Posted on 03/03/2011 8:51:29 AM PST by americanophile
THE HAGUE, Netherlands – Armed forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi captured three Dutch marines and their helicopter during a botched evacuation mission near a stronghold of the Libyan leader, the Defense Ministry said Thursday.
Libyan authorities are still holding the marines five days after they were seized Sunday by armed men after landing near Sirte in a Lynx helicopter from the navy ship HMS Tromp. The ship was anchored off the Libyan coast to help evacuations from the conflict-torn country, spokesman Otte Beeksma told The Associated Press.
Two Europeans, one Dutch and one whose nationality was not released, were also captured. They were handed over unharmed to the Dutch embassy in Tripoli early Thursday and have left Libya, the ministry said.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte said his government authorized the mission.
Dutch officials are in "intensive negotiations" with Gadhafi's government to secure the marines' release, he said.
"We have also been in contact with the crewmen involved," Beeksma said. "They are doing well under the circumstances and we hope they will be released as quickly as possible."
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Look on the front page side bar.
The Dutch have a Marine Corp!?.. WHY?..
Do they still have colonies?
My bad. Did title search too.
It happens
President van Carter authorized the mission.
They have a long history of such commandos. Dutch Marines are tasked with re-enforcement of Norway as part of NATO. Why do some US citizens always appear to be ignorant of other nations capabilities or force structures? The Dutch Marines were formed and active even before the USA formed as a nation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netherlands_Marine_Corps
Probably something to do with a tradition of seafaring and exploration ( note: Indonesia used to be the Dutch East Indies, New York was New Holland, Aruba, ect.. ect..)
The Dutch Antilles in the Caribbean.
Socialist schools.. but that might get fixed soon..
Invoke the provisions of the NATO treaty. Start leveling Libya. Turn it into a glass parking lot. Of I forgot, we have a Muslim president.
Too bad we have a closet homofreakCowardMoslum in the White House. The Marines could have taken Libya in 48 hours. As soon as they landed the Government would have hauled ass.
I am thinking 3 Dutch Marines is a large portion of the entire Dutch Marine Corps.
The three personnel appear to be Dutch Navy rather than Dutch Marines. The error appears to have been lost in the translation and not helped as the Lynx helicopter carries the titles ‘Marine’. The three crew were two pilots and one winch man. Both pilots (one female) carry the naval rank of Lieutenant. It appears that none of them were actually from the Marine(Commando)element of the Netherlands Navy.
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