America’s Other War
By SusanUnPC on May 13, 2007 at 12:40 PM in Current Affairs
By Leslie, a regular contributor to this blog . . . From the NYT: “Civilian Deaths Undermine Allies’ War on Taliban”
What angers Afghans are not just the bombings, but also the raids of homes, the shootings of civilians in the streets and at checkpoints, and the failure to address those issues over the five years of war. Afghan patience is wearing dangerously thin, officials warn.
US/NATO’s heavy reliance on airstrikes, due to the lack of troops on the ground, has led to greater civilian casualties. In turn, the growing anger against NATO and US forces has led Afghan lawmakers to call for a ceasefire and talks with the Taliban, as well as a US/NATO withdrawal from Kabul.
The Pentagon says it will keep about 25,000 troops in Afghanistan through 2008. In January 2007, the Bush administration requested $10 billion in aid. Unfortunately, Afghanistan’s aid package was included in the recent Iraq Supplemental Bill, which Bush vetoed. Senator Harry Reid said, “President Bush requested $91.5 billion for continued military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. We provide every penny of that request and more.” Since the US-led invasion in 2001, US aid has totalled just over $14 billion or about $2 billion per year. Bush’s request for $10 billion would be a huge increase in aid. However, most of the money will go to training and equipping Afghan security forces, only $2 billion will go to reconstruction.
Radio Free Europe interviews former Afghan foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah:
RFE/RL: Let’s return to the situation in Afghanistan. What are the factors that have contributed to the Taliban’s increased activities?
Abdullah: The fact that the Taliban have had the opportunity to be strengthened, trained, and armed outside Afghanistan and then sent to the country has been a major factor. At the same time, I believe that more attention should be paid to places that are being attacked by the Taliban, and areas where residents are facing the Taliban threat. There should be more [action] regarding the economic situation, as well as development.
RFE/RL: If you compare Afghanistan’s current situation with two or three years ago, do you see progress or failure?
Abdullah: When you look at the security situation, two or three years ago there were no districts under the control of the Taliban. But today, unfortunately, in some parts of Afghanistan, there is such a thing.
– Leslie
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By Sarah Palin (Release date: November 17. 2009)
US bombing raids have killed about 110 civilians in the past two weeks. The British are wondering whose side we’re on!?
From today’s London Times: “One mishandled bombing raid wipes out the benefits of months of development work,” said Matt Waldman, head of Afghanistan policy for Oxfam.”
But, contrary to the Bush administration, the British understand the importance of Afghanistan.
“Expectations in London remain high that Afghanistan, unlike Iraq, is a “winnable” war. “The Ministry of Defence and Foreign Office have . . . written off Iraq and all attention is now on Afghanistan,” said a senior diplomat, pointing out that within months Afghanistan will be Britain’s biggest overseas deployment. Gordon Brown emphasised the point yesterday when he said: “Afghanistan is the front line of the war on terrorism.”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article1782039.ece
“Afghanistan is the front line of the war on terrorism.”
For four years Iraq was the front line of the war on terrorism, and now suddenly it is Afghanistan! Hmmmmmm. What next?
Just a reminder, friends, that Sunday is not just Mother’s Day. It is also the anniversary of the secret, sealed indictment of Karl Rove. On such a momentous occasion it is appropriate to recall what the Intelligence Wizard Larry Johnson had to say about his scoop:
“It is not just Jason Leopold. Joe Wilson heard the same from other sources. And, more importantly, Jason is reporting based on multiple, more than two, sources. His editors realized what a big story this is and did the appropriate checking before posting. They are called Truth Out for a reason. Getting the truth out.”
Ah, yes—getting the truth out. Great job, Larry. Incidentally, it might be a good idea to notify the Guiness Book of World records. This is surely the record for the longest an indictment has ever remained under seal.
Zorro!
Be still my heart!
OMG! If only!
If they add the YEARS of missing e-mails?
Hope! (I could sail on into Emily Dickinson’s poem….)
Larry, nice job.
How was your panel discussion? I tried to reply, but your system booted me out.
Anyway, great read. What is ytour take on Gordon Brown’s call to redouble efforts in Afghanistan?
Leslie, great catch and post…
Ontop of all this, not only have these people been left out to dry whilst our dear troops were sent to fight another illegitamate and illegal ‘war’… my heart goes out to the people who live there, in some of the hardest and saddest conditions. I read today that the opium production is so high, that many, many people are so addicted because there is nothing else…
http://www.rawstory.com/showarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fobserver.guardian.co.uk%2Fworld%2Fstory%2F0%2C%2C2078412%2C00.html%3Fgusrc%3Drss%26feed%3D12
the human suffering caused by this cabal is a war crime in itself.
