Would he “stick to his guns” if a majority was in favour of staying in Afghanistan.
In that case I think, you might find Mr. Bos hugely in favour of staying.
His stance has nothing to do with the plight of the Afghan people or the well-being of the Dutch military, but all with his affords to win back all the votes he lost over the last few years.
Labour and “sticking to you’re guns”…what an oxymoron.

By Kees | February 19, 2010 5:10 PM

Regardless of his motivations Wouter did the right think... the Dutch thank him and above all the Taliban thank him.

By Ali | February 19, 2010 6:30 PM

Pull out but still take the resources when you want them just like Iraq. Shell got a huge oil contract in Iraq. Why should you waste the effort when you can reap the reward regardless of your effort.

By hypocrits | February 19, 2010 7:28 PM

Wouter Bos did the right thing and I don´t give a crap what the motives were, he had the guts to say no more and for that I am proud of him. Hang in there Wouter Bos, don´t let anyone bully you.

By sandrav | February 19, 2010 8:00 PM

I am italian and I can say the same thing happened in Italy 3 years ago and the government in the end did not have the same gut as Bos just had. I do not think he did this thinking of afghan people, but I think he did the right thing anyway. Cutting government costs? Well, I agree. Let start from the military.

By luca | February 20, 2010 9:56 AM

Sorry pulling out is leaving your NATO allies in the lurch. Its interesting the alliance that has protected the Netherlands is just starting to take ihe initiative in Afgahnistan so we undermine this by this crazy stunt. Thanks for Nothing BOS...

By JD | February 20, 2010 10:13 AM

JD, Thanks for nothing Bos? Where is your gratitude for all the Help our country gave to Nato all this time? You talk like so many s--t kicking cowboy blood sucking warmongers that don´t know when enough is enough. Netherlands gave more of itself to Nato then most European countries and now we have had enough. The Netherlands cannot go on fighting this war indefinitely! I can see that you can´t comprehend this because you come from a gun tootin cowboy wild west Country that can´t live without a major war disrupting the lives of people all over the world.

By sandrav | February 20, 2010 11:17 AM

You tell him Sandrarav... Western counties like Holland should stay out of the Middle East. Leave the Taliban alone. The US never did anything for Holland so why should Holland do anything, ever, for the US or it's war munging allies like France and Germany and England.

By Ali | February 20, 2010 12:41 PM

This is very typical of the Europeans in NATO. This is why most in North America believe both the USA and Canada should get out of NATO as the European members are have always been unreliable.
Germans refuse to fight, God only knows what Italy and France are doing, but whenever there is combat it seems it is constantly Canadians, Brits and Americans, while Europeans hand out aid and direct traffic. Yet they expect American planes and helicopters to carry them from place to place.
Is Europe always going to be a leach?

By Zuma | February 20, 2010 1:22 PM

Walter Bos, congratulations on your stance to bring your service men and women back home. The enormous amount it costs could better be used for your needy people who would be grateful for a 10-20% increase in their pension
Offer anyone who likes to stay in Afghanistan an army uniform and send them to the front lines, including polititian that can more easily replaced than a Mothers dead son.
I am an ex serviceman from WW2 and know what war is all about And where were the Americans in 1940? 4 years later they came to help when the enemy was as good as dead.
America wants/needs war? Let them fight and finance their own
And JD, why aren't you in Afghanistan?

By J.Quaedvlieg | February 21, 2010 1:41 AM

J.Quaedvlieg, thank you for your wonderful post, it is much much appreciated. I agree with you 100% and also respect you for such honesty. I get so tired of USA throwing in our faces the past WW2 war and how they saved us, etc.

By sandrav | February 21, 2010 10:47 AM

The enemy as you call them, ie the Germans,were defeated by the Brits, Yanks Polish Cheks, Canadians, New Zealanders, Aussies, All of whom were fighting a war in two theatres,and the financial and industrial might of the USA supported that effort to your eventual benifit,Re the Taliban,if we withdraw our forces these poppy growing murderers will have a bigger share of the increasing Dutch drug market, maybe thats what you want?

By J. Tait | February 23, 2010 7:03 AM