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C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000185 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA, EUR/UBI, EUR/RPM 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2017 
TAGS: NATO PINS PREL MARR MOPS AF NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/AFGHANISTAN: PDASD LONG'S JANUARY 25 
VISIT TO THE HAGUE 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Roland Arnall, reasons 1.4 (b,d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: During her January 25 visit to The Hague, 
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for 
International Security Affairs Mary Beth Long commended Dutch 
efforts in their deployment to Uruzgan province in 
Afghanistan.  She stressed the importance of a "comprehensive 
approach" incorporating kinetic and reconstruction efforts in 
fighting the Taliban insurgency, but also suggested a 
short-term emphasis on kinetic operations to repel the 
anticipated Taliban offensive this coming spring.  Dutch 
interlocutors were receptive to this comprehensive approach, 
noting similarities with their own "3D strategy" combining 
defense, development and diplomacy options, and emphasizing a 
balanced approach that is "civilian as possible, but military 
as necessary."  Noting a perception among European publics 
that we care more about kinetic options, Dutch officials also 
suggested the USG could do more to improve its public 
relations efforts regarding reconstruction efforts.  End 
summary. 
 
¶2. (U) On January 25, PDAS Long with MFA Deputy Director for 
Political Affairs Wim Geerts, and other MFA officials 
including Deputy Head of Security Policy Henk Swarttrouw, 
Senior Policy Advisor Karen van Stegeren, and Task Force 
Uruzgan Deputy Coordinator Dewi van der Weerde.  Long also 
met with the Dutch CHOD Gen. Berlijn, and participated in a 
lunch discussion with several Dutch parliamentarians.  On 
January 26, Long participated in a conference focusing on the 
Dutch 3D strategy hosted by the Dutch MFA and the Centre for 
European Reform. 
 
MFA Meeting: Civilian as Possible, Military as Necessary 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
¶3. (C) Geerts said on-going Dutch government coalition 
formation talks would not affect the GONL's two-year 
deployment to Uruzgan province in Afghanistan, and expressed 
confidence the new government will consider possibly 
extending -- the key question will be in what capacity.  He 
mentioned SACEUR's Combined Joint Statement of Requirements 
(CJSOR) review, and anticipated difficulty in persuading 
Allies to contribute more toward a revised CJSOR when initial 
requirements were not met.  Nevertheless, he expressed hope 
Allies like Norway might answer SACEUR's call, and 
characterized a recent trip to Uruzgan by the Norwegian 
foreign minister as a success.  PDAS Long acknowledged NATO 
was still struggling to fill gaps resulting from the ISAF III 
to IV transition.  She suggested reviewing CJSOR shortfalls 
in light of short-term tactical needs for the anticipated 
Taliban offensive this spring. 
 
¶4. (C) Geerts stressed the importance of the Dutch "3D 
Strategy," combining diplomacy, development, and defense.  He 
emphasized balancing kinetic and reconstruction efforts, and 
suggested a perception exists that the USG prefers kinetic 
over development option -- this might prove problematic once 
the USG takes over ISAF command.  He said the Taliban cannot 
be defeated by the military alone; the Afghan people must 
believe their lives have changed for the better, which can 
only be accomplished through combined military and 
reconstruction efforts.  Geerts noted sensitivity to the term 
"soft approach" -- instead, the Dutch believe in a balanced 
approach that is "civilian as possible, but military as 
necessary."  He suggested the USG could do better in terms of 
public relations for its reconstruction efforts. 
 
¶5. (C) PDAS Long noted complete USG agreement with the need 
for a balanced strategy including both development and 
kinetic efforts; the U.S. "comprehensive approach" will 
incorporate both to counter the Taliban spring offensive. 
She praised Dutch leadership in that regard, noting the 
successful balance of development and kinetic efforts in 
Uruzgan.  Long characterized the Afghan people as a center of 
gravity in the fight against the Taliban insurgency, and 
emphasized the importance of the 2009 Afghan elections -- 
will Afghans be able to say their lives had changed for the 
better?  Development assistance will be an integral part in 
this effort, Long said. 
 
¶6. (C) In that vein, PDAS Long anticipated damaging 
psychological effects if the Taliban spring offensive is 
viewed as successful.  She said the Afghan population in the 
 
southern provinces is already "hedging its bets" in order to 
determine whether NATO/GOA forces or the Taliban will win. 
In that respect, she said, an emphasis on kinetic operations 
this spring is certainly warranted.  Long also argued that 
European populations would be greatly affected by a 
successful Taliban spring, especially if casualty rates for 
Allied soldiers is high and the press continues to highlight 
"body counts" over reconstruction projects. 
 
¶7. (C) Geerts raised the importance of empowering Afghan 
governance, and said Afghan President Karzai must do more to 
combat corruption and instill local level confidence in the 
national government.  Regionally, Geerts said Pakistan must 
do more to fight Taliban leadership in Quetta and limit the 
flow of Taliban across the border into Afghanistan.  Long 
said Secretaries Rice and Gates will stress 
Afghanistan-Pakistan relations at their respective 
ministerials, and stressed Allies speaking with one, 
coordinated voice to Pakistan on the fight against the 
Taliban.  At the same time, she said, the USG is looking at 
ways to help Pakistan economically by improving relations 
with tribes along the border, including especially in 
Waziristan. 
 
