DUTCH MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC OFFICERS GIVE THE HARD SELL TO REMAIN IN URUZGAN

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 003963 SIPDIS NOFORN STATE FOR SRAP HOLBROOKE, SCA/FO, SCA/A STATE PASS USAID FOR ASIA/SCAA USFOR-A FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/07/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV AF SUBJECT: DUTCH MILITARY AND DIPLOMATIC OFFICERS GIVE THE HARD SELL TO REMAIN IN URUZGAN REF: A. USNATO 563 ¶B. THE HAGUE 731 ¶C. THE HAGUE 673 ¶D. THE HAGUE 663 ¶E. THE HAGUE 595 ¶F. STATE 124188 Classified By: Acting Coordinator For Interagency Provincial Affairs Ho yt B. Yee, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S/NF) Summary: The DUTCH soldiers and civilians currently posted at the Dutch-led PRT URUZGAN are the strongest advocates for continued DUTCH presence in Afghanistan after August 2010. They attempt to influence their many visitors and policy makers in The Hague by focusing on the positive impact of DUTCH efforts in Uruzgan. Though they are often frustrated that the true impact of Dutch efforts is not resonating with the home audience, they continue to lobby in the hopes of retaining some type of Dutch footprint beyond next summer. Though their new approach of including Afghan officials in briefings appears to be having a positive impact, the DUTCH civilians in Afghanistan believe the chance of a large DUTCH presence beyond summer 2010 is low. End Summary. ¶2. (S/NF) Task Force URUZGAN (TFU) and the adjoining Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) receive many visitors from The Hague. Catering to anything from journalists to royalty, DUTCH military and diplomatic officers provide detailed briefs on how the DUTCH Three-D approach (defense, diplomacy and development) has yielded tangible results in one of the most impoverished and conservative provinces in Afghanistan. DUTCH civilians say that nearly all of their visitors walk away from their brief time in URUZGAN with a new found respect for the mission, even the many who arrive as critics of continued DUTCH involvement in Afghanistan. ¶3. (S/NF) For example, the Task Force Commander and civilian representatives described the recent visit of DUTCH Minister of Interior and Kingdom Relations and senior Labor Party member Gussje ter Horst as very successful. (Note: The DUTCH Labor Party has argued most adamantly to withdraw DUTCH troops from URUZGAN by the stated August 2010 deadline. End Note.) Privately, DUTCH civilians at the PRT are frustrated that these ostensibly successful visits have not resonated back in the Netherlands, and have not, therefore, guaranteed public or official support for continued DUTCH involvement in Uruzgan. DUTCH soldiers and civilians stationed in URUZGAN are very passionate and boastful when describing the achievements they and their predecessors have made here. As one Dutchman put it, if every citizen of the Netherlands could somehow visit the TFU/PRT, there would be little debate on the matter of withdrawing in August 2010. Afghans Voices Make the Point -------------- ¶4. (S/NF) Recent briefings of DUTCH visitors have featured Afghans pleading for the DUTCH to stay, possibly with some coaching by the DUTCH based at the PRT. At the conclusion of the visit of Defense Minister Middlekoop, the acting Civilian Representative Jean-Wilhelm Beaujean reported that URUZGAN Governor Hamdam and the Chora District Chief Mohammad Daudhad had been word perfect in their messaging to the minister, particularly that Afghans want the DUTCH to stay, that the Dutch are achieving more than other coalition partners in Uruzgan, and that NGOs will find it difficult to continue operating in URUZGAN if the DUTCH leave. The Minister reportedly told Beaujean he agreed with the messages. Beaujean quietly told U.S. PRT rep later, I see our talking points are finally starting to work, and that once again we sold the mission in a good way. ¶5. (S/NF) Even more indicative that Afghan voices are having a positive impact in the debate was a recent Financial Times interview of Governor Hamdam received wide coverage in the Netherlands. In the November 23 piece, Governor Hamdam reiterated The people of URUZGAN are very familiar with the Dutch ) they have spent a lot of time here ) and they are asking them to stay. If they do leave, it will mean they are going at an important time with their job only half finished. ¶6. (S/NF) Civilian representatives at the current TFU rotation in URUZGAN have also been pressing for internationalization of the PRT, which they see as important for optics more than increased capacity. For example, Beaujean's efforts to gain additional civilians from the U.S. and AUSTRALIA appear to be driven by his personal opinion KABUL 00003963 002 OF 002 that DUTCH policy makers might find a continued DUTCH presence more palatable if there is international participation. Likely Scenarios after Summer 2010 -------------- ¶7. (S/NF) In confidence, DUTCH diplomats have said that a large military presence in the province past August 2010 is highly unlikely. One DUTCH diplomat reported that logistics teams are already gearing up for the withdrawal, as some 80 large semi-trucks are being prepared to move critical Dutch military equipment out of the province via land routes. The debate now, they reported, is focused on whether or not to retain the PRT and what form their involvement in the PRT would take. Some DUTCH diplomats believe that coordinating national caveats and operational styles could be next to impossible if the U.S. takes command of the battle space and a DUTCH civilian continues to lead the PRT. Therefore, they believe the DUTCH will propose that a small cadre of DUTCH development officers remain in Uruzgan, but under U.S. leadership. Others believe differences could be easily resolved if the right personalities were in place in Uruzgan, allowing the DUTCH to retain a relatively larger Dutch presence. ¶8. (S/NF) Comment: DUTCH PRT personnel are not optimistic about the prospects for maintaining a large DUTCH military presence in Uruzgan, but are doing their best to convince The Hague of the benefits of doing so. U.S. Representative to the PRT will continue to urge DUTCH colleagues to maintain their mandate and vital role in coalition efforts, per reftel. End Comment. RICCIARDONE