On the way back from Madurodam home we passed the fort of the Americans at John Adams Park in The Hague. There was a time when I found all those fences and cameras a sign in force. It is now clear that the friends of that time are no longer friends. Earlier acquaintances, and then of the kind that you do not let fit on your house during vacation time.
At the same time I try to relate to my own government. It is sweet and endearing that Dick Schoof was allowed to talk to Mark Rutte with unclear mandate and the large European countries. The Netherlands is turning towards a contribution to a European force that may want to act as a buffer. In the past, for example, we have plunged into more perilous adventures. What we always forgot to tell is that with us it is mainly about soaking our own conscience. And that our contribution will mainly be symbolic. A few hospikks, something maritime in the Baltic Sea, perhaps the logistics, stationing a patriot rocket and ahead We also deliver some outblinkers from the Airmobile Brigade.
The big problem of Defense: 74,000 people work there, but the willingness to eat is showering with us, and I also fear our European partners, against zero. You could call it progress: no country has really improved from massive patriotism and sacrificiality, but confronted with an opponent who sees no leg to push through it a thousand a day you are hopeless. You can call very cool that we have to set up our army as quickly as possible, but with whom? Who agrees with the amended employment conditions? We want to shoot but then on the condition that there is no focusing back.
Of course it says little, but I don’t know anyone who is willing to sacrifice himself for the homeland, let alone if those borders are a thousand kilometers away. They are not there and they will not get there either, or Defense must come up with a very surprising recruitment campaign.
My father was shipped to the Dutch East Indies in a different time as a conscript, they were like sardines in a look at the bottom deck on a large boat, the Wilhelmus cheerfully sang when the equator was passed, but once on the spot most of them were jealous of his little Imposing build that put him behind a typewriter.
Besides beautiful memories, we no longer have anything to do with the Americans. The friendship has been canceled, but we are still waving at each other. Maybe we should explain to Ukraine what kind of friend we actually are. You can always call us, even please, but we are mainly for funerals and weddings.
Marcel van Roosmalen writes a column on Monday and Thursday.