

Currently released so far... 12453 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
ASEC
AORC
AMGT
APER
AU
AF
AS
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
AFIN
AR
AE
AJ
ADANA
AEMR
AG
ATRN
ADPM
APECO
AGAO
AMED
AX
AM
AL
ADCO
AA
AECL
AADP
ABUD
AMEX
ACAO
ANET
AODE
ASCH
AY
APEC
AID
AORG
ASEAN
AFSI
AFSN
AINF
AGR
AROC
AO
AMBASSADOR
AFFAIRS
ASIG
ABLD
ASUP
AND
ARM
ARF
AQ
ATFN
AC
ACOA
AORL
ADM
AUC
AGMT
ACABQ
ASEX
AFU
ALOW
AZ
APCS
AVERY
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AER
AN
AIT
AMG
AGRICULTURE
AMCHAMS
ACS
BR
BA
BD
BL
BO
BF
BU
BILAT
BEXP
BRUSSELS
BK
BN
BM
BT
BY
BX
BTIO
BIDEN
BG
BE
BP
BBSR
BC
BTIU
BWC
BB
BH
BMGT
CH
CY
CA
CU
CS
CO
CVIS
CPAS
CMGT
CE
COUNTER
CASC
COUNTRY
CJAN
COUNTERTERRORISM
CG
CI
CD
CIDA
CJUS
CDG
CBSA
CEUDA
CR
CM
CLMT
CAC
CBW
CODEL
COPUOS
CWC
CIC
CW
CBE
CHR
CFED
CT
CONS
CIA
CTM
CDC
CVR
CF
CLINTON
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CN
CACS
CAN
CONDOLEEZZA
CB
CSW
CITT
CARSON
CNARC
CACM
CDB
CARICOM
COM
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CV
CKGR
CBC
CL
CICTE
CIS
ECON
EFIN
ELAB
ETRD
EIND
EC
EINV
EAGR
ENRG
ETTC
EAID
EPET
ELTN
EWWT
EAIR
EFIS
EMIN
EG
EU
ER
EUN
EPA
ENVI
EXTERNAL
ECPS
ENGR
ETRC
ECIN
EN
EI
ELN
ET
EINT
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ES
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
EZ
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EFTA
EAIG
EK
EUREM
EURN
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EAP
ENIV
ECONOMY
ESA
EINN
ECONOMIC
EIAR
EXBS
ECA
ECUN
EINDETRD
EUR
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
ENERG
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EFIM
ENGY
EAIDS
EINVEFIN
EINVETC
EUMEM
ETRA
ETC
ERNG
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
ECINECONCS
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EXIM
ERD
EEPET
IR
IS
IZ
IAEA
IO
IAHRC
ID
IC
IT
IRAQI
IWC
IN
IL
ISLAMISTS
IV
ICAO
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IPR
ICRC
INTERPOL
IQ
IBET
IMO
INR
ITRA
INTERNAL
ICJ
ICTY
IRS
ILO
INRA
INRO
ISRAELI
IEA
INRB
ITALY
ITU
IBRD
IIP
ILC
INTELSAT
IZPREL
IMF
INMARSAT
IRAJ
IDA
ICTR
IA
IGAD
IF
IDP
ITF
ISRAEL
IEFIN
IRC
IACI
KN
KCRM
KOMC
KNNPMNUC
KIPR
KPAL
KWBG
KSCA
KFRD
KNNP
KUNR
KTIP
KWMN
KSTC
KFLU
KOLY
KISL
KPAO
KMDR
KJUS
KSTH
KDEM
KCOR
KIRF
KAWC
KU
KTFN
KWAC
KNPP
KERG
KSEO
KACT
KHLS
KZ
KGHG
KTIA
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KE
KPKO
KCIP
KDRG
KVPR
KV
KIDE
KICC
KPRP
KBIO
KSUM
KGIT
KCFE
KG
KBTS
KFLO
KMPI
KS
KGIC
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KSEP
KTEX
KFSC
KOCI
KHDP
KPLS
KTDB
KHIV
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KMRS
KOM
KSAF
KRVC
KR
KMOC
KNAR
KIRC
KBCT
KSPR
KFIN
KBTR
KJUST
KNEI
KAWK
KGCC
KMCA
KREL
KMFO
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KVRP
KCOM
KO
KLIG
KAID
KVIR
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KRAD
KPRV
KCMR
KPWR
KCHG
KIFR
KCFC
KICA
KPIN
KSCI
KESS
KDEV
KTBT
KCRS
KCGC
KOMS
KRIM
KTER
KREC
KPOA
KWWMN
KRGY
KPAK
KWNM
KMIG
KDDG
KRFD
KWMM
KWMNCS
KX
KRCM
KPAONZ
KNUC
KDEMAF
KNUP
MARR
MOPS
MASS
MCAP
MTCRE
MNUC
MIL
MX
MEDIA
MO
MPOS
MU
ML
MA
MP
MY
MERCOSUR
MG
MD
MW
MK
MAS
MEETINGS
MR
MT
MI
MOPPS
MASC
MTS
MLS
MILI
MAR
MTRE
MEPN
MAPP
MTCR
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
MARAD
MASSMNUC
MEPP
MCC
MZ
MILITARY
MDC
MRCRE
MC
MV
MIK
MUCN
NATO
NL
NZ
NPT
NI
NAFTA
NU
NDP
NIPP
NP
NPA
NG
NRR
NO
NSC
NEW
NE
NH
NR
NA
NS
NSF
