Friday, January 21, 2011

Desperate & Dateless Aussies

"Australia and NATO coalition allies made a desperate bid to convince a disillusioned and divided Dutch government to keep its troops in Afghanistan, WikiLeaks cables reveal. But the reluctant Dutch believed there was no 'coherent, winnable, game plan' for creating a stable democratic government in Kabul, classified US diplomatic cables, dating from 2007, show... Efforts to boost the coalition contribution in Oruzgan in the wake of the looming Dutch withdrawal had modest success. A joint Dutch-Australian approach to Singapore resulted in a field hospital but a request for military support from Indonesia had resulted in an offer of 'one policeman'." (Canberra, NATO 'pleaded' with Dutch to stay in Afghanistan', The Australian, Mark Dodd, 20/1/11)

I had no idea the Indonesians had such a wicked sense of humour.

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