Jan 10, 2007, By Elizabeth Celms

Despite the recent deaths, which Defense Minister Atis Slakteris said were due to “hatred and cruel fanaticism,” little debate has been stirred over the necessity of Latvian soldiers in Iraq.
Hmmm, quite a change of heart in the last 8 days !

Gets a little clearer.....

"Everyone knows that we [Latvians] need America. We’ve got to participate in Iraq for the United States, for our allies," Atis Lejins, head of the Latvian Institute of Foreign Affairs, told The Baltic Times. "We die for America in hope that they will die for us."
Now something really profound from Foreign Affairs:

Commenting on the decision to decrease Latvia’s contingent, Lejins admitted that it was about time.
“Recently, the situation in Iraq has changed. There’s no point being there anymore. We’ve done our duty. If the Iraqis want to fight each other, we won’t stand in the middle,” he said.
Wonder if Kerry provided the Latvians with his secret on ending the Iraqi war
Regards, Stan