Cable Viewer

Currently released so far... 12476 / 251,287

### Browse latest releases

2010/11 2010/12 2011/01 2011/02 2011/03 2011/04 2011/05
2010/11/28 2010/11/29 2010/11/30
2010/12/01 2010/12/02 2010/12/03 2010/12/04 2010/12/05 2010/12/06 2010/12/07 2010/12/08 2010/12/09 2010/12/10 2010/12/11 2010/12/12 2010/12/13 2010/12/14 2010/12/15 2010/12/16 2010/12/17 2010/12/18 2010/12/19 2010/12/20 2010/12/21 2010/12/22 2010/12/23 2010/12/24 2010/12/25 2010/12/26 2010/12/27 2010/12/28 2010/12/29 2010/12/30
2011/01/01 2011/01/02 2011/01/04 2011/01/05 2011/01/07 2011/01/09 2011/01/10 2011/01/11 2011/01/12 2011/01/13 2011/01/14 2011/01/15 2011/01/16 2011/01/17 2011/01/18 2011/01/19 2011/01/20 2011/01/21 2011/01/22 2011/01/23 2011/01/24 2011/01/25 2011/01/26 2011/01/27 2011/01/28 2011/01/29 2011/01/30 2011/01/31
2011/02/01 2011/02/02 2011/02/03 2011/02/04 2011/02/05 2011/02/06 2011/02/07 2011/02/08 2011/02/09 2011/02/10 2011/02/11 2011/02/12 2011/02/13 2011/02/14 2011/02/15 2011/02/16 2011/02/17 2011/02/18 2011/02/19 2011/02/20 2011/02/21 2011/02/22 2011/02/23 2011/02/24 2011/02/25 2011/02/26 2011/02/27 2011/02/28
2011/03/01 2011/03/02 2011/03/03 2011/03/04 2011/03/05 2011/03/06 2011/03/07 2011/03/08 2011/03/09 2011/03/10 2011/03/11 2011/03/13 2011/03/14 2011/03/15 2011/03/16 2011/03/17 2011/03/18 2011/03/19 2011/03/20 2011/03/21 2011/03/22 2011/03/23 2011/03/24 2011/03/25 2011/03/26 2011/03/27 2011/03/28 2011/03/29 2011/03/30 2011/03/31
2011/04/01 2011/04/02 2011/04/03 2011/04/04 2011/04/05 2011/04/06 2011/04/07 2011/04/08 2011/04/09 2011/04/10 2011/04/11 2011/04/12 2011/04/13 2011/04/14 2011/04/15 2011/04/16 2011/04/17 2011/04/18 2011/04/19 2011/04/20 2011/04/21 2011/04/22 2011/04/23 2011/04/24 2011/04/25 2011/04/26 2011/04/27 2011/04/28 2011/04/29 2011/04/30
2011/05/01 2011/05/02 2011/05/03 2011/05/04 2011/05/05 2011/05/06 2011/05/07

### Browse by creation date

66 72 73 75 79 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 96 97 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10
1966/12
1972/02 1972/08
1973/04
1975/03
1979/08
1985/03 1985/06
1986/05
1987/06
1988/01
1989/12
1990/01 1990/07 1990/08 1990/10
1991/05
1992/01 1992/06 1992/12
1993/10
1996/11
1997/12
2000/05 2000/06 2000/09 2000/11
2001/02 2001/03 2001/06 2001/07 2001/09 2001/10 2001/11
2002/01 2002/02 2002/03 2002/04 2002/07 2002/08 2002/09 2002/11
2003/01 2003/02 2003/03 2003/04 2003/05 2003/06 2003/07 2003/08 2003/09 2003/10 2003/11 2003/12
2004/01 2004/02 2004/03 2004/04 2004/05 2004/06 2004/07 2004/08 2004/09 2004/10 2004/11 2004/12
2005/01 2005/02 2005/03 2005/04 2005/05 2005/06 2005/07 2005/08 2005/09 2005/10 2005/11 2005/12
2006/01 2006/02 2006/03 2006/04 2006/05 2006/06 2006/07 2006/08 2006/09 2006/10 2006/11 2006/12
2007/01 2007/02 2007/03 2007/04 2007/05 2007/06 2007/07 2007/08 2007/09 2007/10 2007/11 2007/12
2008/01 2008/02 2008/03 2008/04 2008/05 2008/06 2008/07 2008/08 2008/09 2008/10 2008/11 2008/12
2009/01 2009/02 2009/03 2009/04 2009/05 2009/06 2009/07 2009/08 2009/09 2009/10 2009/11 2009/12
2010/01 2010/02

### Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z
Embassy Athens Embassy Asuncion Embassy Astana Embassy Asmara Embassy Ashgabat Embassy Apia Embassy Ankara Embassy Amman Embassy Algiers Embassy Addis Ababa Embassy Accra Embassy Abuja Embassy Abu Dhabi Embassy Abidjan Consulate Auckland Consulate Amsterdam Consulate Adana American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura Embassy Buenos Aires Embassy Budapest Embassy Bucharest Embassy Brussels Embassy Bridgetown Embassy Bratislava Embassy Brasilia Embassy Bogota Embassy Bishkek Embassy Bern Embassy Berlin Embassy Belmopan Embassy Belgrade Embassy Beirut Embassy Beijing Embassy Banjul Embassy Bangkok Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan Embassy Bamako Embassy Baku Embassy Baghdad Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen Embassy Conakry Embassy Colombo Embassy Chisinau Embassy Caracas Embassy Canberra Embassy Cairo Consulate Curacao Consulate Ciudad Juarez Consulate Chennai Consulate Casablanca Consulate Cape Town Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe Embassy Dublin Embassy Doha Embassy Djibouti Embassy Dili Embassy Dhaka Embassy Dar Es Salaam Embassy Damascus Embassy Dakar Consulate Dubai
Embassy Freetown Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Guatemala Embassy Gaborone Consulate Guayaquil Consulate Guadalajara
Embassy Helsinki Embassy Harare Embassy Hanoi Consulate Ho Chi Minh City Consulate Hermosillo Consulate Hamilton Consulate Hamburg Consulate Halifax
Iran RPO Dubai Embassy Islamabad Consulate Istanbul
Embassy Jakarta Consulate Jerusalem Consulate Jeddah
Embassy Kyiv Embassy Kuwait Embassy Kuala Lumpur Embassy Kinshasa Embassy Kingston Embassy Kigali Embassy Khartoum Embassy Kathmandu Embassy Kampala Embassy Kabul Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg Embassy Luanda Embassy London Embassy Ljubljana Embassy Lisbon Embassy Lima Embassy Lilongwe Embassy La Paz Consulate Lahore Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE Mission USNATO Mission UNESCO Embassy Muscat Embassy Moscow Embassy Montevideo Embassy Monrovia Embassy Minsk Embassy Mexico Embassy Mbabane Embassy Maputo Embassy Manila Embassy Manama Embassy Managua Embassy Malabo Embassy Madrid Consulate Munich Consulate Mumbai Consulate Montreal Consulate Monterrey Consulate Milan Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia Embassy Niamey Embassy New Delhi Embassy Ndjamena Embassy Nassau Embassy Nairobi Consulate Naples Consulate Naha
Embassy Ouagadougou Embassy Ottawa Embassy Oslo
Embassy Pristina Embassy Pretoria Embassy Prague Embassy Port Of Spain Embassy Port Louis Embassy Port Au Prince Embassy Phnom Penh Embassy Paris Embassy Paramaribo Embassy Panama Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Quito Consulate Quebec
REO Basrah Embassy Rome Embassy Riyadh Embassy Riga Embassy Reykjavik Embassy Rangoon Embassy Rabat Consulate Rio De Janeiro Consulate Recife
Secretary of State Embassy Suva Embassy Stockholm Embassy Sofia Embassy Skopje Embassy Singapore Embassy Seoul Embassy Sarajevo Embassy Santo Domingo Embassy Santiago Embassy Sanaa Embassy San Salvador Embassy San Jose Consulate Strasbourg Consulate St Petersburg Consulate Shenyang Consulate Shanghai Consulate Sapporo Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis Embassy Tripoli Embassy Tokyo Embassy The Hague Embassy Tel Aviv Embassy Tehran Embassy Tegucigalpa Embassy Tbilisi Embassy Tashkent Embassy Tallinn Consulate Toronto Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York USEU Brussels US Office Almaty US Mission Geneva US Interests Section Havana US Delegation, Secretary UNVIE Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius Embassy Vienna Embassy Vatican Embassy Valletta Consulate Vladivostok Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Windhoek Embassy Wellington Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Yerevan Embassy Yaounde
Embassy Zagreb

### Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ASEC AF AFIN AM AJ AG AS AEMR AMGT AORC APER AU ACBAQ AFGHANISTAN AR AE ADANA ADPM APECO AMED AX AL ADCO AA AECL AADP AMEX ACAO ANET AODE ASCH AY APEC AID AORG ASEAN ABUD AGAO AFSI AFSN AINF AGR AROC AO AFFAIRS ASIG ABLD ASUP AND ARM AQ ATFN AC ATRN ACOA AMBASSADOR AUC ASEX ARF APCS AER AVERY AGRICULTURE AMG AORL AGMT ALOW AFU ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AZ AN AMCHAMS AIT ADM ACABQ ACS
BR BK BA BRUSSELS BEXP BM BD BL BO BU BILAT BN BT BX BTIO BIDEN BG BE BP BY BBSR BC BTIU BWC BB BF BH BMGT
CO CASC CS CA CONDOLEEZZA CE CVIS CU CPAS CMGT COUNTER CH COUNTRY CJAN CG CIDA CJUS CI CY CD CDG CBSA CEUDA CR CM CLMT CAC CBW CODEL COPUOS CIC CW CBE CHR CFED CT CONS CWC CIA CTM CDC CVR CF CLINTON COUNTERTERRORISM CITEL CLEARANCE COE CN CACS CAN CB CSW CITT CARSON CACM CDB COM CROS CV CAPC CKGR CBC CTR CNARC CARICOM CL CICTE CIS
DR DHS DA DJ DEA DPRK DEPT DOMESTIC DOE DS DE DEFENSE DO DAO DCM DEAX DK DTRA DISENGAGEMENT DOD
EINV ETRD ECON EPET ENRG EAGR EC EFIN EAID ELTN EIND ELAB EAIR ECIN EUN EG EU ETTC ET EI EWWT EFIS EMIN ER EPA ENVI ENGR ETRC EXTERNAL ECPS EN ELN EINT ETRDEINVTINTCS ES EZ ETRO ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EDU ETRN EFTA EAIG EK EUREM ECONCS ECONOMICS ENVR ELECTIONS EAP ENIV ECONOMY ESA EINN ECONOMIC EIAR EXBS ECA ECUN EINDETRD EUR EREL EUC ESENV ECONEFIN ECIP ENERG EFIM EAIDS ETRDECONWTOCS EUNCH EINVETC EURN EINVEFIN ETC ENGY EINVECONSENVCSJA EUMEM ETRA ERD ENNP ECINECONCS EFINECONCS EEPET EXIM ERNG
FR FREEDOM FTA FJ FARC FI FTAA FAC FBI FOREIGN FOI FM FAO FAS FINR FDA FOR FINANCE FMLN FO FISO
GTMO GG GM GV GOV GOI GL GAERC GH GA GY GT GR GF GCC GE GZ GTIP GERARD GLOBAL GANGS GAZA
HO HA HR HUMAN HK HU HILLARY HI HSTC HURI HYMPSK HUMOR HEBRON
IR IAEA IS IZ IN IT IO IAHRC ID IC IRAQI IWC ISLAMISTS IV ICAO INDO ITPHUM ITPGOV ITALIAN IPR ICRC INTERPOL IQ IBET IMO INR INTERNAL ICJ ICTY IRS ILO INRA INRO ISRAELI IEA INRB ITALY IL ITU ITRA IBRD IIP ILC IZPREL IMF IRAJ IA IDP ITF IF INMARSAT INTELSAT IGAD ISRAEL ICTR IEFIN IRC IACI IDA
JA JO JUS JP JOSEPH JM JAMES JOHNNIE JOHN
