US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE2055

C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 002055 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/UBI, EUR/RPM AND PMAT 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/16/2014 
TAGS: MOPS, PREL, IZ, NL 
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/IRAQ:  SECOND DUTCH FATALITY 
 
REF: THE HAGUE 1164 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY CDA DANIEL R. RUSSEL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B AN 
D D) 
 
 1. (U) A Royal Dutch Military Police (Koninklijke 
Marechaussee) Sergeant was killed in an ambush on a Dutch 
military vehicle on August 14 south of Rumaythah in Al 
Muthanna province.  The 29 year-old Sergeant, Jeroen Severs, 
was riding in an unarmored jeep which came under heavy fire 
from small arms and possibly a machine gun.  Four Dutch Army 
and one Royal Marechaussee personnel were wounded in the 
incident.  The five are being treated in the Dutch military 
hospital in As Samawah, and all are expected to recover from 
their injuries.  The personnel were returning to the Dutch 
headquarters Camp Smitty in As Samawah after investigating a 
previous disturbance.  Dutch Quick Reaction Force assets and 
Dutch air force Apache helicopters from Talil AB were 
dispatched to the scene to assist as was a U.S. Blackhawk 
medevac helicopter.  (Note:  the Netherlands has some 1400 
personnel serving in AlMuthanna province as part of the UK 
Multinational Division SE.  This deployment is set to run 
through March 2005 to cover anticipated elections.  End 
note.)  Two Iraqi militants were allegedly killed in the 
incident. 
 
2. (C) Charge conveyed USG condolences to PM Balkenende and 
FM Bot at a WWII commemoration on August 15.  Both seemed 
fatalistic about the episode and expressed satisfaction with 
the response coordination between Dutch and U.S. forces. 
Balkenende made a strong public strong statement on August 15 
saying that the Netherlands would hold firm in Iraq.  He said 
"this was not an attack by the Iraqi people but by 
individuals who are trying to sabotage the rebuilding of Iraq 
by their destructive actions."  He subsequently said on 
August 16, "in the face of terror we will not and we shall 
not budge."  CDA also spoke at same commemoration with Dutch 
CHOD Lt. Gen. Berlijn.  Berlijn expressed appreciation for 
U.S. medevac support.  He said that some early rumblings in 
the Dutch media about the Dutch deployment had been 
effectively quashed by strong statements from the junior 
governing coalition partner the Liberal Democrats (D66) to 
the effect that "these things happen" and that the Dutch 
should "stay the course." 
 
3. (C) Comment:  Reaction to this event in the Netherlands 
has been muted.  Media attention has focused on the Dutch 
military union questioning the advisability of Dutch forces 
conducting patrols in unarmored vehicles.  (The Dutch have 
taken certain measures including traveling in open all 
terrain vehicles and eschewing helmets in an attempt to 
better ingratiate themselves with Iraqis and avoid 
perceptions that they are an occupying force.)  MFA and MOD 
colleagues have also reacted to this event calmly.  Dutch 
Army Plans and Policy Chief MG van den Broek told DATT that 
the incident, while regrettable, was not unexpected, and 
modest compared with the scale of U.S. sacrifices in Iraq. 
Post does not believe that this second Dutch fatality will 
lead to any significant calls for a premature withdrawal of 
Dutch forces in Iraq.  End Comment. 
MINIMIZE CONSIDERED 
RUSSEL