Posted on 08/02/2006 2:33:18 PM PDT by Republicain
AMSTERDAM (EJP)--- A majority of Dutchmen support Dutch participation in an international military force in south Lebanon.
A poll has concluded that 59 percent wants the army to take part in international peacekeeping efforts in Lebanon.
A majority of 65 percent of Dutchmen feel that a Dutch military presence of the national army should involve assisting the Lebanese to rebuild the country. Almost 60 percent feels the US is not doing enough to work towards peace in the region.
A total of 78 percent of Dutchmen is ‘very worried’ about the current situation in Lebanon.
The news about the popular support for Dutch participation in an international military force in Lebanon came one day after Dutch government officials stated Holland would not be prepared to participate in such an international force, due to its military obligations elsewhere, notably in Afghanistan and Congo.
Between 1980 and the late 1990s, some 9,000 Dutch troops participated in the UNIFIL peacekeeping force in Lebanon.
Belgian troops ?
In Belgium, foreign minister Karel De Gucht, has announced that he is in favour of the Belgian army joining any international peacekeeping force to be deployed in southern Lebanon.
De Gucht was speaking on Wednesday in the Belgian parliament’s foreign affairs committee.
“Not taking part in an eventual peacekeeping operation would damage Belgium’s international status”, de Gucht, a Flemish liberal said.
However, a political settlement to end the hostilities must be found before there can be any talk of deploying peacekeepers, he added.
Belgian Defence Minister, André Flahaut, a Francophone Socialist, has also said that he is in favour of deploying Belgian troops to help keep the peace in Lebanon.
The minister reiterated his call for an immediate cessation of hostilities. He added that he expected the United Nations to work out a clear framework to ensure the safety of any peacekeepers that may be deployed in Lebanon.
How do they keep the peace if they don't fight anyone threatening it?
Indeed! We do not need a wimpy flock of sissies in the area. This is real work for real soldiers. The Dutch should stay home and practice being slaves, that being their choice apparently.
"Dutch" is just an old german word meaning "speedbump". I can't see them putting up any kind of resistance to the islamofascists. They should try the Danes. At least they have blasphemous cartoons to fight back with.
http://www.attackcartoons.com
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