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Afghan mission may be extendedFriday 25 September 2009 Defence minister Eimert van Middelkoop is no longer opposed to the Netherlands maintaining a slimmed-down presence in Afghanistan, once its military mission ends next August, sources in the Hague have told the Volkskrant. Earlier this week, foreign affairs minister Maxime Verhagen also hinted an extension of Dutch efforts in the region may be possible. But Labour ministers are still opposed, meaning there is no majority support in the government for the move, the paper says. Verhagen is a member of the Christian Democrats and Van Middelkoop is from the minor coalition party ChristenUnie. The Netherlands currently has some 2,000 soldiers and support staff in the southern region of Uruzgan, the paper says. But army chiefs and diplomats expect between 400 and 500 will remain in the area once the Netherlands hands over its role. The Netherlands has been active in Afghanistan since 2006. In total 21 soldiers have been killed. MPs are due to debate the issue within the next two weeks. Labour, Liberal VVD and Socialist MPs all want the Netherlands to pull out as agreed next year. © DutchNews.nl
yes..kind of fighting ghosts..in iraq, afghanistan..a new vietnam is on the rise. By kos | September 25, 2009 9:08 AM Afghanistan is about a pipeline and that's it! The Americans invited the talaban to Texas in 1997 (while Bush was governor) to discuss a pipeline deal. The talaban refused and look who invaded the country this time. Russia failed and too will the American "pipeline" dream. Pull all troops out now and save lives. Let the oil companies send their "troops" to fight for them, not soldiers/pawns of foreign countries. By Paul Martin | September 25, 2009 2:43 PM 21 lives lost for nought. By joe | September 26, 2009 9:58 AM Since when did human life become more important than oil profits? ... I think not... By stevie | September 26, 2009 11:11 AM Afghanistan's battle will only work if two things happen that at present is ignored. 1) Many more nations need to be involved and committed. It needs not only more troops but a sign that the world will not accept terrorism supporting tribal fanatics. 2) The Muslim nations through the OIC must add troops and in fact to some degree lead it, to show the world that there is a moderate Islam and that it fights terrorism. (Solkhar is a retired western diplomat and a specialist in the tracking of terrorism-financing in North Africa. He is a liberal Sunni Muslim by choice since the age of 17 and is now a permanent resident of the historic Moroccan city of Marrakech) By Solkhar | September 28, 2009 6:21 PM
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I think this war is an endless battle.
By sandra | September 25, 2009 8:12 AM