.
The Post reports that Rice is walking backwards from the supposed tough line that Wilkinson fed to the American media over the weekend. The New York Times says that Rice is having a tough time convincing the Europeans of anything …
Well, at least Rummy is being clear: he has no plans to retire, even if the White House wants his ass gone for Joe Lieberman.
NATO spokesman James Appathurai said Rice led off a long discussion on the issue of CIA-run prisons and treatment of prisoners in the war on terrorism at the dinner.
The Dutch foreign minister Bernhard Bot also said Rice spoke convincingly about the U.S. commitment to human rights at the dinner.
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US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice speaks during a North Atlantic Treaty Organization foreign ministers council in Brussels. Rice wrapped up a European trip having reassured her European counterparts about the secret CIA prison row but failing to convince much of the public AFP/BELGA/Etienne Ansotte
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At a dinner Wednesday for 32 foreign ministers and NATO representatives here, Rice said she decided to bring up the prisoner issue first, since it was on everyone’s mind. She later said she thought it “important that we have ample time to discuss and reassure.”
The conversation took more than an hour, with many questions. But at one point Philippe Douste-Blazy, the French foreign minister, spoke up: “Allow me to recall here, the United States, they are our friends and our allies.”
Other ministers offered only heavily veiled criticisms, leavened with praise for Rice, U.S. and foreign officials said.
Still, the controversy tied up a plan to increase the size and responsibilities of NATO forces in Afghanistan for a while. NATO planned to increase its force there by 6,000 servicemen who would take over security responsibilities in the south, where conditions are far more volatile than in the northern and western areas where NATO forces have operated until now.
Holland was to supply 1,200 of those troops, but refused to agree until it received assurances that any prisoners captured in Afghanistan would be treated humanely, a concern that arose after recent reports of mistreatment by Americans of prisoners, a Dutch official said. On Thursday, assurances were given that prisoners would be treated under the rules of the Geneva conventions, and NATO announced final approval of the deployment of 6,000 additional troops.
Profile of NATO SG Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
THE HAGUE Nov. 24 — When CIA-prisons and detainee abuse in Europe is proven to be true, the Dutch will reconsider their participation in Enduring Freedom by its special forces in Afghanistan.
FM Bernhard Bot made this statement in parliament this morning. The State of the Netherlands has formally requested a clarification from the chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in The Hague earlier this week. A possible use of Schiphol Airport for the spook transport of prisoners by the CIA has been put forward for answers.
The ‘consequences’ FM Bot referred to, is possible suspension of Dutch Special Forces operation under U.S. Command in Afghanistan. Participation of an extension within NATO to the Afghan province of Uruzgan within the ISAF contingent, may also be at stake.
The Dutch right-wing partner in the coalition, VVD Liberal Conservatives, already criticized the suggestion by VP Dick Cheney to make an exception for torture by the CIA in Iraq or Afghanistan.
For the new ISAF-mission in Uruzgan, the United Kingdom and Canada have committed forces and Dutch troops are following special training assignments in preparation, and Minister of Defense Kamp has been an advocate for Dutch participation.
Minister Bernhard Bot as Foreign Minister has the possibility to veto the commitment when the U.S. cannot provide adequate information and when the peace and security mission of the Dutch forces under ISAF interferes with the military operation Enduring Freedom.
The Dutch cabinet has requested written promises of the Afghan government, that prisoners handed over by the Dutch will be treated in accordance with the Geneva Conventions, will not be tortured during interrogation and cannot receive a death sentence.
“Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason?
For if it prosper, none dare call it treason.”
