The Netherlands on Friday was quick to react to Sheehan's testimony. Dutch Defense Minister Eimert van Middelkoop issued a statement calling the remarks "outrageous and unworthy of a soldier." He went on to say, "I do not want to waste any more words on the matter."Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said the remarks were "disgraceful" and "should never have been made. ... It is way off the mark to talk like that about people and the work they do under very difficult circumstances." He added that he would not take up the matter with Obama because Sheehan is retired. Wim van den Burg, head of the Dutch military union AFMP, called Sheehan's comments "ridiculous" and "out of the realm of fiction."...Committee Chairman Levin said that Sheehan's attempt to connect Dutch military shortcomings to the service of homosexuals in Holland's military "was totally off target." Sheehan was NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic in the mid-1990s.
Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende said the remarks were "disgraceful" and "should never have been made. ... It is way off the mark to talk like that about people and the work they do under very difficult circumstances." He added that he would not take up the matter with Obama because Sheehan is retired.
Wim van den Burg, head of the Dutch military union AFMP, called Sheehan's comments "ridiculous" and "out of the realm of fiction."
...Committee Chairman Levin said that Sheehan's attempt to connect Dutch military shortcomings to the service of homosexuals in Holland's military "was totally off target." Sheehan was NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic in the mid-1990s.