¶8. (C) On development assistance, Geerts said the Dutch 
contributed 70 million euros in Afghanistan in 2006 -- "money 
is not a problem," he said, but "absorption capacity" remains 
an obstacle.  He said more must be done to improve training 
for Afghan National Army (ANA) and Police (ANP).  Geerts also 
said the Dutch will continue to push for more UN, EU, and 
international NGO involvement in the southern provinces. Long 
concurred, and suggested bolstering NATO Senior Civilian 
Representative Dan Everts' mandate and resources. 
 
¶9. (C) PDAS Long said the USG will shortly announce a new, 
comprehensive assistance package that will significantly 
increase allocations toward development and reconstruction 
efforts, counter-narcotics efforts, police and security force 
training, as well as kinetic operations.  She noted that the 
supplemental package must obtain congressional approval.  She 
added that the USG needs help on training efforts, noting 
delays in getting NATO's Operational Mentoring Liaison Teams 
(OMLTs) certified and embedded. 
 
Meeting with CHOD: Spot On 
-------------------------- 
 
¶10. (C) Dutch CHOD Gen. Berlijn started the meeting by 
thanking the U.S. for its commitment in Afghanistan.  Berlijn 
said he had spoken earlier in the day with CJCS General Pace, 
who informed him the U.S. would have a 2-brigade overlap in 
Afghanistan for an additional four months.  Berlijn 
considered the call very welcome news.  PDAS Long emphasized 
the importance of the comprehensive approach to Afghanistan, 
stating that Allies should agree on a long-term strategy for 
security and reconstruction, with an eye to the 2009 Afghan 
elections.  She said the elections would be the first 
benchmark for measuring the success of our efforts in 
Afghanistan; Berlijn concurred. 
 
¶11. (C) Long expressed her desire that our focus on the 
Taliban spring offensive would not cause concern in Allies' 
capitals that the U.S. was overly focused on the kinetic 
aspects of the NATO operation in Afghanistan.  She said both 
the U.S. and Europeans needed to work on making sure that 
European publics -- a strategic center of gravity -- 
understood that reconstruction was at least as important as 
the security mission.  Berlijn described the approach was 
"spot on." 
 
¶12. (C) Long mentioned Secretary Rice would unveil the U.S. 
desire for a "comprehensive strategy" in Afghanistan at the 
NATO Foreign Ministerials. Berlijn noted the importance of 
public diplomacy and giving the world "a more balanced" story 
regarding U.S. reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.  He 
then said the GONL knows the U.S is spending billions of 
dollars and leading the reconstruction effort, but discussion 
in the press greatly overemphasizes U.S. kinetic operations. 
 
Parliamentary Lunch 
------------------- 
 
¶13. (SBU) In a lively lunch discussion hosted by Amb. Arnall, 
 
PDAS Long fielded questions from several Dutch 
parliamentarians, many of which had just returned from a 
parliamentary defense committee trip to Afghanistan. 
Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA) foreign affairs 
spokesperson Henk Jan Ormel questioned whether Allied efforts 
could help implement democratic practices by the 2009 Afghan 
national elections, especially given systemic corruption. 
CDA member Kathleen Ferrier asked what could be done to 
improve ANA/ANP training.  Jan Arend Boekenstijn of the 
Liberal Party (VVD) commended U.S. reconstruction efforts -- 
he noted we far exceed Dutch contributions -- and challenged 
the Dutch to do more.  Labor Party PvdA foreign affairs 
spokesperson Bert Koenders wondered if the public perception 
that the USG cares more for kinetic options might prove 
damaging once the U.S. assumes ISAF command.  He added that 
the GONL is well aware of U.S. reconstruction efforts, but 
that "tone and approach" regarding military operations was 
also important. 
 
¶14. (SBU) PDAS Long thanked and commended the Dutch for their 
balanced efforts in Uruzgan, noting that they continue to 
"punch above their weight."  She said Secretary Rice would 
announce a large increase in funding for our efforts in 
Afghanistan at the NATO foreign ministerial, which will be 
used toward security and reconstruction, police training and 
equipping, and counter-narcotics efforts -- but contingent 
upon congressional approval.  She also stressed the 
importance of the 2009 Afghan national elections, and the 
role of reconstruction efforts in a comprehensive approach 
aimed at improving the lives of the Afghan people. 
 
¶15. (SBU) PDAS Long reviewed problems with police and 
security force training -- unfortunately, these forces spend 
so much time fighting, they hardly train, rest, or have the 
opportunity to return to their home villages as 
representatives of the national government.  In that regard, 
she asked for more help from the Dutch regarding embedded 
trainers.  She stressed the importance of getting the UN more 
involved in the south, and bolstering the mandate of the NATO 
Senior Civilian Representative.  Long reiterated the need for 
a single, coordinated voice to get Pakistan to do more on 
fighting Taliban in Pakistan.  She agreed with the need for a 
balanced, comprehensive approach -- but argued that kinetic 
options will likely be stressed in the short-term as Allied 
gear up for their own offensive against the Taliban in the 
spring. 
 
¶16. (U) PDASD Long has cleared on this cable. 
 
ARNALL