KS KN KTFN KTDB KTIP KIRF KPAO KDEM KCOR KE KMPI KSCA KZ KG KNUP KNNP KPAL KCRM KIPR KPKO KFLO KSEP KOMC KISL KNNPMNUC KWBG KFRD KUNR KWMN KSTC KFLU KOLY KMDR KJUS KSTH KAWC KU KWAC KNPP KERG KSEO KACT KHLS KGHG KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KCRCM KDRG KTIA KVPR KV KIDE KICC KPRP KBIO KSUM KGIT KCFE KBTS KCIP KGIC KPAI KTLA KTEX KFSC KPLS KHIV KCSY KSAC KTRD KID KMRS KOM KSAF KRVC KR KMOC KNAR KHDP KSPR KFIN KBTR KOCI KJUST KNEI KAWK KGCC KMCA KBCT KREL KMFO KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KFTFN KVRP KIRC KCOM KO KLIG KAID KNSD KHUM KSEC KRAD KCMR KPWR KCHG KICA KPIN KESS KDEV KCGC KWWMN KPRV KPAK KWNM KWMNCS KRFD KVIR KSCI KPOA KDDG KWMM KCFC KTER KREC KIFR KCRS KHSA KRGY KMIG KTBT KOMS KX KRCM KRIM KPAONZ KNUC KDEMAF
LE LY LG LH LI LTTE LAB LOG LA LT LO LU LABOR
MP MY MOPS MCAP MARR MNUC MUCN MTCRE MASS MAPP MIL MX MEDIA MO MPOS MU ML MA MERCOSUR MG MD MW MK MAS MT MI MOPPS MASC MR MTS MLS MILI MAR MTRE MEPN MTCR MEPI MQADHAFI MAPS MARAD MEETINGS MEPP MZ MILITARY MDC MC MV MCC MRCRE MASSMNUC MIK
NU NZ NATO NPT NL NI NAFTA NDP NIPP NP NPA NG NRR NO NEW NE NH NR NA NS NSF NZUS NATIONAL NSG NC NT NAR NK NV NORAD NASA NSSP NW NATOPREL NPG NGO NSC NSFO
OVIP OPIC OEXC OTRA OPDC OREP OAS OPRC OIIP OSCE OFFICIALS OMIG ODIP OFDP OECD OBSP OPCW OTR OSAC OSCI ON OCII OES OVP OPAD OFDA OIE OIC OHUM OCS
PGOV PINR PREL PHSA PTER PE PREF PHUM PK PARM PINS PM PL PO PA PBTS PBIO POL PARMS PROG PAK POLITICS PORG PTBS PNAT PUNE POLICY PDOV PCI PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PBT PP PS PG PY PTERE PGOF PALESTINIAN PKFK PSOE PEPR PPA PINT PMAR PRELP PSEPC PREFA PGOVE PINF PNG PMIL PGOC PFOR PCUL PLN PROP PAO POLINT PGGV PHALANAGE PARTY PGOVLO PHUS PDEM PECON PROV PAS PHUMPREL PGIV PRAM PF PRL PHUH PHUMBA POV PSA PHUMPGOV POGOV PEL PNR PREO PAHO PSI PINL PU PRGOV PAIGH POLITICAL PARTIES POSTS
QA
RS RCMP RICE RU REACTION REPORT REGION RIGHTS RO RW RF RM RFE RSP RP RIGHTSPOLMIL ROBERT ROOD RELATIONS RUPREL RSO
SOCI SN SY SNAR SENV SP SZ SCUL SA SO SW SMIG SU SENVKGHG SR SYRIA SF SI SC SWE SARS STEINBERG SG SIPRS ST SL SPCE SNARIZ SSA SK SPCVIS SOFA SEVN SIPDIS SAN SYR SHUM SANC SNARCS SAARC SNARN SHI SH SEN SCRS
TU TPHY TI TX TSPL TRGY TBIO TF TERRORISM TH TIP TC TO TSPA TW TZ TNGD TT TL TV TS TRSY TINT TN TURKEY TBID TD TP TAGS TFIN TK TR THPY
UK UNSC USTR UG UNGA UZ USEU US UN UNC USUN UP UY UNESCO USPS UNHRC UNO UNHCR UNCHR USAID UNVIE UAE UNMIK USOAS UNFICYP UV UNEP UNODC UNCHS UNIDROIT UNDESCO UNCHC UNDP UNAUS USNC UNCSD UNCND UNICEF UNDC UNPUOS UE
VT VZ VE VTEG VTPREL VM VI VTIZ VAT VN VC
WS WTO WTRO WTRQ WI WZ WHO WFP WWARD WHA WB WBG WIPO WITH WMO WEU WHTI WMD WA
XA XF XM XL XW XV XR XB XU XY XH XG XE XK XX XD XI XT XS XC XZ XTAG XQ
YE YM YI YMCS
ZI ZO ZU ZEALAND ZK ZR ZF ZP ZN ZA ZB ZOELLICK ZL ZANU ZJ

