US Takes Dutch Military as Role Model in Afghan Operation

US Takes Dutch Military as Role Model in Afghan Operation – Jay Solomon, Wall Street Journal

The Obama administration, which wants to send hundreds of additional civilian personnel into Afghanistan, is looking at the Dutch military’s operations there for lessons on how to combat the Taliban.

The civilian deployment is part of a US focus on economic development meant to weaken support for the Taliban and dry up finances it derives from the opium trade. The civilians will complement the deployment in the coming months of 21,000 new troops, many of whom will be posted to southern provinces where the Taliban are thriving.

The Obama administration, however, is having trouble finding civilian experts at the State Department to send to Afghanistan. Pentagon officials said they may need military reservists to fill any shortfall in the 500 to 600 civilians Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is seeking for Afghanistan.

The Netherlands, with nearly 2,000 personnel in southern Uruzgan province, has better integrated the efforts of its military and civilian personnel than the US, senior US officials say…

More at The Wall Street Journal.