The Hague
As Dutch peacekeepers have arrived in the Southern province of Al Muthanna to join the UN-backed 'stabilisation force' in Iraq (SFIR), the government has unduly assured MPs that no DU ammunition was used in the area during the recent conflict.
If this information comes from US officials, as the Dutch government claims, it has been deceived - and misinformed parliament. This is the conclusion of a recently published report by Maarten H.J. van den Berg, director of the Review of International Social Questions (RISQ)
The report has already led Dutch MPs to pose questions to the Minister of Defence, and a television program in which one of the US soldiers mentioned in the report reaffirms that the use of DU ammunition in the area was "standard procedure".
Recent updates on the report:
28 August: In answer to questions raised by MPs citing the report, the Dutch Minister of Defence has admitted that his assurances were based on information it received from local US military staff and, as such, not affirmed by US Authorities. The Minister said he has requested US authorities for an overview of DU firing locations in the Al-Muthanna. In answer to his request, the Minister quotes the Americans as saying that "US Central Command [i.e. CENTCOM] is still in the process of investigating the use of depleted uranium in Iraq at large".
August 9: In a report by an RFE/RL journalist on the issue, a spokesperson of US Central Command (CENTCOM) denies it has given information to the Dutch government on the use of depleted uranium (DU) ammunition in Iraq. Both the State Department and the Pentagon refuse to comment on the issue. See (RISQ News): http://www.risq.org/article139.html
July 31: The Dutch SFIR (Stabilisation Force in Iraq) Unit took over command from US troops in the province of Al-Muthanna.
July 31: In the national television news bulletin NOS Journaal, Mr van den Berg once again presents the report's main findings. The Ministry of Defence refuses to comment on the issue. Meanwhile, the Dutch commander in Al-Muthanna, Lieutenant-Colonel Dick Swijgman says that there is no indication that DU ammunition has been used in the area during the recent conflict.
July 30: In the television program 2Vandaag, Mr van den Berg presents the report's main findings. In the program, one of the US soldiers mentioned in the report reaffirms that the use of DU ammunition in the area was "standard procedure".
July 29: In reference to the report's findings, two Dutch MPs have posed questions to the Minister of Defence, Mr Kamp. Answers from the Minister are still pending.
SUMMARY AND FULL REPORT: "Dutch Parliament and Troops Misinformed about Depleted Uranium in South Iraq" by Maarten H.J. van den Berg;
http://www.risq.org/article135.html
Dutch Language version:
http://www.risq.org/article131.html
DU LINK DOSSIER: "Depleted Uranium";
http://www.risq.org/link-61.html
Maarten H.J. van den Berg
Director
RISQ | http://www.risq.org
Review of International Social Questions
info@risq.org
As Dutch peacekeepers have arrived in the Southern province of Al Muthanna to join the UN-backed 'stabilisation force' in Iraq (SFIR), the government has unduly assured MPs that no DU ammunition was used in the area during the recent conflict.
If this information comes from US officials, as the Dutch government claims, it has been deceived - and misinformed parliament. This is the conclusion of a recently published report by Maarten H.J. van den Berg, director of the Review of International Social Questions (RISQ)
The report has already led Dutch MPs to pose questions to the Minister of Defence, and a television program in which one of the US soldiers mentioned in the report reaffirms that the use of DU ammunition in the area was "standard procedure".
Recent updates on the report:
28 August: In answer to questions raised by MPs citing the report, the Dutch Minister of Defence has admitted that his assurances were based on information it received from local US military staff and, as such, not affirmed by US Authorities. The Minister said he has requested US authorities for an overview of DU firing locations in the Al-Muthanna. In answer to his request, the Minister quotes the Americans as saying that "US Central Command [i.e. CENTCOM] is still in the process of investigating the use of depleted uranium in Iraq at large".
August 9: In a report by an RFE/RL journalist on the issue, a spokesperson of US Central Command (CENTCOM) denies it has given information to the Dutch government on the use of depleted uranium (DU) ammunition in Iraq. Both the State Department and the Pentagon refuse to comment on the issue. See (RISQ News): http://www.risq.org/article139.html
July 31: The Dutch SFIR (Stabilisation Force in Iraq) Unit took over command from US troops in the province of Al-Muthanna.
July 31: In the national television news bulletin NOS Journaal, Mr van den Berg once again presents the report's main findings. The Ministry of Defence refuses to comment on the issue. Meanwhile, the Dutch commander in Al-Muthanna, Lieutenant-Colonel Dick Swijgman says that there is no indication that DU ammunition has been used in the area during the recent conflict.
July 30: In the television program 2Vandaag, Mr van den Berg presents the report's main findings. In the program, one of the US soldiers mentioned in the report reaffirms that the use of DU ammunition in the area was "standard procedure".
July 29: In reference to the report's findings, two Dutch MPs have posed questions to the Minister of Defence, Mr Kamp. Answers from the Minister are still pending.
SUMMARY AND FULL REPORT: "Dutch Parliament and Troops Misinformed about Depleted Uranium in South Iraq" by Maarten H.J. van den Berg;
http://www.risq.org/article135.html
Dutch Language version:
http://www.risq.org/article131.html
DU LINK DOSSIER: "Depleted Uranium";
http://www.risq.org/link-61.html
Maarten H.J. van den Berg
Director
RISQ | http://www.risq.org
Review of International Social Questions
info@risq.org