The Netherlands and Afstan

A post yesterday noted the US trying to get Canada and The Netherlands to clarify their future roles in Afstan. More on the Dutch debate here--a lot more open, and no more confusing, than our government's dithering dance:

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US wants continued Dutch presence in Afghanistan
De Volkskrant reports that the US ambassador to NATO is putting pressure on the Dutch government to stay in Uruzgan province at least until July 2011. On the current affairs programme Buitenhof Ambassador Ivo Daalders said that if the Netherlands wanted to be among the first countries to withdraw from Afghanistan in July 2011, “We could talk about that”, but until that time, “the Netherlands must finish its job in Uruzgan province”.

According to de Volkskrant, the cabinet will decide early next year at the latest what military contribution the Netherlands can make to international efforts in Afghanistan. However, Prime Minister wants to withdraw all soldiers from Uruzgan in 2010 as pledged when the mission was agreed in 2007. Any extension of the military mission would have to be outside Uruzgan province to avoid accusations that the cabinet is not keeping its promises.

Mr Daalders expressed surprise at Development Minister Bert Koenders’ remarks, who said that development work in Uruzgan province would continue even after the Dutch soldiers had left. The US ambassador to NATO said: “You cannot carry out development projects in southern Afghanistan without defending them. And others will not be able to guard the Dutch”.

Trouw reports that the issue of the Dutch mission to Afghanistan has led to growing controversy in the Dutch cabinet. The Labour Party and the Christian Union want to get out of Uruzgan, but the Christian Democratic CDA, both in the cabinet and in parliament, are in favour of a new, albeit smaller, mission to Uruzgan province. On Friday, Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said the Netherlands would become the odd man out in NATO if it no longer had soldiers in Afghanistan after August next year. He said other NATO member states keep sending soldiers, and he wants a quick decision in the cabinet...