One other thing, just read a post that I thinks is outstanding, relating to some more horrible crimes against humanity. So sad, that our troops are being subjected to this horror again and again, until their mental capability to differentiate between right and wrong may be clouded. Often, I believe by drugs that they have been given to facilitate their ‘ability’ to continue to fight/work under the tremendous strain of battle… and without relief, or proper support. both during and/or following deployment. Yes the soldiers have been bushco’s pawn in this horrible deadly nightmare… my heart weaps for all that suffer because of these war mongers in power. we must Impeach them, and try to salvage the mess they have caused around the globe.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ucas/protractedconflictputsustroopsinimpossibleposition;_ylt=Aq6lf0kUz26N.SEIOFmN4T1hr7sF
mpumpky
I feel such profound sadness as I read what you’ve posted.
Dear God….look what we have allowed these criminals to do to our young people!
We have blood on our hands!
The days when Afghanistan had a chance of becoming democratic, its people free to do as they please, are long gone. The Taliban and Pakistan’s ISI are going to be there 20 years from now, 30 years from now…heroin is still popular…
We need to come around to this fact and either get serious or get out. The multitude of influences ingrained within the culture that are prepared to undermine, intimidate and urge jihad (Pakistani intelligence, Saudi Arabia, Taliban…) are willing to wait, and know more about this game than we ever will.
The window of opportunity in matters such as these aren’t open forever. We’ve failed in both Afghanistan and Iraq…our withdrawal from both, along with a few billion pumped into CIA operations to create assets throughout the region is our play right now.
I say we learn from what has happened up to this point, and fundamentally change our strategy from the inside out.
And see if Charles Barkley will agree to be the next director of the CIA…heh
Yes, I agree… “I say we learn from what has happened up to this point, and fundamentally change our strategy from the inside out.
And see if Charles Barkley will agree to be the next director of the CIA…heh”
The CIA, is so needed to be rebuilt, and \as you say, it isn’t going to happen overnight. Barclay could do a hell of a lot better than any in recent times. We should recruit Larry, or Pat Lang to the task, or one of the other VIPS, who are out there on the front lines doing the Patriotic thing… At least with one of them, we won’t have to worry about who is guarding the henhouse… also, I think Former Ambassador Joe Wilson should be made the Ambassador to the UN, and get rid of the imposter who was also a recess appointment…
We need to throw out the whole lot of them, let them stand trial in the Hague, and let the world be their Judge and Jury. I unfortunately, and too prejudiced to make any exceptions or accept any more “I don’t recall…” statements. Let’s bring the school yard bullies out, and share them with the world… Heck, we could ever hire Blackwater boys to handle the job for everyone… Heh!
Bush is breaking NATO’s back, Putin laughs his way to the bank…
Shirin writes: “For four years Iraq was the front line of the war on terrorism, and now suddenly it is Afghanistan! ”
—-
No, Afghanistan was the front line on GWOT before Iraq was. Technically, the Afghans had the right of first refusal before Bush began bombing Iraq. The fact that the Afghan parliament is willing to hold talks with the Taliban, however, tells you how well Bush’s war there is going too. As for what’s next…you know the answer to that: Iran.
DeadIssue and PrchrLady,
Who is Charles Barkley?
PrchrLady,
Well, Blackwater did an excellent job filling in for the National Guard during Hurricane Katrina, you know. [sarcasm mine]
Mr. Murder,
Bush is an equal-opportunity back breaker.
A to Q: “DeadIssue and PrchrLady,
Who is Charles Barkley?”
Famous former NBA, also known by nickname, “Round Mound of Rebound”
So in context of the comment, “I say we learn from what has happened up to this point, and fundamentally change our strategy from the inside out.”
It appears to be a metaphor for looking for a political rebound.
Ohhh, thanks Ybnormal.
Shirin: “What’s next?”
Bush is also very busy in Africa.
http://www.chris-floyd.com/Articles/Articles/See_No_Evil%3A_Somalia_Sinks_Into_the_Pit_as_the_World_Looks_Away/
Well put, leslie. I would not call Afghanistan “America’s other war”, I would call it Americans other Cluster****.
Can these Keystone Kops on Crack do ANYTHING right?!
Can these Keystone Kops on Crack do ANYTHING right?!
Posted by: Shirin | Tuesday, 15 May 2007 at 12:27
No Shirin, nothing, except to screw the world and all its peoples, so the few rich cronies left can enjoy their spoils… It won’[t last much longer though… I feel the crack balls are about to be crushed…
PrchrLady, you may be right, but in the meantime, they can’t even seem to succeed in their own nefarious goals - so, so, pathetic!
And speaking of pathetic, did you see Jon Stewart’s Alberto Gonzalez bit last night? Does Gonzalez have even the remotest clue how lame and pathetic he looks in those hearings? No dignity, no honour, not even a pretense at either. Unbelievable!
You guys,
Do the Bushies even know what their goals are? They keep changing with the weather, as do their rationalizations.
Jon Stewart was great last night. It wasn’t just an indictment of Gonzales though, but of the White House stenographers pretending to be the press as well. Talk about clusterf**ks: The Bushies deliberately set up the DOJ debacle that way, so no one would be accountable. So it was hilarious today, when Gonzales said that his 2nd in command, McNulty, was in charge even if McNulty didn’t know it and even though Gonzales gave the right to hire-and-fire USAs to two unqualified assistants. Can’t wait to hear what McNulty tells Congress next.
