AFGHANISTAN AND EUROPE - "The Netherlands - the best friend America has in Europe"
The Netherlands is probably the only country in the world, next to Afghanistan itself, which has an official Netherlands government sponsored program for its schools, promoting the benefits of keeping the Dutch military in Afghanistan. Dutch envoys have also gone to other European countries to urge them in sending additional troops to Afghanistan. Most recently to Norway. Why all this activity? For one, the Balkenende Government had made a deal with the US Government during the Iraq war that they would be sending some 1000 troops to Iraq in exchange for dredging contracts near the port of Basra, and the appointment of Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who belongs to the same political party as Mr. Balkenende, as NATO’s Secretary General. The other crucial point is that this fall the Dutch parliament will be discussing the extension of Dutch troop deployment in Afghanistan. Obviously the coalition Government of Prime-Minister Balkenende is using every "spin-masters" trick to win this parliamentary debate, and stay in favor with America. In the meantime, the war in Afghanistan, which is badly managed and has already cost the Dutch 10 military deaths and a drain on the economy of several million euro's per week, is not going well.
The majority of the Dutch population is either brain-dead or does not seem to be interested in what is going on in Afghanistan. In general, the Dutch do not approve of President Bush personally, but otherwise the 16 million strong population is totally in love with American culture and life-style. They act and dress like Americans, eat their food, dance to their music, watch and copy their TV shows, drive in SUV's when they can afford it, and overcrowd the roads. Like the majority of the US population, they have also taken a negative view on the benefits of immigration.
The bottom line about Afghanistan's importance to the Dutch Government is that for the government staying friendly with the US is a far more important issue than working towards a strong and united European Union. Two years ago, the Netherlands voted against the EU Constitution, mainly because the Government had not done their "homework" and stood by while populist and right wing politicians took center stage.
If it's not too late, the Netherlands better wake up to the fact that their future lies within the European Union and not with America. It certainly would be a wise decision for the Netherlands Government to divert the millions of euro's it is now wasting on the Afghanistan military campaign, to promoting the actual results of more than 50 years of prosperity the Netherlands population is enjoying, thanks to their membership in the European Union. That is the story that needs to be told to its youth.
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2 comments:
Unfortunately it seems that some people have a hard time trying to understand the difference between the wars in Irak and Afghanistan. Leaving Afghanistan to the Taliban will lead to a terrible repression of women, re-establishment of an AlQaida state and further destruction of world heritage. That is why NATO is fighting in Afghanistan and not only the Dutch. Other nations might consider not being so selfish and follow the example of the courageous Dutch soldiers.
Martin Brouwer, Amsterdam
The Afghan Mission is disorganized and not focused on its original objectives. There is no time-line by the NATO for an eventual pull-out. The Central government's influence is limited to Kabul and riddled with corruption. The War Lords are back in operation. The Opium trade today is more active than before the war. Polls in all EU countries which have troops serving in Afghanistan are against keeping their troops there. Why doesn't Mr. Balkenende hold a referendum on the Dutch participation in Afghanistan and let the people decide.
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