What began as a short debate over the Dutch position on Afghanistan on Thursday turned into an eight hour battle, as opposition MPs tore into ministers over their refusal to take decisions and the damage being done to the reputation of the Netherlands abroad.

Several MPs openly called Labour leader and deputy prime minister Wouter Bos a liar and accused him of using Afghanistan as a vote winner for the local elections.
Bos has denied knowing Nato had made a formal request to the Netherlands to stay in Afghanistan for another year, this time primarily to train local forces. And he insists the cabinet says no to the new mission at today’s cabinet meeting.
Premature
But the Christian Democrats, led by prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende, are keeping all their options open, and have pledged to take a decision by March 1.
The Telegraaf writes that the divisions between ministers was ‘painfully obvious’. Balkenende accused Bos of being premature in stating he wants a decision today. Bos refused to take back his words. ‘This was not premature,’ he said.
Most newspapers expect the cabinet to fall later today. ‘Balkenende did all he could to keep his cabinet going for at least another 24 hours,’ said the Volkskrant.
Today’s cabinet meeting is officially the last before March 1 because of the winter break. But ministers can decide to have an extra meeting next week.
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