US embassy cable - 04THEHAGUE3162

S E C R E T THE HAGUE 003162 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2014 
TAGS: MARR, PREL, MOPS, AF, NL, NATO 
SUBJECT: THE NETHERLANDS/ISAF STAGE II EXPANSION 
 
REF: A. STATE 251753 
     B. DEAN-HOLLIDAY EMAIL 11/26/04 
 
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY POLITICAL COUNSELOR ANDREW SCHOFER FOR REA 
SONS 1.4 (B AND D) 
 
1. (S) PolMilOff made ref A demarche to Dutch MFA Security 
Policy Operations Director Rob Gabrielse on November 26 
(preliminary reaction reported ref B) and raised it again 
with Gabrielse on December 2.  Gabrielse said this request 
had been discussed within the Dutch interagency working group 
that reviews military deployments and that a Dutch 
contribution to ISAF Stage II was unlikely.  He claimed the 
problem was one of "timing," and cited various other Dutch 
commitments in the coming months that would prevent them from 
being able to contribute to Stage II.  These commitments 
include:  participation in NRF IV with 4000 personnel, 
providing a battalion for the NATO Strategic Reserve (which 
Gabrielse said would be done without caveats, and which he 
noted could be used in Afghanistan), the Dutch stabilization 
deployment of 1400 personnel in Iraq (currently set to end in 
March 2005) as well as possible commitment of special 
operations forces to OEF.  Gabrielse repeated the frequently 
expressed Dutch claim that they feel they are doing their 
"fair share" and that they think pressure should be put on 
countries that are "not contributing."  Gabrielse hoped the 
informal force generation meeting at NATO on December 6 would 
"sensitize" other countries to do more. 
 
2. (C) Comment:  The Dutch continue to plead overstretch in 
military deployments.  In addition to the missions cited by 
Gabrielse, they have also renewed their commitment of a 
battalion for EUFOR in Bosnia and have offered a small 
contribution (approximately 130 personnel) for the NATO 
Training Mission in Iraq.  Dutch Army CINC LTG Urlings 
frequently claims 80 percent of his deployable forces are 
committed.  More recently, the Dutch have been citing their 
commitment to NRF IV as a reason to avoid other commitments 
in early 2005.  We do not detect a reluctance in principle to 
expanding the Dutch presence in Afghanistan.  Defense 
Minister Kamp recently stated in a parliamentary defense 
debate that the Netherlands "could well be involved" in a 
second PRT in 2005.  (As noted ref B, the Dutch are 
considering a possible contribution to ISAF Stage III, 
possibly in cooperation with the Canadians.)  This type of 
trial balloon in an open debate is a standard GONL practice 
in beginning the decision-making process for a deployment. 
End comment. 
RUSSEL