Also, wonder how long Wolfie and Shaha will be together? Wolfie just blamed her for his breaking the World Bank rules.
Bushies never take responsibility for anything!
Stewart was simply put, AMAZING… Gonzo is a CLOWN, and his happy smiles will soon turn to tears… LOVE the Daily Show… when will we get to see Larry on… those two would be great together… might wake up a lot more of the sheeple… MSM should learn from the ratings alone that it would sell, since they seem to not understand what real journalism or reporting is all about…
Anyways… I just have a deep down feeling of something BIG is about ready to bust… one of the BIG boys is getting ready to go down… SOON, I pray…
OT. BTW, spent the past few days putting in my ‘city garden’… I put in beans and spinich, as well as sunflowers for pole beans to climb… lots of rain here in MI, so hopefully, I will have some fresh foods that I know were grown and handled safely… Will harvest cat nip for the babies later this week…
(Note: the tidbits below just scratch the surface. No links, but it can all be easily googled, with results from multiple sources)
Any discusson about Afghanistan has to include the economics of the Caspian Sea region to be meaningful. Lots of fossil fuel reserves there; as Cheney might say ‘big time’. The big story of the past week in this region is the Sat 5/12 natural gas pipeline deal between Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan; basically cutting the U.S. out as a player. Russia, with 10 times the gas reserves of Turkmenistan, doesn’t actually need the gas, but the deal corners the supply market, which kills the more expensive U.S. trans-Caspian deal. Russia can afford this because they sell natural gas to Europe for more than twice what they pay Turkmenistan. Actually, they sell the Russian gas to Europe, then feed Turkmenistan gas back into their supply grid at the other end.
Meanwhile, other area pipeline proposals continue. India wants a pipeline from Iran, but is not wild about having it go through Pakistan to get there, so ideas are floating about bypassing Pakistan with a submarine pipeline, and appeasing them by putting Pakistan in charge of undersea pipeline security. And then there’s China, with rapidly increasing energy demands, for whom the supply is a wild card.
While all this is going on, Iraq has a vote in favor of a timetable for the U.S. to leave, around the same time as Cheney runs over there to pressure them to get with an oil profit sharing deal instead of going on a 2-month vacation. Anyone for another pipeline? The Kurds in the north, bordering Turkey (a potential pass-thru for a European pipeline), just happen to be the ones that hate the U.S. the least, only half of them instead of most of them. This might be a day late and a dollar short, but still, for what it’s worth.
So what happened to the trans-Afghanistan pipeline we heard about just a few years ago as an alleged reason to attack the country? Much industry news reports it as a fading idea, due to the persistence of instability in Taliban controlled areas. In other words, it’s not where the smart investment money is right now; which means, if the trend continues, U.S. interest in Afghanistan could soon vanish faster than a New Orleans neighborhood.
OK, maybe a couple of links.
Start with the U.S. Government, because, you know, your government loves you. At least they have some handy maps, and the correct spelling of country names, which can then be used to launch searches for more info.
Energy information administration:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Caspian/Background.html
CIA world factbook:
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html
Even the killing of this Taliban big shot wasn’t a win for the U.S. Turns out he was a Mad Dog who was alienating the people, so someone liquidated him assassination-style, resulting in increased support for the Taliban.
I saw a heart-breaking TV report about a Canadian Hearts-and-Minds unit in Afghanistan. They were always short on fulfilling their promises to the locals and then, after compromising them, were called away because of the military situation due to a lack of enough soldiers. No one knows what happened to the villagers who were compromised and then abandoned to the mercies of the Taliban–but it can’t have been good.
Thanks, yb for the great commentary and insight… and Montag, I appreciated your poem on the other thread. Well done…
I have no doubts that Cheney’s ’spur of the moment’ trip will end up producing exactly the opposite of what we here would like to see… mostly more of his Halimilk’em schemes… I pray that someone will interfvene soon to put a straglehold on all these WHIG and PNAC memebers…
I see Impeachment as our last and only solution at this point. We have lost our credibility and whatever good name we had throughout the International community. We are all part of the problem, if we don’t make ourselves part of the solution… Keep calling Congress. I’m making recycled signs as per freeway blogger… Let’s bring them all to trial… to the Hague… Peace
“Cheney runs over there to pressure them to get with an oil profit sharing deal”
Thanks, yb, for the info! Small correction. The oil law that the Bushies are foaming at the mouth to get signed is NOT an “oil profit sharing deal” - that is what it how it is being sold to the American public, but it is, in fact, the vehicle by which the neocons hope to obtain one of the things for which they went to Iraq - control of its oil.
So, here where we know better, let’s not use the Bushite’s propaganda terminology, please.
Shirin,
You mean propaganda like this guy?
“People sometimes say to me: ‘Be careful! You will have twenty years of guerrilla warfare on your hands!’ I am delighted at the prospect . . . Germany will remain in a state of perpetual alertness.”–Adolf Hitler, Aug. 29, 1942