Today’s Dutch dailies focus on the Dutch contribution to the no-fly zone over Libya and the anti-pirate campaign in the Gulf of Eden. There’s hope for the Christian Democrats and FC Twente is back on top of the Dutch football league.

Mission creep in Libya
“Bombing of Libyan targets problematic,” is the banner headling in today’s edition of De Telegraaf. It features a report on the Dutch contribution to the NATO no-fly zone in Libya. 
 
The paper writes that more and more countries are coming around to the Dutch policy of not carrying out air strikes on ground targets. The turning point, says De Telegraaf, came after at least a dozen Libyan rebels were killed when they were mistaken for pro-Gaddafi forces.  
 
The paper quotes Dutch air force pilots stationed on the Italian island of Sardinia who say that “the problem is the absence of own troops on the ground to identify targets”.
 
Dutch Air Force Commander Lieutenant-General Jac Jansen says the mission “is a political decision, the mandate is clear and we will carry it out. But as long as positive identification on the ground is lacking, air support remains risky.” 
 
However, should the situation change, the Dutch air force could begin carrying out air strikes in a day. According to Lieutenant-General Jansen: ”We don’t have to prove ourselves, we have already done that in the past decades. Air defence, ground attacks, combat air patrols, all The Hague has to do is ask.”     
 
Which leaves Nrc.next to wonder: “Who are we really helping in Libya?” The paper writes that “The intervention in Libya has resulted in active support to the rebels. But should we now arm them as well?” 
 
Echoing international concerns about the possible presence of radical Muslims among the rebels, the paper writes that “Nobody can know for certain what the Libyans want. That will only become clear when all of Libya has been liberated and free elections have been held.”  
 
Nrc.next argues that the international coalition is no longer simply enforcing the UN resolution intended to protect innocent civilians, but has become a party in the conflict actively seeking regime change: “The limits of the intervention in Libya are being stretched further and further” 

Dutch marines kill two Somali pirates
“Two pirates killed in navy rescue mission” is the dry front-page headline in de Volkskrant, concealing a rather spectacular story about a confrontation in the Gulf of Aden involving an Iranian fishing vessel, Somali pirates and a Dutch frigate, the HNLMS Tromp. 
 
So what happened? On Saturday morning, Dutch marines patrolling the area in inflatable boats came under fire when they approached an Iranian fishing vessel hijacked by pirates. The marines returned fire and thwarted a desperate attempt by ten of the pirates to flee in a fast motor boat. 
 
The marines captured the pirates and then boarded the fishing vessel fo find two pirates apparently killed in the exchange of fire.
 
It was the first fatal incident involving Dutch marines in the NATO-led anti-piracy operation in the Gulf of Aden, notes de Volkskrant. It comes as the Dutch government considers calls from Dutch shipowners to deploy marines on merchant vessels as a protective measure. The Hague is hesitant to give its approval for fear of escalation.

New hope for Dutch Christian Democrats
With a front-page photo showing an elated Ruth Peetoom gazing straight into heaven, AD introduces the new party chairwoman of the Christian Democrat Party, the junior party in the Dutch coalition government. 
 
Ms Peetoom, a 43-year old former protestant preacher, beat her opponent Sjaak van der Tak at the CDA party congress on Saturday. Many a religious eye is now looking at Ms Peetoom with the hope that she will be ‘the one’ to put a halt to the party’s steady decline in recent years.
 
The Christian Democrats’ power base further eroded last year, when the party lost as many as 20 seats in the general election. The ensuing departure of former prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende left a serious leadership vacuum. Ms Peetoom now hopes to bring major change to the party. Its members are looking forward to next year when a new leader will be elected.

Football: Janssen double puts Twente on top
The tattooed arms of Twente football ace Theo Janssen feature on most front pages. They’re held up high in a gesture of pride and triumph following Janssen’s fantastic second goal against PSV Eindhoven in Saturday night’s clash between the leading pair in the Dutch Premier League. 
 
The goal, a brilliant lob over the goalkeeper after a 60-metre run, was a superb demonstration of outstanding skill, according to De Telegraaf. More superlatives in the AD, which quotes FC Twente’s Belgian manager Michel Preud’homme: “A world class goal by a world class player.” 
 
Janssen’s two goals (he first converted a penalty) brought Twente back on top of the Dutch league, two ahead of PSV, and five ahead of third-placed Ajax Amsterdam.