© mintpressnews.comAl-Qaeda in Syria
The Trouw newspaper reported late on Wednesday that the Dutch government had issued documents proving that the groups used "almost all equipment" provided by the government in its military operations. The documents were allegedly published at the request of the Dutch media, but were unavailable for public viewing shortly after publication.
The documents also revealed the previously hidden names of two jihadist groups that received assistance from the Dutch government. According to the Trouw-NOS investigation, the terrorist groups used cars offered by the Dutch government in attacks, as well as laptops, to set targets.
The investigation pointed out that these data contradict recent statements by Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok that the government had been providing only "non-military" assistance. The lower house of the Dutch parliament asked for explanations from the cabinet.
In September, the Dutch government announced that it would stop providing assistance to opposition groups and other organizations operating in Syria due to the inefficiency of the aid program. The government said at the time that the program did not bring the expected results, as the Syrian government was close to declaring victory in the conflict.
Since May 2015, the Netherlands has transferred some 70 million euros (US $79.8 million) in assistance to 22 groups, including various opposition groups such as the Free Syrian Police and Al-Qaeda affiliated White Helmets. However, it is well established that all so-called "rebel" groups in Syria are in one way or another associated with Al-Qaeda or other jihadist groups that have extremist ideology. Despite this knowledge, it is clear Amsterdam in a crazed frenzy have wasted taxpayer money on attempting to overthrow a foreign leader.
About the Author:
Paul Antonopoulos is a Research Fellow at the Center for Syncretic Studies. He has an MA in International Relations and is interested in Great Power Rivalry as well as the International Relations and Political Economy of the Middle East and Latin America.
Though Amsterdam is the Netherland's capital city, Dutch political power is seated in The Hauge, also home to the ICC.
Also, going crazy over a mere 70 million euro's is rediculous. This is just some charity to show the masters in the US and Brussels our good intentions. Something more worrying, however, would be the many years of Dutch complicity contributing to all of the US led wars in the Middle East, by the royal Dutch army, navy and especially the airforce. This has caused a lot more harm than some pocket change and pick-up trucks.