Going Dutch...

[Peikko 1,575]

"Going Dutch" will take on a whole new meaning now that the collapse of the Dutch government looks set to result in the country's departure from Afghanistan. Withdrawal had been on the cards for at least a year - especially as the coalition Labour party had campaigned to return Dutch troops at the last election. But now the process has gone into overdrive.

Militarily, the competent Dutch forces will be sorely missed. They have done a really quite impressive job in Uruzgan province. But the Dutch pullback will be an even bigger problem politically. NATO likes to refer to the dictum it formulated during the Balkan operations - "in together, out together". Now, there is nothing stopping the Canadians leaving next year, for instance, or for pressure to build in other European capitals for a departure.

That's a shame. Two weeks into the battle for Marjah, and it already looks like a success. Throw in the capture of senior Taliban leaders in Pakistan, and what seems to be a new level of cooperation between Pakistani and U.S. intelligence officials, and February 2010 looks as though it could be a decisive period in the nine-year long war. The Dutch announcement rather undermines that.

What to do? One option would be to see if a collection of allies - for example, the Nordic countries - might join together and create a multi-country brigade. The Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, Finns and Poles did just that in Doboj in northern Bosnia in the 1990s. Such cooperation would probably create more synergies than if other countries were to create a new multi-national contingent.

The chances of this, however, look slim. Danish forces might not mind leaving Helmand, and taking on the Taliban elsewhere. But it is hard to see the other Nordic countries being prepared to move into the eye of the storm - even if that storm looks like it is quietening down. So that means the US will probably have to fill the breach, which could dissipate Obama's surge and add to Washington's increasing annoyance with its European allies.

Link

[alienlovechild 75]

"Going Dutch" will take on a whole new meaning now that the collapse of the looks set to result in the country's departure from Afghanistan. Withdrawal had been on the cards for at least a year - especially as the coalition Labour party had campaigned to return Dutch troops at the last election. But now the process has gone into overdrive.

Militarily, the competent Dutch forces will be sorely missed. They have done a really quite impressive job in Uruzgan province. But the Dutch pullback will be an even bigger problem politically. NATO likes to refer to the dictum it formulated during the Balkan operations - "in together, out together". Now, there is nothing stopping the Canadians leaving next year, for instance, or for pressure to build in other European capitals for a departure.

That's a shame. Two weeks into the battle for Marjah, and it already looks like a success. Throw in the capture of senior Taliban leaders in Pakistan, and what seems to be a new level of cooperation between Pakistani and U.S. intelligence officials, and February 2010 looks as though it could be a decisive period in the nine-year long war. The Dutch announcement rather undermines that.

Obama's popularity in Europe and Canada never really translated into a sustained commitment to help fight Obama's timetable war in Afghanistan. The allies have their own timetable and Obama can't sweet talk them anymore.

Edited February 23, 2010 by alienlovechild

[Peikko 1,575]

[DeniseBill 4]

At least our stupid prime minister Bakellende (Balkenende) quit and that is always good.

Edited February 23, 2010 by DeniseBill

[alienlovechild 75]

At least our stupid prime minister Bakellende (Balkenende) quit and that is always good.

What about Geert Wilders?

"Wilders and his Freedom Party have been a focus of debate since the Dutch cabinet collapsed on Saturday, as the election which could be held as early as May will be a key opportunity for the anti-immigration group to increase its influence after a stunning success at European elections last year.

Frans Timmermans, a member of the Labour party and minister for European affairs, said on Monday that Labour would refuse to govern in coalition with Wilders' party, and he called on other parties to consider a similar approach.

"The Labour party stands for a completely different Holland than the party of Wilders, and for that reason we cannot be in a government with him," a spokeswoman for the Labour party said.

"He (Timmermans) dared other parties to think the same thing. Do they want to be in a government that segregates people by race and religion?"

Wilders has described the call as an "arrogant" attempt to ringfence his Freedom Party (PVV) and said it was an insult to the democratic system, telling Dutch media "the voter will seek punishment for this".

Members of other parties have also described the move as undemocratic and warned that it could push voters into the arms of Wilders, considered a maverick among the political elite.

While the socialist SP said it would not consider working in coalition with Wilders' party due to their policy differences, it criticised Timmermans nonetheless.

"This is unbelievably stupid. What Timmermans is saying is undemocratic, the voter can surely make up their own mind," said SP leader Agnes Kant in the Dutch daily Trouw. "Wilders can now say there is a barrier being built around him."

Members of other parties also dismissed the calls, with the head of the Liberal VVD party Mark Rutte telling Dutch radio he was not ruling anyone out as a potential coalition partner and Christian Democrat party chairman Pieter van Geel describing the comments as foolish.

Wilders' party comes first or second in most polls for the next election, and could win up to 24 seats in the 150-seat Dutch Parliament after becoming the second biggest Dutch party in the EU Parliament last year.

So far the CDA and VVD have left the door open to be in a coalition with Wilders. But in recent polls, just 27 percent of respondents said their reaction to a combination of the three in a cabinet would be 'positive' or 'very positive'.

Wilders, who believes that Islam is a violent religion and what he calls the Islamisation of Europe must stop, has consistently challenged the established order with his ferocious debating style, often accusing the government of cowardice."

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE61M08120100223

[DeniseBill 4]

In protection of myself I will not answer that question. Whether you agree with him or not, his name has become a danger to us all.

Just didn't wanted to leave you without anything.

[trailmix 77]

Obama's popularity in Europe and Canada never really translated into a sustained commitment to help fight Obama's timetable war in Afghanistan. The allies have their own timetable and Obama can't sweet talk them anymore.

It's not sweet talk, it never was. Our government has decided to pull out of Afganistan, obviously most people here support that or we wouldn't be doing it. It's rather arrogant of you to imply that your president is running our country don't you think?

Edited February 23, 2010 by trailmix

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

It's not sweet talk, it never was. Our government has decided to pull out of Afganistan, obviously most people here support that or we wouldn't be doing it. It's rather arrogant of you to imply that your president is running our country don't you think?

Agreed. After 9-11, Canada focused on Afghanistan while the U.S. focused on Iraq. The former country had proven insurgent terrorists (i.e.: the Taliban). The latter country had unproven weapons of mass destruction. I wonder which military theater made more sense...

By the time Canada pulls out, it will have been entrenched in Afghanistan for about a decade, with hundreds of Canadian military deaths having occurred there. Given the lack of end in sight and the lack of international support for the military campaign in the region, it's little wonder that Canada is starting to pull back. The only thing that has to do with the U.S. is the American inaction (which I'm not even saying is a good or a bad thing...it just IS).

[peejay 327]

In protection of myself I will not answer that question. Whether you agree with him or not, his name has become a danger to us all.

Just didn't wanted to leave you without anything.

If'n yer skeerd...say yer skeerd. Me...I ain't skeerd to say my piece.

[DeniseBill 4]

If'n yer skeerd...say yer skeerd. Me...I ain't skeerd to say my piece.

Sorry I don't speak that language