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I do not understand the Dutch position other than they have been givien orders not to take casualities. In any insurgency, whatever good works are done, they are targets for the insurgents. They of course do not want the central government or the allied forces to look good. I read in our local paper letters wondering why in Iraq, Afghanistan schools, hospitals, public works are attacked and destroyed as it makes no sense to them. It makes perfect sense to the insurgents. Wait till the Dutch leave and see how long the good work they did remains intact, and what happens to the people who cooperated with them? We get Canadian TV here and they had a segment on a village near Khandar that they had done Medcaps, got generators, worked on the school and some other projects. The troops conducting active patrolling and engaging the Taliban were withdrawn, and the fate of that village was now in question. The locals in the Dutch AO have got to be smart enough to watch and see that the Dutch will not stand and fight, these are the people you want to throw your alligence in with?
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