Did or didn't the US government ask the Netherlands for help?

[Crusader]

Richard Armitage sparked a massive controversy and small political crisis in the Netherlands by stating that the US government asked directly for aid in the Iraq war. The Dutch government had always maintained that it had never been asked. With Armitage suddenly saying this, the Dutch government has been discredited immensely in the eyes of the opposition and the general public. Armitage came with a statement a few days later that he had been misunderstood and perhaps used bad wording. Sadly for him, he forgot the interview was put on tape.

Armitage states the US government asked the Dutch for help (source, GPD, the associated press in the netherlands, not a bunch that would lie):
An excerpt: http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/393401/c99..._en_de_gpd.html

Armitage, seeing the crisis he sparked (he stated off the screen the Dutch government didn't contact him on this), states he was misunderstood and perhaps used bad wording. He says this in the first 30 seconds, second half suggests that de hoop Scheffer was pointed nato general in return for Dutch help in the iraq war. Very crappy video quality, but audio is good. Also a BSOD at 0:51.
http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/393411/d9d..._en_de_nos.html

One slip of the tongue and a government comes close to falling across the pond. Woopsie.

[eppie]

Did you know that it were actually the dutch that found Saddam?

Indeed let's not forget, without the dutch those elite troops of Saddam would be still defending Baghdad.

[kandrathe]

Wow, think of what might happen if a senior USA official claimed the Netherlands was a close friend and ally.

[Jester]

Wow, think of what might happen if a senior USA official claimed the Netherlands was a close friend and ally.

Defenestration.

-Jester

[Nystul]

It's an innocent mistake. The US government actually called the Netherlands and asked for hemp. Mr. Armitage apparently misread the memo.

[kandrathe]

It's an innocent mistake. The US government actually called the Netherlands and asked for hemp. Mr. Armitage apparently misread the memo.

I think the USA is suffering from a bad case of mass glaucoma... Or, was it absent-mindedness?

[Occhidiangela]

Richard Armitage sparked a massive controversy and small political crisis in the Netherlands by stating that the US government asked directly for aid in the Iraq war. The Dutch government had always maintained that it had never been asked. With Armitage suddenly saying this, the Dutch government has been discredited immensely in the eyes of the opposition and the general public. Armitage came with a statement a few days later that he had been misunderstood and perhaps used bad wording. Sadly for him, he forgot the interview was put on tape.

Armitage states the US government asked the Dutch for help (source, GPD, the associated press in the netherlands, not a bunch that would lie):
An excerpt: http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/393401/c99..._en_de_gpd.html

Armitage, seeing the crisis he sparked (he stated off the screen the Dutch government didn't contact him on this), states he was misunderstood and perhaps used bad wording. He says this in the first 30 seconds, second half suggests that de hoop Scheffer was pointed nato general in return for Dutch help in the iraq war. Very crappy video quality, but audio is good. Also a BSOD at 0:51.
http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/393411/d9d..._en_de_nos.html

One slip of the tongue and a government comes close to falling across the pond. Woopsie.

Tempest in a teapot.

What a load of drama queens.

[Walkiry]

Tempest in a teapot.

What a load of drama queens.

And that, folks, concludes today's demonstration of "European politics in a nutshell." Have a good evening!