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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| StrategyPage: Venezuela Versus the Dutch |
| 2006-03-01 |
| Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has been making noises about running the Dutch out of nearby Caribbean islands, areas that the Netherlands have owned for centuries. In response, the Dutch are trying to orchestrate a suitable, and scary, message for Chavez. The Dutch are trying to get the United States to make a port call with an aircraft carrier, and its accompanying warships, at one of their Caribbean islands. This would be part of a series of "messages" that they're sending to Venezuela. An additional "message" is an invitation to the Venezuelans to take part in a navy/marine exercise that the Dutch are going to run in the Caribbean later this year. This will have U.S., British, French, and even Swedish participation, primarily as a way of demonstrating that if Chavez pulls something against the Dutch-owned islands, he may get a bloody nose. Even without the port call, it's unlikely that the United States would just stand by if Venezuela made a move on Dutch Caribbean islands. |
| Posted by:ed |
| #16 Suppose that might heat up the Natalee Holloway case a little. |
| Posted by: RWV 2006-03-01 22:55 |
| #15 D *** It, haven't the Marines invaded and saved the beach babes in Aruba yet; or Haiti?, or Cuba? or ...etc!? Iff this was the turn of the centiry, or even the 1920's, these places would already had been conquered by CHESTY PULLER, ETAL.. or at least PAPPY BOYINGTON, while Congress was still debating the merits iff it was. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-03-01 22:42 |
| #14 I believe we gave the Brits a lot of Intel (Satellite, NRO, etc) but we were pretty neutral officially. Hard to stick up for the colonizing imperialists, even after 220 years. I think our obligation to provide any assistance through NATO is limited to an attack on the homeland. e. g. I suspect we'd sit out a seizure of Gibraltar by Spain. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-03-01 20:12 |
| #13 I don't know Mitch. I don't think Maggie formally requested. What would have happened if the Dutch invoked the NATO treaty clause? Unlike the Euros today, back then we'd probably have done the deed. |
| Posted by: Phaimp Tholuting5978 2006-03-01 20:05 |
| #12 We weren't precisely behind the English during the Falklands War, Mike. Considerably less hands-on than say, the US in 1940. We weren't neutral, but we didn't do much beyond some supply & support. Check out this telephone transcript, for instance. If the Falklands had been Dutch then, they'd still be Argentine now. |
| Posted by: Mitch H. 2006-03-01 16:39 |
| #11 ..Hell, the Dutch used to HAVE a carrier..long long ago. And if Chavez hasn't figured out yet that we'd be right behind the Dutch in any fight like that (wonders where he was during the Falklands War), then dear Lord, let's put him outta our misery. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2006-03-01 12:28 |
| #10 Hey Nimble, I'm sure if they asked they could get the Clemenceau for a while. |
| Posted by: Danking70 2006-03-01 11:45 |
| #9 I hope we defend my right to All-Inclusive resorts on Aruba at all costs. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2006-03-01 11:28 |
| #8 If you can't tell the Netherlands (which has shut down nearly all immigration, told imams to learn Dutch within a year and sent troops to Iraq) from Belgium, you might want to think a bit before tossing out comments like "Eurotrash", BH. |
| Posted by: lotp 2006-03-01 10:27 |
| #7 Oops! Musta been thinking about Belgium, sorry. Getcha programs here! Can't tell one small European country from another without a program! |
| Posted by: BH 2006-03-01 10:16 |
| #6 Hell, sell a BB to the Dutch. They can run it as a part time theme cruise line for wannabes and then when it suits them, do a shake down cruise off of Venezula. Iiiii, thar be Maracaibo. Time to hoist the jolly roger and lift an ale in salute to o'Henry Morgan! |
| Posted by: Phaimp Tholuting5978 2006-03-01 10:07 |
| #5 BH - The Netherlands supported OIF, and had a contingent in Iraq (I think theyve withdrawn by now, but im not sure) So im not sure what youre talking about. In any case, dispute over preemptive action hardly means one shouldnt support defense of an allys territory. But I dont think Chavez is stupid enough to hand us the opportunity to toss him out like that. "Making noises" is what he does best. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2006-03-01 09:50 |
| #4 The Dutch have been mostly helpful and the native Dutch are undergoing a huge attitude adjustment w.r.t muslims. Hopefully some of that new insight will also transfer to leftist dictators. The Dutch also contributing 600 troops to Afghanistan peacekeeping and are sending 1400 more. Too bad the US mothballed all the battleships. A 9 gun 16" broadside at the 12 mile limit is an attention getter. |
| Posted by: ed 2006-03-01 09:49 |
| #3 The Dutch are trying to get the United States to make a port call with an aircraft carrier, and its accompanying warships, at one of their Caribbean islands. Oh, I get it now. Military action by the US is permissible in defense of Dutch interests. Makes so much sense now! F* off, eurotrash. |
| Posted by: BH 2006-03-01 09:44 |
| #2 The Dutch should also do something multi-lateral at the UN. Oh, and get ofe of the EU carriers to stop by, too. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-03-01 09:37 |
| #1 Depending on how much US taxes the Dutch are willing to pay, I'm all for this. |
| Posted by: Phil 2006-03-01 09:31 |
