DUTCH RESPONSE TO OEF DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002343

SIPDIS

STATE FOR PM/RSAT, EUR/UBI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2013
TAGS: MARR MASS PREL PARM PTER AF NL
SUBJECT: DUTCH RESPONSE TO OEF DEMARCHE

REF: STATE 246182

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARY DALY FOR REASONS
1.5 (B AND D).


1. (U) This is an action request: see para 3.


2. (C) Mission made reftel demarche to GONL prior to
September 2-3 visit to Washington by Dutch PM Balkenende and
FM de Hoop Scheffer. Post was advised that GONL was not in a
position to provide assets as requested reftel. The Dutch
plead budget constraints owing to their commitments to
deployments in SFIR in Iraq and SFOR in Bosnia as well as
their just concluded stint as co-lead nation of ISAF III in
Afghanistan. Nevertheless the Dutch are interested in
exploring some sort of follow-on presence in Afghanistan and
have been considering various options to include
participation of Dutch special operations forces (SOF)
personnel in a German-led "expanded ISAF" operation in Kunduz
or possibly direct participation by Dutch SOF in Operation
Enduring Freedom. Concerning the latter possibility, post
judges that there are competing views within the GONL -- the
military is eager to get Dutch SOF involved in combat
operations, while MFA and MOD are concerned about potential
domestic political ramifications of Dutch SOF apprehending
Taliban/Al Qaeda members that may in turn be detained in
Guantanamo Bay.


3. (C) Action request: Post requests Washington advise
whether there is interest in deployment of a small contingent
of Dutch SOF personnel to Afghanistan, either in cooperation
with the Germans in Kunduz or with OEF. We judge a formal
demarche to the GONL would help clarify GONL intentions in
this regard.
SOBEL