Think twice before you go
by Christa Meindersma
Think twice before you go
Why Europeans must stay engaged in Afghanistan
By Christa Meindersma
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende belongs to the lucky few who got a kiss from Michelle Obama when he visited the White House this summer. U.S. secretary of state Hillary Clinton graced The Hague with her presence at the big tent meeting on Afghanistan in early spring. And General Stanley A. McChrystal, the commander of the war in Afghanistan, spent 9/11 in Holland—away from his troops.
Americans don’t make it a secret that they want Dutch troops to stay in Afghanistan. “Everything the Netherlands can contribute after 2010 will be valuable and welcome,” McChrystal said.
from: Global Europa, 10/14/09
