Topic: Dutch Military

Following the accidental death of two Dutch soldiers in Mali, the hosts discuss the military tactic of "salting" ammunition supplies with spiked rounds that explode when fired. They also touch on the use of infrared-reflective tape to prevent friendly fire incidents during combat operations.

A first-hand account of training the Iraqi Security Forces in 2003-2004 describes the process as a "farce." Despite media portrayals of a professional force, the troops reportedly struggled with basic commands like "about face." This historical context challenges current claims that accelerating the training of Iraqi forces will be effective against ISIS.

Adam Curry shares an anecdote from his 2003 visit to Camp Smitty in Iraq with Dutch Marines. He describes witnessing the training of the Iraqi National Guard, comparing their comical inability to perform basic drills to the British sitcom "Dad's Army."

During a Senate hearing on the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, former NATO commander General John Sheehan claimed that the presence of gay soldiers contributed to the fall of Srebrenica in 1995. Sheehan argued that the "liberalization" of the Dutch military led to its failure to prevent the massacre. The hosts dismiss these claims as "unbelievable" and suggest the Dutch forces were actually outmaneuvered or set up.

An Australian soldier's letter provides a candid look at life in Afghanistan, describing the massive infrastructure of military bases and criticizing the performance of Dutch Marines. The account claims the Dutch military accidentally killed 80 civilians and that the Taliban specifically target them due to perceived weakness.

The withdrawal of Dutch intelligence operatives from Iran is discussed alongside common European jokes regarding the size and efficacy of the Dutch and Belgian militaries. These anecdotes often mock the perceived lack of resources or small scale of these nations' armed forces.