NZUS
NATIONAL
NSG
NC
NT
NAR
NK
NGO
NV
NSFO
NSSP
NASA
NW
NPG
NORAD
NATOPREL
OTRA
OAS
OPRC
OIIP
OVIP
OREP
OPDC
OEXC
OSCE
OFFICIALS
OMIG
ODIP
OFDP
OECD
OPIC
OBSP
OPCW
OFDA
OTR
OSAC
OSCI
ON
OCII
OES
OVP
OIC
OPAD
OIE
OHUM
OCS
PREL
PGOV
PK
PHUM
PINS
PARM
PA
PTER
PINR
PREF
PHSA
PBTS
PBIO
PO
POL
PE
PARMS
PM
PROG
PL
PAK
POLITICS
PORG
PTBS
PNAT
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PROP
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PAO
PG
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PALESTINIAN
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PSEPC
PREFA
PGOVE
PINF
PHUMPGOV
PNG
PMIL
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
PLN
PSA
PGIV
POLINT
PAS
POGOV
PHUMPREL
PHUMBA
PEL
PGGV
PNR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PRAM
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PF
POV
PROV
PRL
PREO
PAHO
PHUH
PSI
PINL
PU
PRGOV
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
RS
RU
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RO
RW
RCMP
RF
RM
RFE
RSP
RP
RICE
ROBERT
ROOD
RELATIONS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RSO
SU
SNAR
SO
SOCI
SW
SENV
SMIG
SCUL
SP
SZ
SENVKGHG
SR
SY
SA
SYRIA
SF
SI
SC
SWE
SARS
STEINBERG
SN
SG
SIPRS
ST
SEVN
SL
SPCE
SNARIZ
SSA
SNARCS
SYR
SK
SPCVIS
SHUM
SIPDIS
SHI
SH
SOFA
SEN
SNARN
SAARC
SAN
SANC
SCRS
TRGY
TBIO
TU
TF
TERRORISM
TI
TSPL
TPHY
TH
TIP
TSPA
TC
TO
TW
TX
TZ
TNGD
TT
TL
TV
TFIN
TS
TRSY
TINT
TN
TURKEY
TBID
TD
TK
TR
THPY
TP
TAGS
UNGA
UN
UK
US
UNC
UNSC
USUN
UG
UP
UY
USEU
UNESCO
USPS
USTR
UZ
UNHRC
UNO
UNMIK
UNAUS
UNHCR
UNCHR
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
USOAS
UNFICYP
UV
UNEP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNDC
UNCHC
UNDP
UNCND
USNC
UNPUOS
UNICEF
UNCSD
UE
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 06THEHAGUE685, CODEL WEXLER DISCUSSES IRAN, MEPP, INDONESIA,
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06THEHAGUE685.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
06THEHAGUE685 | 2006-03-30 13:01 | 2011-01-20 21:09 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy The Hague |
VZCZCXRO7076
RR RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTC #0685/01 0891338
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301338Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5253
INFO RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 2842
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA 0199
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 4087
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHAT/AMCONSUL AMSTERDAM 0609
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 THE HAGUE 000685
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV OREP MARR NL
SUBJECT: CODEL WEXLER DISCUSSES IRAN, MEPP, INDONESIA,
AFGHANISTAN, AND IRAQ WITH FOREIGN MINISTER
THE HAGUE 00000685 001.3 OF 003
¶1. (SBU) Summary. Representative Robert Wexler (D-FL)
visited The Netherlands March 22-23 and discussed Iran,
Palestinian and Israeli elections, Indonesia, and Iraq with
Dutch Foreign Minister Bot. Wexler also publicly debated
H.J. Ormel, Parliamentary foreign policy leader for the
governing Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA) party, of
which Bot is a member. Wexler met separately with other MPs
on the Foreign Affairs Committee, as well as with city
council members in Amsterdam to discuss Muslim integration.
