Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07THEHAGUE1810
2007-09-28 13:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: EIGHTY ADDITIONAL TROOPS
VZCZCXYZ0010 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHTC #1810 2711316 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 281316Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0427 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 2695 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0308 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001810
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM, SCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL NATO AF NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: EIGHTY ADDITIONAL TROOPS
TO URUZGAN
REF: THE HAGUE 1785
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 001810
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM, SCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL NATO AF NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: EIGHTY ADDITIONAL TROOPS
TO URUZGAN
REF: THE HAGUE 1785
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (SBU) Finance Minister and Vice Prime Minister Wouter Bos
announced September 28 that the Dutch Cabinet has decided to
send an additional 80 troops to Afghanistan due to increased
fighting near Deh Rawod in southwest Uruzgan province. The
two platoons will deploy for Deh Rawod in a matter of days.
2. (C) Comment: The additional deployment comes as no
surprise; the GONL's Afghanistan letter update to Parliament
(reftel) earlier in the week noted that two platoons had been
placed on "stand-by" status for possible deployment to Deh
Rawod. The deployment demonstrates that the GONL remains
committed to the current mission in Uruzgan. However, one
should not read to much into the deployment regarding the
on-going mission extension question -- it represents a
temporary surge and Dutch troops will likely be drawn down to
regular levels once the fighting in Deh Rawod subsides. Nor
should one read too much into Bos making the Cabinet decision
known to the public -- PM Balkenende and FM Verhagen are in
New York, and Defense Minister van Middelkoop is currently in
Portugal. End comment.
Gallagher
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/WE, EUR/RPM, SCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL NATO AF NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: EIGHTY ADDITIONAL TROOPS
TO URUZGAN
REF: THE HAGUE 1785
Classified By: Political Counselor Andrew Schofer, reasons 1.4 (b,d)
1. (SBU) Finance Minister and Vice Prime Minister Wouter Bos
announced September 28 that the Dutch Cabinet has decided to
send an additional 80 troops to Afghanistan due to increased
fighting near Deh Rawod in southwest Uruzgan province. The
two platoons will deploy for Deh Rawod in a matter of days.
2. (C) Comment: The additional deployment comes as no
surprise; the GONL's Afghanistan letter update to Parliament
(reftel) earlier in the week noted that two platoons had been
placed on "stand-by" status for possible deployment to Deh
Rawod. The deployment demonstrates that the GONL remains
committed to the current mission in Uruzgan. However, one
should not read to much into the deployment regarding the
on-going mission extension question -- it represents a
temporary surge and Dutch troops will likely be drawn down to
regular levels once the fighting in Deh Rawod subsides. Nor
should one read too much into Bos making the Cabinet decision
known to the public -- PM Balkenende and FM Verhagen are in
New York, and Defense Minister van Middelkoop is currently in
Portugal. End comment.
Gallagher