Dutch “disproportionate response” in Afghanistan

The last week has been a curious one as the strange "disproportionate response” line ululated from the chattering classes about Israel. I wonder if they are going to go after the Dutch?

Dutch commandos killed 18 enemy fighters who set up positions in rugged hills overlooking a Dutch camp in southern Afghanistan, the country's military chief said Friday. There were no Dutch casualties during a 10-day mission. … the Taliban fighters were massing on terrain on both sides of the Baluchi Valley, about 6 miles north of where Dutch troops are building Camp Holland, which will be their base for a reconstruction mission due to start Aug 1.

"The Baluchi Valley is a strategic position and in the end we decided that if we did not do something about it, it would be a major threat for us,

Digging around a few other sites, what happened boils out; the Dutch have sent a message loud and clear; “You do much as look at me and I am going to rain hell down on you. You bring a set of binoculars; I am bring ground troops backed with F-16, Apache gunships, and APC. You will die, we will go back to base and eat stroopwafels in our Speedos.”

This is exactly what the Dutch needed to do. The Taliban now know that the Dutch on the ground are of the type that would make the Stadholder proud - unlike Dutch Socialist Party leader Jan Marijnissen. From LGF;

THE HAGUE, 22/07/06 - Socialist Party (SP) leader Jan Marijnissen has suggested that Islam terrorism may be compared to resistance against the Nazis during World War II. “Terrorism occurs in all times and places and its objective is usually to make things as unpleasant as possible for the occupier”, he says in an interview for Penthouse magazine.

“During World War II, Dutch people thwarted nazi Germany’s destruction machine by blowing up town halls, because this was where the Jews were registered. Things are not all that different in the Middle East. Islamic fundamentalism, including the terrorist wing, is a reaction to Israel’s occupation of Palestine, to America’s presence in the Middle East and to the West’s support of undemocratic regimes in the Middle East.”
...
If Marijnissen had to choose he would rather see Iran build up a nuclear arsenal than US military intervention in that country. “If I had to make a choice between the two options then at this moment I would certainly say: do not attack, it is the most stupid choice possible”. According to the SP leader, the Iran issue can be traced back to American hypocrisy. “Surely it is immoral to deny countries their right to nuclear energy when you own nuclear weapons yourself!?”

Don't laugh too much. This guy could be at the front of the next Dutch govt. Watch neighbor Mike at least once a week, he should comment as the elections get closer. My guess, the Dutch will do something dumb, and Mike will call it.