### Browse by classification

CONFIDENTIAL CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN SECRET SECRET//NOFORN UNCLASSIFIED UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

### Community resources

Follow us on Twitter Check our Reddit Twitter this Digg this page Contact us on IRC

courage is contagious

### Viewing cable 09THEHAGUE731, NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: SWAYING THE DUTCH

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:

- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.

To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09THEHAGUE731.

Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
09THEHAGUE731 | 2009-12-04 17:54 | 2011-01-17 00:00 | SECRET//NOFORN | Embassy The Hague

`

    VZCZCXRO8136
    PP RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL
    DE RUEHTC #0731/01 3381754
    ZNY SSSSS ZZH
    P 041754Z DEC 09
    FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3536
    INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY

` `

    S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 THE HAGUE 000731

    NOFORN
    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2019
    TAGS: PREL NATO AF NL
    SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: SWAYING THE DUTCH

    REF: A. STATE 124188
         ¶B. USNATO 563
         ¶C. THE HAGUE 726
         D...

    238255,12/4/2009 17:54,09THEHAGUE731,"Embassy The
    Hague",SECRET//NOFORN,09STATE124188|09THEHAGUE718|09THEHAGUE726|09USN
    ATO563,"VZCZCXRO8136
    PP RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL
    DE RUEHTC #0731/01 3381754
    ZNY SSSSS ZZH
    P 041754Z DEC 09
    FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3536
    INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/CJCS WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
    RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
    RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC PRIORITY","S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02
    THE HAGUE 000731
    NOFORN
    SIPDIS
    E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2019
    TAGS: PREL NATO AF NL
    SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: SWAYING THE DUTCH
    REF: A. STATE 124188
    ¶B. USNATO 563
    ¶C. THE HAGUE 726
    ¶D. THE HAGUE 718
    Classified By: Pol Deputy Eric G. Falls for reasons 1.4(b,d)
    ¶1. (S/NF) SUMMARY: All evidence suggests the Dutch will
    not/not retain a significant number of troops in Uruzgan, and
    the coalition government could fall over this issue. Pushing
    the government to collapse on this matter is not in our
    interest. Accepting Dutch compromise proposals is to our
    advantage. END SUMMARY.
    DUTCH LEAVING URUZGAN
    ---------------------
    ¶2. (S/NF) Ambassador pressed Development Minister Bert
    Koenders (Labor Party) to retain a Dutch military
    contribution in Afghanistan in a meeting December 4. Koenders
    observed that the pressure after the President,s speech is
    logical. He gave no insights that have not been in his
    recent, public statements. Koenders repeated that there will
    be no Dutch troops in Uruzgan after 2010 and flatly stated
    the Dutch would also not lead the PRT in Uruzgan. However,
    he did acknowledge that it is important for the Netherlands
    to continue to do its part for NATO and said there were
    ""discussions"" within the cabinet on committing Dutch troops
    elsewhere in southern Afghanistan.
    ¶3. (S/NF) D/PM / Finance Minister / Labor Party leader Wouter
    Bos recently declined a requested meeting with Ambassador
    Levin to discuss Afghanistan. He referred the Ambassador
    instead to Koenders, Bos's primary adviser on Afghanistan.
    In all public statements during the past several months, and
