A Dutch Patriot’s Day
Lt. Dennis van Uhm, son of the Netherlands’ defense chief, killed in Afghanistan. Thank you, Holland, for unselfishly giving him and his comrades to the world.
Van der Galien at the link addresses the issue of whether it was a targeted hit or not. In response to a couple of issues he raises, no, I don’t believe anything Taliban spokesmen say. They are notoriously opportunistic and often full of it. Yes, there should be more sons and daughters of elites serving on the frontlines, not fewer. Yes, they should maintain a low profile, but their presence can inspire the troops and the people. As for the issue of tragic death turning people against the war, that is a matter for leaders, political and military, to address. Contrary to the mistaken belief of our convenience-oriented civilization, war is not something you can turn on and off with a switch according to the public mood. It operates on a different timer.
Topics: Afghanistan, Europe, military
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 12:35 pm on Saturday, April 19, 2008
One Response to “A Dutch Patriot’s Day”
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April 19th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
Thank you Lt. van Ulm Your service and sacrifice are a reminder that the forces of oppression and darkness must be confronted and defeated. If more than half of America and one twentieth of Europe were so engaged, this current iteration of light vs darkness would have been long over. Bless you Holland. You sent your best, the barbarians did their worst. The fight is not over.