Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CANBERRA1547
2007-10-19 07:20:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:
DUTCH, CANADIAN AMBASSADOR'S VIEWS ON AFGHANISTAN
how-toVZCZCXRO3783 OO RUEHDBU RUEHPW DE RUEHBY #1547 2920720 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 190720Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8433 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE PRIORITY 4627 RUEHBAD/AMCONSUL PERTH PRIORITY 2919 RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 2796
C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 001547
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SA, PM AND EAP
PACOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2017
TAGS: MOPS MARR PREL PGOV AS
SUBJECT: DUTCH, CANADIAN AMBASSADOR'S VIEWS ON AFGHANISTAN
COMMITMENTS
Classified By: Ambassador Robert D. McCallum for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 001547
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SA, PM AND EAP
PACOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2017
TAGS: MOPS MARR PREL PGOV AS
SUBJECT: DUTCH, CANADIAN AMBASSADOR'S VIEWS ON AFGHANISTAN
COMMITMENTS
Classified By: Ambassador Robert D. McCallum for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).
1. (C/REL AUS, UK, CANADA) At our quarterly
U.S.-UK-Canada-Netherlands lunch on October 19, Dutch
Ambassador to Australia Niek van Zutphen commented that
senior Dutch officials were sincere in voicing continuing
support for the Netherland's troop commitment in Afghanistan,
but faced formidable domestic political obstacles. Chief
among these were the issue of burdensharing, specifically the
prevalent belief that Dutch forces were doing more than their
share compared to other countries, especially NATO partners,
and the apparent lack of progress on the reconstruction and
security fronts, especially in the face of a resurgent
Taliban. Together these factors created negative optics with
significant political implications in the Netherlands, which
would come to a head in The Hague during the December
2007-January 2008 timeframe.
2. (C/REL AUS, UK, CANADA) Ambassador Zutphen confirmed that
the Netherlands had approached Singapore regarding provision
of a field hospital in Oruzgan, and Slovenia and other
European countries to seek troop contributions, but, while he
was optimistic, he offered no guarantee of positive responses.
3. (C/REL AUS, UK, CANADA) Ambassador Zutphen urged that the
United States use its influence with other countries,
including NATO partners, to again urge them to participate in
Afghanistan or to increase their contributions of forces and
reconstruction inputs.
4. (C/REL AUS, UK, CANADA) Canadian High Commissioner Michael
Leir noted that political pressures in Canada were similar,
particularly the issue of burdensharing. High Canadian
casualties had made Canada's involvement in Afghanistan a
major political issue. For Canada, it was not so much an
question of cost, as the political impact of the optics, he
added.
5. (C/REL AUS, UK, CANADA) Leir noted that a Dutch decision
to remain in Afghanistan would not improve the political
climate in Canada, whereas a Dutch withdrawal would certainly
increase political pressure in Canada to follow suit.
He observed that the decision would be made in Ottawa next
year whether to extend Canadian participation beyond 2009.
MCCALLUM
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SA, PM AND EAP
PACOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/19/2017
TAGS: MOPS MARR PREL PGOV AS
SUBJECT: DUTCH, CANADIAN AMBASSADOR'S VIEWS ON AFGHANISTAN
COMMITMENTS
Classified By: Ambassador Robert D. McCallum for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).
1. (C/REL AUS, UK, CANADA) At our quarterly
U.S.-UK-Canada-Netherlands lunch on October 19, Dutch
Ambassador to Australia Niek van Zutphen commented that
senior Dutch officials were sincere in voicing continuing
support for the Netherland's troop commitment in Afghanistan,
but faced formidable domestic political obstacles. Chief
among these were the issue of burdensharing, specifically the
prevalent belief that Dutch forces were doing more than their
share compared to other countries, especially NATO partners,
and the apparent lack of progress on the reconstruction and
security fronts, especially in the face of a resurgent
Taliban. Together these factors created negative optics with
significant political implications in the Netherlands, which
would come to a head in The Hague during the December
2007-January 2008 timeframe.
2. (C/REL AUS, UK, CANADA) Ambassador Zutphen confirmed that
the Netherlands had approached Singapore regarding provision
of a field hospital in Oruzgan, and Slovenia and other
European countries to seek troop contributions, but, while he
was optimistic, he offered no guarantee of positive responses.
3. (C/REL AUS, UK, CANADA) Ambassador Zutphen urged that the
United States use its influence with other countries,
including NATO partners, to again urge them to participate in
Afghanistan or to increase their contributions of forces and
reconstruction inputs.
4. (C/REL AUS, UK, CANADA) Canadian High Commissioner Michael
Leir noted that political pressures in Canada were similar,
particularly the issue of burdensharing. High Canadian
casualties had made Canada's involvement in Afghanistan a
major political issue. For Canada, it was not so much an
question of cost, as the political impact of the optics, he
added.
5. (C/REL AUS, UK, CANADA) Leir noted that a Dutch decision
to remain in Afghanistan would not improve the political
climate in Canada, whereas a Dutch withdrawal would certainly
increase political pressure in Canada to follow suit.
He observed that the decision would be made in Ottawa next
year whether to extend Canadian participation beyond 2009.
MCCALLUM