    repeated publicly as recently as two days ago, just after
    President Obama's speech, Bos has consistently stated the
    Dutch will leave Uruzgan in 2010.
    ¶4. (S/NF) Even Ministers that support continued involvement
    in Afghanistan at the most aggressive level have been clear
    about this basic point. FM Verhagen stated ""the U.S. knows
    that we will hand over the lead in Uruzgan"" in 2010.
    ¶5. (S/NF) Comment: The Labor Party has left no room for their
    own maneuvering on pulling everyone out of Uruzgan except for
    a few (12) development personnel. We expect the Labor Party
    could well bring down the government rather than extend the
    Uruzgan mission. The Labor Party's ""bread and butter"" is the
    economy, but the party is looking for an out to rally their
    rank and file. The Labor Party's poll numbers have been low
    for months, suggesting a steep loss of seats in a near-term
    election. Accompanying this poor performance has been
    criticism of Bos's leadership and his willingness to flip
    flop. We expect that rather than reverse course again and
    support a robust Uruzgan mission, Bos would opt to pull out
    of the coalition and campaign on Afghanistan. End Comment.
    GOVERNMENT COLLAPSE NOT IN OUR INTEREST
    ---------------------------------------
    ¶6. (S/NF) A collapse of the government hurts our chances for
    Dutch contributions and would delay any prospective Dutch
    contributions.
    ¶7. (S/NF) A collapse hurts our chances for significant Dutch
    military contributions. If Labor pulls the plug on the
    governing coalition at this time, it would likely make
    Afghanistan one of the central campaign issues. Dutch public
    support for the mission continues at a low level (33% as of
    October 30), suggesting that advocates for a deployment will
    lose seats in parliament. On the other hand, Geert Wilders'
    Qlose seats in parliament. On the other hand, Geert Wilders'
    far-right, isolationist Freedom Party stands to gain
    significant seats in parliament. In turn, a new governing
    coalition will likely be forced to include more parties to
    reach a majority. It's likely the coalition could shift to
    the left and include parties who are likely to oppose
    deployment after the elections' ""referendum on Afghanistan.""
    ¶8. (S/NF) A collapse of the government will delay additional
    Dutch contributions. New elections and the formation of a
    new government will take 5-10 months, possibly longer due to
    Wilders' popularity and the corresponding difficulty in
    forming a new government. Until the new government is
    THE HAGUE 00000731 002 OF 002
    formed, the caretaker government would not be able to approve
    a new military mission. Considering that Dutch troops are
    scheduled to depart this summer, as well as the planning
    required for an extension, withdrawal from Uruzgan will
    proceed as scheduled and a new deployment could easily be
    delayed until 2011.
    ACCEPTING DUTCH PROPOSALS IS TO OUR ADVANTAGE
    ---------------------------------------------
    ¶9. (S/NF) The new Dutch proposal -- maintaining a civilian
    PRT with protection by another ally, plus troops elsewhere in
    southern Afghanistan -- is better than waiting for a new
    coalition government that might not give us anything more,
    and could well give us less. Embassy counsels patience,
    deference and openness with Dutch government's efforts to
    sustain their Afghanistan deployment. PM Balkenende's
    consistent support for the Afghanistan mission and his
    success in leading his party to four consecutive wins in
    national elections give us confidence. We recommend
    deferring to the advice of Balkenende's National Security
    Adviser on not publicly pressuring the Dutch on Afghanistan.
    LEVIN

`