Codel Wexler did not have a chance to clear this cable prior
to departing. End Summary.
Dutch Concerned, Hopeful About Iran
-----------------------------------
¶2. (SBU) During a wide-ranging conversation with Congressman
Wexler, Foreign Minister Bot stated that the Dutch wish to
see the UN dialogue with Iran continue, and said that
isolating Iran would only empower the Mullahs. Bot
indicated that, if the UN dialogue fails, the Dutch would
support the imposition of sanctions, but expressed doubts
that Russia and China would go along with this in the UN
Security Council. Bot stated that it might not be necessary
to isolate Iran because Iran in general wishes to maintain a
form of international respectability and nearly half of
Iran's population is under 21 years of age and has very
different aspirations from the current government. He
suggested that new ways to keep pressure on Iran may have to
be found and the EU and US would need to be tough with Iran
if they fail in the UN Security Council. Congressman Wexler
largely agreed with Bot, saying that through no fault of
either side the US and EU were working in complete concert
on dealing with Iran's nuclear ambitions.
¶3. (SBU) In his remarks during a discussion on US and EU
policies towards Iran and Hamas at the Center for
Information and Documentation on Israel (CIDI) on March 22,
MP H.J. Ormel, foreign policy spokesperson for the governing
Christian Democratic Alliance (CDA) party, echoed Bot's
comments about Iran. Ormel said that Iran is a nice
country, with educated people, but run by crazy
ayatollahs. He suggested that the West should find a way
to directly engage the Iranian people because if it isolated
Iran, its people would rally around those ayatollahs. Ormel
also stated that a pre-emptive strike would be a bad idea,
but that if Iran does obtain nuclear weapons, the West must
consider taking military action in response. Wexler again
agreed with his Dutch counterpart, saying that he also would
not rule out military action.
Hamas and Israel
----------------
¶4. (SBU) On Hamas's victory in the Palestinian elections,
Bot stated that the Dutch had no direct dealings with Hamas
or their representatives. Bot added that Hamas needed to
take certain steps (recognition of Israel, renunciation of
terrorism, and acceptance of the Palestinians' existing
obligations) before the Dutch would even consider dealing
with them in the future, and that there was no rush within
the EU to engage with Hamas. That did not mean that Hamas
might not eventually be dealt with, Bot said, adding that
the PLO 20 years ago was worse than Hamas is right now.
Bot raised concern over how to deal with Hamas
representatives at international organizations, and
advocated for developing a unified approach. Bot and Wexler
agreed that the most pressing challenge was to figure out
how to continue assisting the Palestinian people without
providing any money to Hamas. Bot expressed concern that if
aid budgeted to build water and power plants were suddenly
cut off, the Iranian government might step in to offer
assistance, further destabilizing the peace process.
