Article

2005-12-20 Europe

Dutch delay decision on troops for Afghanistan peacekeeping

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by lotp 2005-12-20 00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 I would like to see NATO troops out of Afghanistan peacekeeping. It's fine if they want to send their troops to fight islamism or for advanced training by hunting down Taliban and Wahabis. But there is no use in expensive western troops acting as glorified security guards when there are over 80,000 (and growing) Afghan army and national police who should do the job and for a fraction of the price. The other use of western troops is to make sure the Afghans don't steal all the aid money.

Posted by ed 2005-12-20 07:09|| 2005-12-20 07:09|| Front Page Top

#2 I suspect that one reason to press NATO to keep troops in Afghanistan, beside the temporary need, is that it represents a last-ditch effort to keep NATO alive and functional.

Posted by lotp 2005-12-20 09:27|| 2005-12-20 09:27|| Front Page Top

#3 NATO will need *somebody* to sit in its shiny new HQ building...

Posted by Seafarious">Seafarious 2005-12-20 09:38|| 2005-12-20 09:38|| Front Page Top

#4 I had no idea that the Dutch were such chicken schits.

Posted by Clert Gloger3034 2005-12-20 09:48|| 2005-12-20 09:48|| Front Page Top

#5 And it gives the dutch and NATO the ability to inser themselves into the decision making process, get their $.02 in and if they don't like the outcome, leak the appropriate informaiton.

Posted by Flerert Whese8274 2005-12-20 10:09|| 2005-12-20 10:09|| Front Page Top

#6 But there is no use in expensive western troops acting as glorified security guards when there are over 80,000 (and growing) Afghan army and national police who should do the job and for a fraction of the price.

In this instance, playing glorified security guard is preferred. FW8247 is right. It also lets them claim that they're 'doing something'. Of course if it gets a bit hotter violence-wise, methinks you'll see some second thoughts.

Posted by Pappy 2005-12-20 11:00|| 2005-12-20 11:00|| Front Page Top

#7 I spent a couple of weeks working with some Dutch military people in the mid-1980s, part of a NATO familiarization program. Even then they thought their government was too liberal. This is a good thing both for NATO and for the troops from member nations that deploy. They learn what real combat is all about, and pick up some invaluable training that will stand them in good stead when the Muslims in their own countries try to take over, as they eventually will. I hope and pray that when these people rotate back to their home units, they pass along what they've learned to their fellow soldiers.

Whether or not that's Bush's (or Rove's) plan, it's a good idea, and might actually show results eventually.

Posted by Old Patriot">Old Patriot 2005-12-20 14:19|| http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/]">[http://oldpatriot.blogspot.com/] 2005-12-20 14:19|| Front Page Top

12:52 Huputing Hupeating4484
20:59 Anginens Thrinesh2555
21:35 Chimble Chans3999
23:59 Old Marine
23:57 Seafarious
23:52 DMFD
23:46 ed
23:38 DMFD
23:38 Jan
23:26 3dc
23:17 Rafael
23:16 Jan
23:13 Rafael
23:12 Oldspook
23:09 Oldspook
23:07 mjslack
23:06 Bomb-a-rama
23:05 3dc
22:58 3dc
22:55 Rafael
22:54 Rafael
22:52 Barbara Skolaut
22:45 Rafael
22:41 Bobby