The Netherlands economy

The Netherlands economy is noted for stable industrial relations, moderate unemployment and inflation, a sizable current account surplus, and an important role as a European transportation hub. Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical ..........






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Dutch troops begin to withdraw from Afghanistan

The Netherlands Sunday began the phased withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan, the Dutch foreign ministry in the Hague said, after four years of active operations in the conflict. Dutch soldiers handed over their Kamp Holland military base in the south of the country, where they had been responsible for the Uruzgan region, to a joint force of US and Australian troops. According to some reports, the Taliban congratulated the Dutch on their decision. The decision to withdraw came after a controversial NATO request for the Dutch to continue their mission for 12 months past the originally-agreed date of August 2010. That caused a political uproar, leading to the collapse of the coalition government in February and an early withdrawal. According to the foreign ministry, 24 Dutch soldiers have been killed during the 4-year mission, and a further 140 wounded. Around 1,950 soldiers served in Afghanistan. 'The security situation has improved considerably over the past four years,' the ministry added in a statement, saying that there were now 1,600 Afghan police officers serving in Uruzgan province, compared with almost none in 2006. It said the number of schools had also doubled and local residents had gained access to health services. The NATO request for more troops was made by Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and precipitated the country's Social Democrats leaving the coalition government of Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende.

Holland Withdraws Troops from Afghanistan

The Dutch Withdraw troops by next Sunday despite repeated American and NATO requests to prolong their stay for another year in Afghanistan.

August 01, 2010 (Hamsayeh.Net) - Finally realizing that it’s only an exercise in futility, the Dutch Army has decided to withdraw from Afghanistan altogether.

The Dutch military officials announced immediate withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan after spending four years in an unending war under the US military intervention in that war torn Cenrtal Asian nation. US and NATO have requested from Dutch authorities an extension of stay for another year without any success.

The Netherlands military chief General Peter Van Uhm told reporters that his country is wrapping up its involvement in southern province of Uruzgan due to increased security there. He added despite increased security there is still a lot more to be done in that region alone.

The Dutch military lost more than two-dozen soldiers since 2006. At its peak the Netherlands dispatched more than 2000 soldiers to Afghanistan, but today there are only 250 remaining until next Sunday when they will return home.

 

General Peter Van Uhm said his country had already fulfilled its designated mission of training 3,000 Afghan soldiers and therefore prolonging a stay would be unnecessary at this time.

Taliban militias have increased attacks against US and coalition troops since the beginning of this year. The US keeps insisting that it envisions itself playing a divine role all around the vast Hindu Kush Mountains in its so-called war on terrorism.

Source:Dutch Withdraw troops