Dutch government collapse: Will other European troops now leave Afghanistan?

The collapse of the Dutch government Saturday shows how unpopular the war in Afghanistan is in Europe. Will other European nations pull their troops out of Afghanistan earlier than planned?

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The collapse of the Dutch government also calls into question The Netherlands continued role in NATO. It has long been a consistent and reliable partner in NATO operations, but is now opting out, pending a new election in May.

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The Saturday collapse came after the widely debated Davids Commission report released on Jan. 21 that investigated Dutch participation in Iraq, not unlike the recent Chilcot Inquiry in Britain. Many say that the report - including allegations that its government fought in Iraq without a debate over merits or judicial oversight – has contributed to souring a war-weary public toward Afghanistan.

The Dutch coalition collapsed after Labour chief Wouter Bos withdrew his party from the ruling coalition. While Mr. Bos had gone along with a previous plan in 2008 to keep troops in Afghanistan, he made the political calculation that the tone of the country was so ambivalent, if not negative, about its troops posted in the embattled Uruzgan region, that it was worth the risk to withdraw.

Mr. Balkenende had wanted to keep troops in place – extending a mission that expires in August. But Bos argued that Dutch voters deserved to have the August commitment be met.

On Sunday Balkanade sounded frustrated, telling Dutch media that, "When President [George W.] Bush asked us to extend our activities we said yes, and when President [Barack] Obama, who has a lot of support in the Netherlands, made such a request we say no."

He earlier stated that, "People don't understand what we're doing. When the Netherlands becomes the first and only country to say no . . . that will lead to question marks abroad."

Still, the Dutch case reflects popular discontent in Europe. As Henning Riecke of the German Council on Foreign Relations stated, “I would say it is the mood of the day. Everyone is talking about withdrawal, no one is talking about trying to hold on."

Mr. Obama has said that the US would start to withdraw from Afghanistan by July of 2011.

“The Americans have started the race for the exit door…by 2013-2015, but as soon as 2011. There is very little discussion about what our interests are in Afghanistan, or the effect of our policies on the people of Afghanistan,” says Mr. Riecke.

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