Carrots and sticks

Posted By Annie Lowrey Friday, February 26, 2010 - 2:28 PM Share

Last weekend, the Dutch coalition government, headed by Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende, fell apart. The Labor Party wanted all of the Netherlands’ troops out of Afghanistan by the end of 2010; the Christian Democrats wanted to agree to a NATO request to extend their stay. Labor pulled out, and now Balkenende needs to scramble to create a new government. It’s all a bit less dramatic than it sounds; Balkenende’s last three coalitions governments disintegrated as well.

But it’s ginned up some very dramatic bellowing from across the pond. None less than Secretary of Defense Robert Gates lamented the Dutch pull-out (the Orwellian New York Times headline, sadly now changed, read "Gates Calls Europe Anti-War Mood Danger to Peace").

The real stick the U.S. and NATO seem ready to use to punish the Dutch? Ejecting them from the G-20. Granted, it sounds a bit wet noodle-ish. But the Dutch have tried to get into the G-20 for years, and won their observer status by being strong international partners during the financial crisis. It's going to smart.

EXPLORE:EUROPE, G-20

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ROB333

3:04 PM ET

February 28, 2010

I wouldn't do that

Whether a country wants to participate in this war or not is their choice. The Dutch troops really put themselves out there in fighting the Taliban, fighting in the south and such. America owes them a debt of gratitude. I certainly would not want to punish them just because their government has decided to pull their troops out.

BAYUARDI

4:10 AM ET

March 1, 2010

The Dutch is the real Judas

If the Dutch opt to commit to be in alliance with the NATO, then Dutch needs to take the consequence of its option. Otherwise, this country is setting a bad precedence to the meaning of unity in principle. Who knows what they are going to do next? They may betray the commitment for EU, G20, and the list goes on. What a real Judas.

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