Replacements sought for Dutch

[Cees Binkhorst]

REPLY TO: D66 at nic.surfnet.nl

De Australiers moeten er ook even aan wennen ;)

Groet / Cees

Replacements sought for Dutch
http://www.smh.com.au/world/replacements-sought-for-dutch-20100221-oo0h.html
DAN OAKES
February 22, 2010

The fall of the Dutch coalition government at the weekend means that
confusion reigns over which nation will take the lead military role in
Oruzgan province of Afghanistan, where most of Australia's troops are
stationed.

MORE AFGHANISTAN STORIES

Canberra has said repeatedly that Australian forces would not step into
the breach if the Dutch did pull their 2000 troops out, arguing that it
is NATO's responsibility to find a replacement lead nation.

In a letter to the Dutch Christian Democrat prime minister, Jan Peter
Balkenende, tabled in the Dutch Parliament a fortnight ago, NATO's
Secretary-General, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, revealed that another country,
''with which the Netherlands is familiar working'', has agreed to take
over as lead nation in Oruzgan province, but did not name the willing
nation.

There has been speculation that the US, which already has troops in
Oruzgan, will take over from the Dutch. Other nations, such as Canada
and Britain, are struggling with public disapproval of their deployments
and already have significant commitments in other regions.

Mr Rasmussen also urged Mr Balkenende to leave some troops in Oruzgan to
train Afghan security forces, describing Dutch efforts in Oruzgan to
date as ''first rate and exemplary'' and ''a benchmark for others''.

''It is of paramount importance for the success of ISAF [International
Security Assistance Force], for the alliance contribution in Afghanistan
and for the sustainable and successful transfer of responsibility to
Afghan authorities that the Netherlands continue to contribute to ISAF
in such a way and for such a period of time that the Dutch
accomplishments in Oruzgan will be secured,'' Mr Rasmussen wrote.

''This requires that redeployment be executed responsibly in accordance
with the aim of durable transition.''

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