Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05THEHAGUE3100
2005-11-16 16:35:00
SECRET
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:  

NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: CONTINUING DUTCH

Tags:  PREL PGOV PINR MARR MOPS AF NL EUN 
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S E C R E T THE HAGUE 003100 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR MARR MOPS AF NL EUN
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: CONTINUING DUTCH
CONCERNS ABOUT ISAF III

REF: A. THE HAGUE 3054

B. THE HAGUE 3037

C. THE HAGUE 2988

Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Chat Blakeman, reasons 1.4 (b,d).

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 003100

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/08/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR MARR MOPS AF NL EUN
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: CONTINUING DUTCH
CONCERNS ABOUT ISAF III

REF: A. THE HAGUE 3054

B. THE HAGUE 3037

C. THE HAGUE 2988

Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Chat Blakeman, reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (S) SUMMARY: Senior Dutch military and diplomatic
contacts say that Defense Minister Kamp feels he has not yet
received sufficient assurances from the U.S. to proceed with
a proposed Dutch troop deployment to Oruzgan under ISAF Stage
III. Kamp hopes to talk directly to SecDef Rumsfeld to
resolve outstanding Dutch concerns prior to a planned
November 18 Cabinet discussion. End Summary.


2. (S) Dutch Defense Minister Kamp remains undecided whether
to recommend to Cabinet a deployment of Dutch forces in
Oruzgan province in Afghanistan under ISAF STAGE III because
of continuing concerns regarding neighboring Zabol province
and the two northern Oruzgan firebases (ref a). That is the
message Charge, POLCOUNS, and DATT each received on November
16 from Pieter de Gooijer (Deputy POLDIR, MFA),Robert de
Groot (Chief of Security Affairs Department, MFA) and General
Eikelboom (Chief of Operations, MOD) respectively. All Dutch
interlocutors stressed that Minister Kamp had been
disappointed by the results of Pace-Berlijn talks in Brussels
over the last 48 hours, and intended to call SecDef
personally to request reconsideration of the U.S. position.
Kamp is still planning to meet with Foreign Minister Bot on
November 17 to consider whether and how to initiate
discussion of the deployment decision in Cabinet on November

18.


3. (S) According to de Groot, the Dutch are satisfied with
the results of their discussions with partners (UK, Canada,
and Australia),SACEUR, and the Afghan government. De Groot
added that he expected the results of the intelligence review
to be more "nuanced" than the MIVD's initial report, making a
Dutch deployment appear more "doable" than previously. But,
he stressed, the outstanding requests for U.S. forces (about
80) to remain embedded with the Afghan National Army in
Oruzgan and for a maneuver battalion (about 200 troops) to
remain in Zabol are "show stoppers" for Kamp. De Gooijer
similarly stressed that without movement on these two
requests, Kamp would be unlikely to make a positive
recommendation to Cabinet to proceed.


4. (S) COMMENT: In addition to the proposed Kamp-Rumsfeld
call, we understand that Dutch Ambassador van Eenenaam may
reach out to senior State, NSC, and Pentagon interlocutors to
underscore Dutch concerns. The Dutch have stressed
repeatedly to us that Kamp's considerations are as much
political as military; they have also emphasized that the MFA
and uniformed military want the deployment to go forward but
are unable or unwilling to challenge Kamp's decision. END
COMMENT.

BLAKEMAN