Dutch general says Netherlands replaceable in Afghanistan

Dutch forces are due to pull out of their leading role in Uruzgan this summer. It is a political decision. "There is basic security but it is fragile," says the head of the armed forces, Commander Peter van Uhm.

Army major Marc Zerstegen returned from Uruzgan a few weeks ago. As he flew home, he was not aware this would be his last Afghanistan tour. But with the fall of the Dutch government, the mission will stop at the end of this year.

Soldiers like major Zerstegen are part of the last Uruzgan force. In December 2010 there will no longer be Dutch soldiers at Camp Holland. On Friday, 1,900 soldiers who had already returned were honoured with commemorative medals in Den Bosch.

After receiving his medal, Zerstegen said: "Personally I think it is a shame the mission will soon stop. I was in Deh Rawood and it was fairly secure there. But politicians decide and they seem to be more concerned with themselves."

A political decision

The soldiers stood at attention in an enormous hall with the provincial Brabant flag and the Dutch flag hanging from the ceiling. In front of them the home front was on large tribunes. On the cement floor stood commander Peter van Uhm. He talked about the soldiers' "successes" which "threaten to become snowed under by the political discussion of the past weeks”. He added, “don't misunderstand me, the political discussion is necessary. After all, it is the government which decides where we, the military, are sent and which tasks we undertake."

After four years, the mission in Uruzgan is coming to an end. What happens next? What will the Netherlands leave behind? In an interview with NRC Handelsblad, Van Uhm said: "For the first time the Uruzgan people have basic health care. Men, women and children can go to a basic health centre if they are ill. Until recently that was impossible." He also mentioned the training of the Afghan army, which has grown from 160 to 3,000 soldiers since 2006. "Together with other countries we have ensured that Uruzgan has a solid basis for the build up. We have created a foundation in Dutch cement. A foundation that will last a long time."

And yet, security cannot be taken for granted by the people of Uruzgan. Attacks are still taking place, and many of the outlying areas are still in the hands of the Taliban. "You can say there is basic security but it is fragile," said Van Uhm.

Another country will be given the task of improving security. On August first, a country will take over the lead role from the Netherlands. "New American units are coming to Afghanistan,” Van Uhm noted. “I'm not saying the Americans will take over from us, because I just don't know. It is possible the Americans will ask NATO to free up another country to send to Uruzgan."

Camp Holland becomes Multinational Base

Until then, little will change at Camp Holland. But recently Dutch officers have begun referring to the place more frequently as Multinational Base Tarin Kowt: the main departing inhabitants of Camp Holland have already begun to change the base’s name in expectation of the new occupants.

This spring will see the arrival of the unit which will concentrate solely on the withdrawal from Camp Holland. Little is known about what will happen to the equipment there. Lined up, Dutch equipment in Uruzgan stretches for 3,000 metres. Perhaps another country will take over the armoured sleeping containers - a brand new container costs between 22,000 and 45,000 euros. No offers have yet been received, said Van Uhm. "We are taking all options into account - from selling to bringing everything home."

In June, an army team will make an inventory of what is still usable. Van Uhm: "If you're away on a long trip and you have to pack your bags, you check to see what you can leave behind. It's possible that bringing equipment back to the Netherlands is more expensive than buying new."

The Dutch armed forces are praised abroad for an approach considered unique in military circles: more directed at the population, in cooperation with diplomats and development agencies. That the Netherlands must extend its Uruzgan mission in order to prevent the loss of that approach was an oft-heard argument for staying after the 2010 deadline. Van Uhm: "The Americans, the Czechs, the Slovaks and the French are all staying longer in Uruzgan. They can do what we can do. The Netherlands is not indispensible. There's only one place you're indispensible as a soldier, and that's at home."