The Netherlands planned U.S supported invasion of Suriname in 1986

[Judi Lynn]

The Netherlands planned U.S supported invasion of Suriname in 1986
Saturday, November 20th, 2010 at 11:17 am

AMSTERDAM (BNO NEWS) — The Netherlands was planning an invasion of Suriname in 1986 to arrest military dictator Desi Bouterse, according to former Dutch Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers on Saturday, who said the United States supported the plan.

Although rumors about such plans have been going around for years, the statements reported by a Dutch newspaper on Saturday is the first real evidence of the war plans. “I’m surprised how long the existence of the invasion plan was kept secret,” former Dutch Defense Minister Wim van Eekelen told ‘De Volkskrant’ newspaper.

‘De Volkskrant’ reported that the Netherlands had drafted a detailed plan in late 1986 to arrest Bouterse, who led the South American country as a dictator from 1980 until 1988 and was recently elected as the nation’s president. If the plan would have been carried out, the Netherlands would have sent hundreds of troops with the support of the United States, which stood ready to provide Navy ships, planes and helicopters in support of the invasion.

The government of Lubbers had created the plans after a messenger from Suriname delivered a letter in October 1986 on behalf of three members of the Suriname government, including then-Prime Minister Pretaap Radhakishun. It appealed to Lubbers to intervene and arrest Bouterse.

More:
http://wireupdate.com/wires/12538/the-netherlands-planned-u-s-supported-invasion-of-suriname-in-1986/

http://www.usefreedomtv.com.nyud.net:8090/images/Suriname_map.gif

[Judi Lynn]

1. Had to take a quick look for more info. Found something interesting:

Ronald Reagan's Legacy:
Eight Years of CIA Covert Action
by William Blum

~snip~
Surinam: In December 1982, CIA Director William Casey told the House and Senate intelligence committees that President Reagan had authorized the CIA to try to topple Surinam ruler Col. Desi Bouterse, supposedly leading his country into "the Cuban orbit." Even though the committee refused to approve the covert operation, there is good reason to believe that the administration did what it wished. An invasion of the country was scheduled for July 1, 1983 by Florida-based mercenaries-Americans and others. It was called off only after being discovered by the internal security agency of the Netherlands, the former colonial power in Surinam.

More:
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/CIA/Reagan_CIA.html

[social_critic]

2. Cold War Relic

The Soviets had their Brezhnev Doctrine as well. They were pretty adamant, once a country fell in the communist sphere, it could not be free. The Prague Spring invasion is an example.

http://russiapastandpresent.blogspot.com/2010/08/on-this-day-21-august-1968-russian.html

This wasn't theory, or a planned exercise. It was reality, the communists rolled their tanks, and snuffed out freedom.