Saturday, February 20, 2010

Dutch government falls over Afghanistan

The Netherlands has 1600 to 2000 troops in Afghanistan, depending on which news report you read. They went in as part of the NATO (read U.S.) mission in 2006 and were supposed to stay for two years. Like the Canadian effort, the Dutch engagement has been subject to "mission creep" and their soldiers are still there, with the big question being when and how to get them out.

Guess what? The Dutch government, which is a coalition, failed to agree on the answer. The Dutch prime minister wanted to extend the mission past the latest (August) deadline, but the deputy prime minister's party wouldn't agree. So the government has resigned, leaving a lot of unfinished business such as a new budget.

Popular opposition to the Netherlands' fighting in Afghanistan started high and has been increasing ever since. It will now likely be the main issue in parliamentary elections which will likely take place in the late spring.

The Dutch have lost 21 soldiers in Afghanistan, compared with 140 for Canada...so far.

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