Netherlands to review Iraq participation

AP ^ | may 11 2004

[george wythe]

The Netherlands is reviewing participation in the U.S.-led stabilization force in Iraq after a Dutch soldier was killed in a grenade attack, the prime minister said Tuesday.

Jan Peter Balkenende said the death of the soldier Monday, the first casualty among the 1,300-strong Dutch contingent in southern Iraq, was not by itself a reason to leave the country.

"Reconstruction will go on, with all the sorrow of today. The forces of terrorism will not win," Balkenende said, speaking on national television.

[george wythe]

Despite the negative spin by the media, the Dutch are staying the course.

But left-wing opposition parties, including the powerful Labor party, are opposed to Dutch forces remaining in Iraq and the D66 has said it would consider voting against an extension.

"Our initial enthusiasm to participate in all this has been reduced in the last few weeks and months," said Bert Bakker, foreign affairs spokesman for D66.

But the D66 said it did not expect the issue to threaten the coalition. Even without its support, the government is expected to win a narrow majority in parliament if it proposes an extension.

"There will be a majority for saying 'yes'," a foreign ministry spokesman said, adding that Foreign Minister Bernard Bot supported extending the Dutch mandate in Iraq by eight months.

[mrustow]

Please forgive me for the interruption and for the typeface, but we need all FReepers, their friends, lovers, enemies, relatives, spouses, exes, acquaintances, strangers, debtors, creditors, colleagues, bosses and subordinates to sign The Federalist's petition to save Don Rumsfeld! There are currently 73,112 signatures, but we need at least 250,000, and ideally one million more.

Thank you!

RUMMY Petition

We now return to the regularly scheduled, Euroweenie thread.

[facedown]

Bump; ping.

[boxsmith13]

if they leave you should remember when in the future the Dutch adn The Spanish askfor our help fighting offtheir muslims

[Truth666]

Schröder is already dancing - movie 2 minutes - Schröder is starts his dance for the chinese after 50 seconds
http://wstreaming.zdf.de/56/040511_f21_6.asx