Dutch COIN strategy in Afghanistan

Joris sends in this article from the NYT, Dutch Soldiers Stress Restraint in Afghanistan, saying 'It is a very accurate report of the Dutch approach to counter-insurgency operations in southern Afghanistan, which emphasizes winning local hearts and minds rather than actively engaging the Taliban.' An excerpt:

But rather than advancing for reconnaissance or to attack, the Dutch soldiers pulled back to a safer village. “We’re not here to fight the Taliban,” said the Dutch commander, Col. Hans van Griensven, at a recent staff meeting. “We’re here to make the Taliban irrelevant.”

Be sure to check out their slideshow.

--Sean Meade

Comments

[Peter]

This article relates too the broader theme of which approach to use in both Iraq and Afghanistan, the soft European approach http://aviationweek.typepad.com/ares/2007/04/finally_there.html

or the more tough minded American approach
http://www.michaelyon-online.com/wp/jungle-law.htm

of course there that 3rd way, The Russian approach ,which seems to have been effective ,since no one reports on Chechnya anymore.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/02/12/news/chechnya.php