¶5. (SBU) Bot also indicated skepticism about Israeli PM
Olmert's proposed unilateral approach to setting Israel's
borders. Bot felt that it would be difficult to obtain
broad support for such an agreement, and that as long as the
Palestinians did not have an interest in complying, it will
be hard to implement. Statements by Olmert that indicated
that a unilateral plan would be a first step in the road map
encouraged Bot, but he still felt that Israel would have a
hard time implementing a unilateral agreement with its
neighbors in the long run. Nonetheless, both Bot and Wexler
THE HAGUE 00000685 002.3 OF 003
stated that the entire peace process hinged on Olmert
winning the March 28 parliamentary elections. Wexler went
on to say that, following the election, Olmert most likely
would lobby the USG for support of his unilateral road map
and then work with the US to sell it to other countries.
¶6. (SBU) In his remarks at CIDI, Ormel, who successfully
lobbied the Dutch Parliament to label Hamas a terrorist
organization, expressed views similar to Bot's on Hamas, but
raised some different concerns. Ormel stated that Dutch
public opinion is not very favorable towards Israel, and
that if there were a humanitarian crisis in Palestine, Dutch
support for Israel would drop even lower. Ormel further
stated that Hamas campaigned effectively by trying to
address issues that worry everyone - schools, hospitals, and
jobs, while Fatah was a corrupt party that voters came to
distrust. Wexler rebutted that no differentiation should be
made between honest and corrupt terrorists. Ormel went on
to say that Hamas is not a threat to Israel because it
can't make a fist. The real threat posed by Hamas is a
broader one: that it is a fundamentalist party.
Wexler Asks For Dutch Perspective on Indonesia
--------------------------------------------- -
¶7. (SBU) Given the Netherlands' long history with Indonesia,
Congressman Wexler asked Bot for his advice on how best to
engage Indonesia. Wexler mentioned to Bot that he nominated
President Yudhoyono for the Nobel Peace Prize and jokingly
asked Bot to write a letter supporting his nomination. Bot,
who was born in Indonesia and visits Indonesia at least once
a year, suggested that it deserved more attention as the
largest Muslim country in the world. Characterizing
Indonesia as stable, pro-west, and democratic, Bot said that
Indonesia could become a regional counterweight to China,
India and Pakistan. He said that the country first had some
internal housekeeping to take care of and that it was very
important for the army to modernize, but suggested that a
likeable and trustworthy former general as president
should help accomplish both of those challenges.
Bot Asks Wexler About Iraq
--------------------------
¶8. (SBU) Bot asked Wexler about Congress's long-term plans
regarding Iraq. Wexler replied that the HIRC had not held a
hearing on Iraq since May 2004, but that there was no real
Congressional action for the US to get out tomorrow. Bot
reported that he had been called before Parliament the day
before about Iraq and was asked whether civil war had
started there. Bot said that he replied, not yet, although
it depends on what one calls civil war. Bot said that
people in the north and south of Iraq were doing much better
and would likely have little reason to start a civil war.
He added that the Sunnis would undoubtedly lose to the north
and south and therefore wouldn't have much reason to start a
civil war. Mentioning that 1400 Dutch troops had served for
almost two years in Iraq, Bot concluded that failure in Iraq
would have terrible consequences.
Muslim Outreach
---------------
¶9. (SBU) In Amsterdam, Wexler met with city council member
Ahmed Aboutaleb, the top vote recipient in Amsterdam's
recent local elections and one of the Embassy's best
contacts in our Muslim outreach programs. Aboutaleb told
Wexler about his work with Amsterdam's mayor to promote open
dialogue among different religious and ethic communities
within Amsterdam. He also discussed a course he developed
to integrate the Middle East peace process into secondary
education. Aboutaleb said that the course, which includes a
class trip to Auschwitz, is now being given at all of
Amsterdam's schools and was developed to promote dialogue
between young adults who had essentially heard only their
parents' perspectives on the Middle East before starting the
class. Aboutaleb went on to express frustration with Prime
Minister Balkenende over his slow response to the murder of
filmmaker Theo van Gogh and blamed Balkenende's government
for setting a negative climate regarding integration.
Aboutaleb said that the national government needs to
differentiate between extremist and mainstream Muslim
parties. Diversity should lead to chances, not tension.
THE HAGUE 00000685 003.3 OF 003
Wexler later met with district council member Fatima Elatik,
who showed Wexler some of the community centers she has
developed in a largely immigrant sector of Amsterdam to help
young and old immigrants integrate into Dutch society.
Arnall