The Netherlands: Can Dutch police trainers "supported by F-!6's" make any difference in Afghanistan? - by Christa Meindersma

In February 2010, the Dutch government collapsed because it could not agree to stay on in Afghanistan. Now, a Dutch minority government seeks opposition support for deploying a new mission to the country. Formally the approval of Parliament is not required. Yet, in practice, any government seeks a substantial parliamentary majority before deploying a military mission abroad. However, it is questionable whether even a narrow majority exists.

Why would the Dutch Parliament support a new mission to Afghanistan including a total of 545 Dutch troops? US President Barack Obama’s new strategy of sending 30.000 additional troops, announced in December 2009, has not yielded concrete results: the security situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating, the insurgency is spreading north and civilian casualties - particularly from insurgent attacks - are on the rise. Afghan President Hamid Karzai makes it no secret that he wants American troops “off the roads and out of Afghan homes” and is insisting on an end to the nightly kill and capture raids. These form the core of the counterinsurgency campaign. Europen Union President Herman van Rompuy does not believe in success in Afghanistan either. He told the American Ambassador that European troops are only there “out of respect for the United States.” And, by the time the Dutch police trainers arrive, the Americans will almost be starting to withdraw.

Note EU-Digest: the Dutch government plan for this so-called "training" mission also includes the deployment of 4 F-16 and some additional 12o plus air force ground personnel and about 125 regular military troops, which the government is trying to sell as "self defense support". About 60% of the Dutch population is against this or any other missions by the Netherlands in Afghanistan.


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