Dutch commandos kill 18 in Afghanistan

AP on Yahoo ^ | 7/21/06 | Mike Cooper - ap

[NormsRevenge]

THE HAGUE, Netherlands - Dutch commandos killed 18 enemy fighters who set up positions in rugged hills overlooking a Dutch camp in southern Afghanistan, the country's military chief said Friday. There were no Dutch casualties during a 10-day mission.

"If we had not done something then our soldiers could have come under fire and the construction of our camp could have been hindered," Gen. Dick Berlijn, commander of the Dutch armed forces, told reporters in The Hague.

Berlijn said the Taliban fighters were massing on terrain on both sides of the Baluchi Valley, about 6 miles north of where Dutch troops are building Camp Holland, which will be their base for a reconstruction mission due to start Aug. 1.

"The Baluchi Valley is a strategic position and in the end we decided that if we did not do something about it, it would be a major threat for us," he said.

There are some 455 Dutch soldiers setting up camp near Tarin Kot, capital of Uruzgan Province, where a 1,400-strong Dutch reconstruction team is due to start work next month.

Berlijn said the Dutch mission was carried out independently of a U.S.-led coalition mission in the same region, but added that Dutch and coalition forces coordinated closely. He declined to give any details of the U.S.-led operations.

The Dutch government deliberated for months before finally deciding to send 1,400 soldiers to take part in NATO missions in Afghanistan. While the government insisted the deployment was to rebuild the shattered Uruzgan province, opponents argued that reconstruction is impossible in what is essentially still a war zone.

Speaking at a briefing on Dutch operations in Afghanistan, Berlijn said that his country already has more than 1,500 troops in the country and said that number could rise to around 2,000 before settling back to the 1,400-strong force approved by parliament.

In recent months, Dutch troops have killed dozens of Taliban and other enemy fighters without suffering any fatalities.

[NormsRevenge]

Goin' Dutch, Afghani style.

[Red Badger]

The Dutch Marines may look like a bunch of hippies, but they are not to be messed around with.......

[ncountylee]

Nice to see the Dutch adding to the scorecard. Good hunting guys and stay safe.

[NormsRevenge]

Soldiers from the Afghanistan National Army listen as NATO Secreatry General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, not seen, speaks during a visit to the Military Training Center in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday July 20, 2006. The Afghanistan National Army is trained by British troops from the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The NATO mission to Afghanistan's insurgency-wracked south will be 'tough' but the alliance must not fail in its bid to promote reconstruction and defeat the Taliban, NATO's visiting secretary-general said Thursday. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

[MinorityRepublican]

Afghanistan - a good place to practice before the Dutch will use the skills to kill radical Islamists in the upcoming battle of "Eurabia".

[samadams2000]

Nice work. Danish beer tonight. Any suggestions?

[Jack2006]

I am sure you mean Dutch? :)

[NormsRevenge]

Grolsch or Heineken,, for starters. ;-)

[GallopingGhost]

If you mean Dutch beer (aka from the Netherlands), try a La Trappe Dubbel from Koningshoeven. For something easier to find a Heineken or a Grolsch would do.

[xpertskir]

Heineken SUCKS(unless you are in The Netherlands), Grolsch puts it to shame and you have to get the pop top bottles.

[facedown]

bump

[samadams2000]

Stella?

[samadams2000]

Nevermind..Belgium I believe. Theres got to be something better than Heineken or Grolsch right???

[samadams2000]

http://www.xs4all.nl/~patto1ro/denbrew.htm

If any freepers have a favorite let me know. Gonna hit Bevmo tonight and celebrate with my Danish 12 oz friends.

[ccc_jr]

Het Canon - a speciality beer from Grolsch only sold seasonally in Holland ... around 15% alcohol content and it tastes great.. BTW Het Canon = "The Cannon"

[samadams2000]

Geez 15%..I may only be able to have 5 or 6 then. Oh well. Will look for it. Thanks.

[MD_Willington_1976]

US Troops = "It's Miller Time"

Canadian Troops = "It's Molson Time"

Dutch Troops = "Bong and a Blintze Time"


! Good Job guys !

[Little Ray]

Dang. According to their union rules, do they get overtime or bonuses?

Just kidding. Maurice, De Ruyter, and friends would be proud of 'em.

[RicocheT]

Good for the Dutch. Maybe putting on the blue helmets does not mean you become a weenie (although I still am skeptical).