11:30 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/10494/
The Swedish force in Afghanistan is set to be reinforced by 130 troops. The force could be in the country for up to 15 years. The Swedish defence command also wants to send Jas Gripen fighter aircraft to war-torn Afghanistan, according to Sveriges Radio. "If we look only at Europe then we have often been stationed 10, 15 years in the Balkans," said lieutenant general Anders Lindström.

Lindström is currently inspecting the Swedish garrison in Afghanistan. He believes that Swedish forces will be stationed in the country a minimum of five and maximum of 15 years.

There are currently 350 Swedish soldiers stationed in the country and within a year the force is expected to have been increased to 500. The government has not yet approved the reinforcements but Lindström is counting on them doing so.

Link
http://www.thelocal.se/10494/20080315/

If they were involved with the NATO and UN forces in the Balkans, it's very possible for them to have been there for up to 15 years.

Yes, 16 years in Bosnia, the mission ended April 12th 2008

Here's one in english, there's not much material in English but this is a good true story written by one in the early missions of Bosnia.

http://forums.filefront.com/history-...nia-story.html

Thank you AlexKall for posting the link.
I really know so little about about that war I didn't follow the ground fighting closely but can see it was difficult to say the least. I know difficult doesn't really cut it and as an outsider or non military, its complex. Trying to read the different accounts on what happen and why and who, goes in many directions. I have read in other forums people who live there fight over what happen and who did what. People who fought, live through it, still live there, can't even come close to describing the situation without further fighting, I know enough to stay out of it.

Sweden have been contributing to UNPROFOR, boots on the ground since 1992.
Link.http://www.xs4all.nl/~vdrkrans/unproforf.htm

Sweden in SFOR.
Link.http://www.nato.int/sfor/organisation/sfororg.htm

Here is link to some information concerning KFOR.
http://www.nato.int/docu/review/2004...interview.html

Or you could just do a search for KFOR, SFOR and/or UNPROFOR + Sweden and you´ll get a shitload of hits.

Deploying Gripen fighters would be a rather big step for the Swedish OEF and ISAF personel though.
It would be the second time in history Sweden deployed fighters to fly combat missions for the UN.
The only other instance were the J-29 "Tunnan" division (F22 UN fighter Wing) deployed to the Congo during Dag Hammarskjölds stint as General secretary of the UN.

Originally Posted by rock45

Thank you AlexKall for posting the link.
I really know so little about about that war I didn't follow the ground fighting closely but can see it was difficult to say the least. I know difficult doesn't really cut it and as an outsider or non military, its complex. Trying to read the different accounts on what happen and why and who, goes in many directions. I have read in other forums people who live there fight over what happen and who did what. People who fought, live through it, still live there, can't even come close to describing the situation without further fighting, I know enough to stay out of it.

Have a friend that fled the war around 1992 - 93, horrible memories. Unfortently I don't know that much of what he went through, he doesn't talk about it, all I know is that he still have night mares of what he saw.

Originally Posted by AlexKall

Have a friend that fled the war around 1992 - 93, horrible memories. Unfortently I don't know that much of what he went through, he doesn't talk about it, all I know is that he still have night mares of what he saw.

Well that's understandable