The Netherlands worries about a Venezuelan invasion of the Dutch Antilles

[jimmy olsen]

Credible? Who knows, I just found it to be a very amusing scenario to contemplate.

http://thenewsgrab.com/1215/kelly-van-der-kwast-war-with-venezuela/

Kelly van der Kwast: War With Venezuela
April 6th, 2010

Seated next to a journalist on an inaugural flight of a regional Caribbean airline company from Colombia, Medellin to Curacao, the Netherlands Antilles — only to be called such a short while longer — one starts talking shop.

    "So what do you cover? And what do you make of this Chavez thing and press freedom and what not? Do you think he might actually be dangerous for Curacao?"

No one ever thought it would come this far. But the question is on everyone's mind. We might have to start taking it seriously — soon.

Only recently did a piece in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf appear titled "War with Venezuela Threatens" by Roy Klopper.

He explains, in a rather detailed fashion, that Dutch defense is taking into account that the Netherlands Antilles, and therefore the Netherlands, could very well be on the verge of war with the South American country, Venezuela, only because Hugo Chavez, it's extreme leftist president, has a bit of a crush on Curacao.

Right of the coast of his nation lay the islands Curacao, Bonaire and Aruba. According to experts from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense and Development in Holland they are "rebellious players in vulnerable regions," as so quoted in De Telegraaf.

The same ministry goes on to warn: "The safety of the Kingdom and particularly the Windward Islands could be compromised."

The report states bluntly that the country "must take into account the need for military presence in the Antillean region to strengthen the base."

Klopper goes on to explain that never before in the history of the Netherlands has an official report or institution so openly speculated about the possibility of an armed conflict with Venezuela.

Especially the long 'dictatorship' of Chavez makes concerned acutely aware of possible danger. Departmental experts predict that "the situation in the region could come under pressure over the coming decades, partly thanks to the strategic location of the Antilles."

For now expect experts are not expecting an attack, but the future is decidedly less rose colored, say some. "That possibility can not be totally excluded." They go on to point out that Chavez is not only 'friends' questionable regimes like Iran and Cuba, but also has connections to terrorist groups like the Colombian FARC.

According to the ministries that is the reason that it remains essential that the Netherlands continue to play a significant military role in the Caribbean region, even as the Netherlands Antilles dissolve. The Navy and Army are to operate continuously from Curacao and Aruba.

With the recent discovery of what Chavez calls a "super well" of natural gas while drilling off his country's Caribbean coast, there might be even more to be worried about.

Some reports claim that the deposit could be nearly twice as large as originally thought, thereby reaching the territorial waters of Curacao and Aruba. If Hugo already had a crush, this new attribute to the apple of his eye could make them irresistible.

Chavez said Venezuela has been drilling in various spots offshore with Russian, Spanish and Italian companies.

Talking shop, might just be shop. And these matters are best left to experts on international affairs. But if reports are true, and fears justified — and fears are tangible in Curacao — then the region is set for an interesting future, to say the least.

[Jaron]

This is very alarming.

[DGuller]

We haven't had a good war in a while, it should be fun to watch on CNN.

[MadBurgerMaker]

Did you not rehost that siren?

Edit: lol guess not.

[sbr]

This is very concerning.

[Razgovory]

That would be so cool.  Preferably if the Dutch fought the war by themselves.  I wonder if they could.

[MadImmortalMan]

They've got a big refinery complex there, right?

[Tamas]

Venezuela vs NATO? Oh, please let it be! The airstrikes would look faboulous on CNN.

[Razgovory]

Venezuela vs NATO? Oh, please let it be! The airstrikes would look faboulous on CNN.

Nah, more like the Falklands 2.  Except instead of the British it's the dutch.

[Queequeg]

Last time I checked, the Dutch had a pretty good record at fighting Spanish-speaking peoples at sea.  Liever Turks dan Paaps!

[Zanza]

Venezuela vs NATO? Oh, please let it be! The airstrikes would look faboulous on CNN.

The Windward Islands are south of the Tropic of Cancer.

[Darth Wagtaros]

Cool.

[Josquius]

I'm doubtful, Chavez might as well shout 'I quit!' and save himself the bother of being ousted.

Anyway, this prompted me to read up on the Netherlands Antilles- apparently some of them are due to join the Netherlands in October and so have to enact Dutch law.
A carribean Amsterdam?...
Could be cool for people in the Americas...And would stop annoying American drug tourists in the real one.

[Martim Silva]

That would be so cool.  Preferably if the Dutch fought the war by themselves.  I wonder if they could.

Taking into account that the UK has even proposed closer military ties with France because it lacks the funds to do much by itself, I suppose the Dutch wouldn't even be able to afford sending a battalion there.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5355872,00.html

The "strength" of the democracies is OSSUM. Every year they get stronger. Heck, France is now trying to get close ties with Germany, so that the triple UK/France/Germany group might be able to, say, do about 5% of what the UK could do by itself in 1940.

As for the Dutch Antilles, they're quite wealthy on a per capita basis. As rich as anything in Europe, which is a lot more than South America/The Caribbean. They would make a good picking, but I doubt Venezuela would try it - it lacks a significant navy, only has some obsolecent destroyers.

Unless the locals are planning to declare independence. Then I think the Dutch would cave and let them go. Those wankers learned their lesson in Indonesia.

[KRonn]

I wonder if this would trigger a NATO response? Given Chavez's antics which have isolated him more so, at least from much of the rest of the world, outside his sphere of friends and like minded regimes.