A Gentle Occupation

Front matter

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Chapter 2 Mixed feelings: Dutch politics and Iraq

Iraq as an international threat

Inspections and confrontations

Military intervention?

Renewed inspections

War in Iraq

The Netherlands: political rather than military support Into the desert

Party to the conflict

‘Asandpit under Dutch contro?

The Americans hand over command The area of operations

Boots on the ground

Outside the wire

The proconsul of Al Muthanna Crime fighting

Targeting operations

Detention and interrogation

The limits of the mandate Separation of powers?

De facto occupation

Chapter 4 Uprising in Al Khidr

The ‘Al Muthanna model’

Visitors from The Hague

Parties and militias

Mounting threats

Change of command and mission extension Accelerated transfer of sovereignty

The Al Muthanna model as an exit strategy

Creating a secure environment A disorderly bunch

Security Sector Reform

The transition plan

Troops in contact

Knock Talk Search

ssr: the interim score

Operation Swatter

Armed opposition: the Mahdi Army Province of peace?

Incidents and provocations

The power struggle at its peak

The second uprising

Ambush in Ar Rumaythah

Ceasefire

Complex crisis response operations

The faltering ‘project machine’

Civil-Military Cooperation in theory Civil-Military Cooperation in practice “Spend the money!”

The key role of reconstruction funds

Two million euros for the ‘Beggar’s Army’

Security assistance and reform

The fifth contingent

105 105 107 111

115 120 126

Chapter7

The run-up to elections A carnival-like atmosphere Reconstruction or force protection?

Dutch approach?

A stubborn minister

Game over

Ar Rumaythah as a litmus test Critical allies

British self-criticism and exit Al Muthanna after the departure of the Dutch The us in Iraq, 2003-2011

The ‘Dutch touch’

Acknowledgements

Select bibliography

Abbreviations and acronyms