State Department cable concerning the Dutch government's view that Guantanamo detainees should be treated according to Geneva conventions and international law. Some comment re: public/academics seeking more information re: policy, but not to reflexively condemn it. Cable is heavily redacted.
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY: SHARON E AHMAD
DOS-001976
DATE/CASE ID: 03 NOV 2004 200303827
UNCLASSIFIED
CLASSIFIED BY: AMBASSADOR CLIFFORD SOBEL, REASONS 1.5 B/D
2.(C) FM VAN AARTSEN'S JANUARY 21 STATEMENT ON DUTCH
TELEVISION CALLING ON THE U.S. TO OBSERVE THE GENEVA
CONVENTIONS IN ITS TREATMENT OF AL-QAEDA AND TALIBAN
PRISONERS HAS BEEN CITED IN THE INTERNATIONAL PRESS AS AN
EXAMPLE OF DUTCH GOVERNMENT CRITICISM OF U.S. POLICY.1
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL Page: 2
DOS-001977
UNCLASSIFIED
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DRL-02 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 SWCI-00 /013W
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DOS-001978
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INFO NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
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CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
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DOS-001979
UNCLASSIFIED
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DUTCH MFA LETTER TO PARLIAMENT
6.(SBU) THE MFA'S RESPONSE TO MP VAN BOMMEL'S QUESTION WAS
INCLUDED IN A LONGER LETTER ON DUTCH AFGHAN POLICY, AND
APPEARED DESIGNED TO MATCH THE FOREIGN MINISTER'S PREVIOUS
STATEMENT. FOLLOWING IS AN INFORMAL EMBASSY TRANSLATION:
"THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM IS A FIGHT FOR OUR NORMS AND
PRINCIPLES. THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT TALIBAN AND
AL-QAEDA COMBATANTS TAKEN PRISONER SHOULD BE TREATED IN
CONFORMITY WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW, AS EMBODIED, INTER ALIA,
IN THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS. ALTHOUGH IT SHOULD NOT BE
FORGOTTEN THAT THIS CONCERNS PEOPLE WHO ARE SUSPECTED OF
BELONGING TO A NETWORK DEEMED RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ATTACKS OF
SEPTEMBER 11, THE RIGHTS OF THESE PEOPLE SHOULD BE RESPECTED.
THE NETHERLANDS SHALL PRESENT THIS POINT OF VIEW IN ITS
CONTACTS WITH THE UNITED STATES."
7.(C) ANOTHER PASSAGE IN THE SAME PARLIAMENTARY LETTER,
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EXPLAINS THAT DUTCH NAVAL VESSELS SUPPORTING OPERATION
ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF) IN THE PERSIAN GULF AND INDIAN OCEAN
CANNOT BE DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN MARITIME LEADERSHIP
INTERDICTION OPERATIONSI
AI THE LETTER
A 'ALLOWS FOR
THOSE DUTCH VESSELS TO HOST U.S. BOARDING PARTIES WHICH COULD
CONDUCT THE ACTUAL LEADERSHIP INTERDICTION OPERATIONS.
I.I
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL Page: 5
DOS-001980
UNCLASSIFIED
WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
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STATE FOR S, D, P, T, L, S/P, S/WCI, PM, EUR
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E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/29/2012
TAGS: PTER, MARR, PHUM, MOPS, UN, NL
SUBJECT: DUTCH INTEREST IN GITMO DETAINEES:
10.(SBU) NOTWITHSTANDING THE LACK OF INTEREST EXHIBITED IN
THESE FORA, PAO HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS QUERIES FROM ACADEMICS,
DUTCH AND AMERICAN, OVER THE DETENTIONS. FAR FROM VIRULENT
OR CONDEMNATORY, THESE INQUIRERS ARE PRIMARILY SEEKING
INFORMATION TO.UNDERSTAND AND EVEN TO DEFEND U.S. POLICY AND
PRACTICE.
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. COMMENT
Current Class: CONFIDENTIAL Page: 7
DOS-001982
UNCLASSIFIED
A
Document Number: 2002THEHA00276 Channel: n/a
I MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WE ENCOUNTER ARE ALSO LOOKING
FOR CLARIFICATION OF THE USG POLICY, MORE -- SEEMINGLY -- TO
ENABLE THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE U.S. RATIONALE AND MAYBE EVEN
DEFEND IT, THAN TO REFLEXIVELY CONDEMN IT.
¦
12.(U) PDAS RIES CLEARED ON THIS MESSAGE.
SOBEL
CONFIDENTIAL
« END OF DOCUMENT »
Current Class: CONFIDENTIALA Page: 8
DOS-001983
UNCLASSIFIED