Extorting support--Netherlands threatened by Bremer

[Surya Gayatri]

Bremer threatens Dutch with economic retaliation if they don't send more troops to Afghanistan
by John in DC - 1/15/2006 11:34:00 PM

So much for that coalition of the willing. We're now having to extort support for Bush's bumbling foreign policy.

Someone needs to tell the Dutch that Bremer only speaks for the 39% of Americans who currently support President Bush.

A decision not to send more troops in Afghanistan would be damaging for Dutch interests in the US, former American diplomat Paul Bremer III warned on Monday....

Acknowledging Dutch politicians must weigh all the considerations, he said question marks would be raised on the US side about Nato if the mission doesn't go ahead. "What is Nato all about if our allies are not
prepared to stand should-to-shoulder with us?"....

/snip/

http://americablog.blogspot.com/



"Coalition partners" bailing one after the other--when will the Brits pull out their contingent?

[htuttle]

1. Did you know our Congress voted to invade the Netherlands...

...if any US official or soldier is brought up on charges at the Hague?

Here, back in the summer of 2002:
http://hrw.org/press/2002/08/aspa080302.htm

U.S. President George Bush today signed into law the American Servicemembers Protection Act of 2002, which is intended to intimidate countries that ratify the treaty for the International Criminal Court (ICC). The new law authorizes the use of military force to liberate any American or citizen of a U.S.-allied country being held by the court, which is located in The Hague. This provision, dubbed the "Hague invasion clause," has caused a strong reaction from U.S. allies around the world, particularly in the Netherlands.

[Surya Gayatri]

2. OMG? First I've heard of this!

:wtf: This reminds me of a comedy bit on Franken recently where he said he might not oppose a war in order to obtain alternative energies, and why didn't we take the Netherlands (wind power, ya'know). SG

edit: heavy smilie finger

[htuttle]

3. Like many of our war crimes, most Americans are unaware of it

It got almost no news coverage whatsoever here in the states. It seemed to get quite a bit more coverage overseas, however.

[neweurope]

4. It certainly did. I've still got foam at may mouth because of it.

And I still hope with all my heart to see the Bushistas at The Hague.

------------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[htuttle]

5. What really pisses me off

...is that Democrats controlled Congress when this law was signed.

There's a 'difference' between Republicans and Democrats if you're an American citizen, but it often seems like there's BARELY a hair's breadth of difference between them if you are on the receiving end of US 'foreign policy'.

[Surya Gayatri]

7. May the whole cabal

be frog-marched into the holding cages and the secret dossiers of their crimes opened to world scrutiny. SG

[neweurope]

9. From your mouth to God's ear. Amen.

----------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[Surya Gayatri]

6. The average Amercian is woefully

& willfully under-informed. I remember hearing some "echos" about this attempted outrage, but I wasn't aware it had actually been voted in. The American behemoth bestride the world--winning friends right and left with its benevolent policies. :sarcasm: SG

[EFerrari]

8. What happened to, the Iraq situation is SNAFU and

Bremer is whining about being Rumsfeld's fall guy?

:shrug:

[Surya Gayatri]

10. Guess he's been taken back into the fold...

His "diplomatic skills" were required for this special mission of arm twisting. SG

[htuttle]

11. He's just a button man, out to push some buttons

By my estimate, he's about a mid-level capo, but well-trusted with The Family's money.

[Surya Gayatri]

12. Right, just one more

of the BFEE mafia's soldiers. SG

[drduffy]

13. so what does one recommend

for a wannabe global empire that is too full of itself???? That oppresses, tortures and kills (especially civilian men, women and children)?

god, am I ashamed.

[dusmcj]

14. what the fuck does Bremer have to say about anything at all ?

does he hold any office ? Is he contracted to any entity with policymaking power ? Does he in short have anything more to worry about than where to keep his hairmet Firm and Confident ? (I'd suggest visiting Newt's and Kemp's barbers, as the Role Models for Perfect Repubic Hair.)