Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07THEHAGUE1324
2007-07-10 15:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: PLEASED WITH KARZAI
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHTC #1324 1911538 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 101538Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9788 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2671 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0288 RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEAFVS/OSD WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001324
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/UBI. EUR/RPM, SCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL NATO AF NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: PLEASED WITH KARZAI
COMMENTS, CONCERNS WITH MONIB
REF: JULY 9 POLITICS IN THE NETHERLANDS
Classified By: CDA Michael Gallagher, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001324
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/UBI. EUR/RPM, SCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL NATO AF NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: PLEASED WITH KARZAI
COMMENTS, CONCERNS WITH MONIB
REF: JULY 9 POLITICS IN THE NETHERLANDS
Classified By: CDA Michael Gallagher, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) Summary: The GONL was pleased with Minister of
Defense Eimert van Middelkoop's July 6-7 trip to Afghanistan.
According to MFA Task Force Uruzgan Coordinator Pieter Jan
Kleiweg de Zwaan, comments by Afghan President Karzai during
van Middelkoop's visit were constructive, especially in
connection to the Dutch performance during heavy fighting
around Chora. Kleiweg also commented on recent press reports
regarding lack of confidence in Uruzgan Governor Monib. He
said the media "got it half right," but noted the Dutch will
continue to work with Monib. Kleiweg discussed these issues
with polmiloff on July 9. End summary.
2. (C) Kleiweg, who accompanied van Middelkoop on his trip to
Afghanistan, described the visit as productive. He said
Afghan President Karzai expressed appreciation for the Dutch
military intervention during heavy fighting in Chora several
weeks ago. Kleiweg described Karzai's comments as timely,
and "an about-face" from previous criticism, especially
regarding indiscriminate use of howitzers from long
distances. According to Kleiweg, Karzai told van Middelkoop
that he personally had verified as accurate Dutch claims of
warning the civilian population of Chora prior to the
commencement of fighting. Kleiweg added that the GONL
appreciated efforts by COMISAF to "set the record straight"
with Karzai. Kleiweg also noted that van Middelkoop left
Afghanistan more confident that Kabul will follow through
with promises to deploy more Afghan security forces to
Uruzgan.
3. (C) Referring to press reports of a leaked "internal
government report" casting GONL doubt on Uruzgan Gov. Monib
(reftel),Kleiweg acknowledged that the report was authentic
-- blaming the Dutch MOD for the leak -- but said the media
"only got it half right." He said the report described
reform efforts in Uruzgan as "stagnating," but attributed the
weak performance on a variety of factors, such as Monib
remaining on the UNSCR 1267 sanctions list and Kabul cutting
Monib's funding. Monib remains Karzai's appointed governor
in Uruzgan, and the Dutch will continue to work with him,
Kleiweg reiterated.
4. (C) Kleiweg described Monib as a "lame duck," with limited
influence in Uruzgan and no replacement in sight -- former
governor Jan Mohammed Khan remains more influential, and as a
result Monib spends more time in Kabul. Kleiweg said the
leaked memo did not include allegations of corruption in
Monib's office, or continued ties to the Taliban, but added
he would not be surprised if these allegations were true. He
described the people of Uruzgan falling under three
categories: fighters, farmers, and prayers. "Monib is a
prayer, but he seems to have lost the holy fire in his job as
governor in Uruzgan," Kleiweg said.
GALLAGHER
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/UBI. EUR/RPM, SCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL NATO AF NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: PLEASED WITH KARZAI
COMMENTS, CONCERNS WITH MONIB
REF: JULY 9 POLITICS IN THE NETHERLANDS
Classified By: CDA Michael Gallagher, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (C) Summary: The GONL was pleased with Minister of
Defense Eimert van Middelkoop's July 6-7 trip to Afghanistan.
According to MFA Task Force Uruzgan Coordinator Pieter Jan
Kleiweg de Zwaan, comments by Afghan President Karzai during
van Middelkoop's visit were constructive, especially in
connection to the Dutch performance during heavy fighting
around Chora. Kleiweg also commented on recent press reports
regarding lack of confidence in Uruzgan Governor Monib. He
said the media "got it half right," but noted the Dutch will
continue to work with Monib. Kleiweg discussed these issues
with polmiloff on July 9. End summary.
2. (C) Kleiweg, who accompanied van Middelkoop on his trip to
Afghanistan, described the visit as productive. He said
Afghan President Karzai expressed appreciation for the Dutch
military intervention during heavy fighting in Chora several
weeks ago. Kleiweg described Karzai's comments as timely,
and "an about-face" from previous criticism, especially
regarding indiscriminate use of howitzers from long
distances. According to Kleiweg, Karzai told van Middelkoop
that he personally had verified as accurate Dutch claims of
warning the civilian population of Chora prior to the
commencement of fighting. Kleiweg added that the GONL
appreciated efforts by COMISAF to "set the record straight"
with Karzai. Kleiweg also noted that van Middelkoop left
Afghanistan more confident that Kabul will follow through
with promises to deploy more Afghan security forces to
Uruzgan.
3. (C) Referring to press reports of a leaked "internal
government report" casting GONL doubt on Uruzgan Gov. Monib
(reftel),Kleiweg acknowledged that the report was authentic
-- blaming the Dutch MOD for the leak -- but said the media
"only got it half right." He said the report described
reform efforts in Uruzgan as "stagnating," but attributed the
weak performance on a variety of factors, such as Monib
remaining on the UNSCR 1267 sanctions list and Kabul cutting
Monib's funding. Monib remains Karzai's appointed governor
in Uruzgan, and the Dutch will continue to work with him,
Kleiweg reiterated.
4. (C) Kleiweg described Monib as a "lame duck," with limited
influence in Uruzgan and no replacement in sight -- former
governor Jan Mohammed Khan remains more influential, and as a
result Monib spends more time in Kabul. Kleiweg said the
leaked memo did not include allegations of corruption in
Monib's office, or continued ties to the Taliban, but added
he would not be surprised if these allegations were true. He
described the people of Uruzgan falling under three
categories: fighters, farmers, and prayers. "Monib is a
prayer, but he seems to have lost the holy fire in his job as
governor in Uruzgan," Kleiweg said.
GALLAGHER