Dutch Government Finally Falls
Along with a large portion of the Netherlands, I spent last night eating popcorn while watching the Dutch government fall. It took so long that most of us didn't hear the final thud at around 4am CET.
As Wingnut said, The Guardian seems to think a golfer's apology for his personal life is more important than the fall of a neighbouring country's government over an issue that very much affects the UK. The Guardian isn't the only slow one, so a very quick round up:
The Dutch cabinet consisted of Christian Democrats (CDA), Labour (PvdA) and ChristianUnion (CU). Labour made a campaign promise to end Dutch military involvement in Afghanistan, when the current Uruzgan mission (c. 1,500 troops) ended this December. This was in the coalition agreement. But NATO requested an extension. I now read that the Dutch asked for this official request. WTF?
In any case, Labour wanted a final decision yesterday. CDA and CU said they wanted time to look at other possibilities for extending the mission.
Thud.
As Wingnut said, The Guardian seems to think a golfer's apology for his personal life is more important than the fall of a neighbouring country's government over an issue that very much affects the UK. The Guardian isn't the only slow one, so a very quick round up:
The Dutch cabinet consisted of Christian Democrats (CDA), Labour (PvdA) and ChristianUnion (CU). Labour made a campaign promise to end Dutch military involvement in Afghanistan, when the current Uruzgan mission (c. 1,500 troops) ended this December. This was in the coalition agreement. But NATO requested an extension. I now read that the Dutch asked for this official request. WTF?
In any case, Labour wanted a final decision yesterday. CDA and CU said they wanted time to look at other possibilities for extending the mission.
Thud.