A Gentle Occupation: Dutch Military Operations in Iraq, 2003-2005

A Gentle Occupation analyzes Dutch military operations in the aftermath of the 2003 United States-led invasion of Iraq. Unlike troops elsewhere, Dutch forces in Al Muthanna province met with little resistance, and the notion of a superior “Dutch approach” is now widespread. Using previously classified documents and archive materials, Arthur ten Cate and Thijs Brocades Zaalberg challenge this idea by detailing tactical operations and contextualizing the Dutch actions within the larger experiences of the coalition forces. Ultimately, the authors argue that the success of Al Muthanna province was due to the overall conditions and not a unique Dutch strategy.