Tag: afghanistan

Participate in a Real ‘December Review’ of the War in Afghanistan

On Nov. 25, 2010, the occupation of Afghanistan by United States and NATO forces had already lasted nine years and 50 days. This date is a significant milestone, Jason Ditz of Antiwar.com points out, because nine years and 50 days is also how long the Soviet occupation of that country lasted. “That is how long … Continue reading “Participate in a Real ‘December Review’ of the War in Afghanistan”

COIN and the Afghan Refugee Crisis

“Will you decide what men shall live, what men shall die? It may be, that in the sight of Heaven, you are more worthless and less fit to live than millions like this poor man’s child….” – Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 1843 “Have yourself a merry merry Christmas Have yourself a good time But … Continue reading “COIN and the Afghan Refugee Crisis”

An Overeager Petraeus Ignored Danger Signs on Taliban Imposter

The revelation that the man presumed to be a high-ranking Taliban leader who had met with top Afghan officials was an imposter sheds new light on Gen. David Petraeus’s aggressive propaganda about the supposed Taliban approach to the Hamid Karzai regime. Ever since August, Petraeus had been playing up the Taliban’s supposed willingness to talk … Continue reading “An Overeager Petraeus Ignored Danger Signs on Taliban Imposter”

Petraeus’s Two Campaigns

[Note for TomDispatch Readers: Last Saturday, Chalmers Johnson died. I’m particularly proud that, in his last years, he did much of his most penetrating analysis of American militarism and our war state for this Web site. He penned his first piece for TomDispatch, “Assassins R Us,” in November 2003, called for abolishing the CIA here … Continue reading “Petraeus’s Two Campaigns”

NATO Summit Unlikely to Answer the Most Important Questions

To adapt to secular use a phrase from medieval mysticism, “the cloud of unknowing” deepens as the war-waging countries of North America and Western Europe approach their NATO “summit,” beginning Friday in Lisbon. The phrase is appropriate because in the past it spoke not only of the unknown, but the unknowable. The meeting’s avowed purpose … Continue reading “NATO Summit Unlikely to Answer the Most Important Questions”

The Stimulus Package in Kabul

You must have had a moment when you thought to yourself: It really isn’t going to end, is it? Not ever. Rationally, you know perfectly well that whatever your “it” might be will indeed end, because everything does, but your gut tells you something different. I had that moment recently when it came to the … Continue reading “The Stimulus Package in Kabul”

What Laila Sees

Kabul, Afghanistan – “We live in constant fear of suicide attacks,” said Laila, an Afghan woman who lives in Kandahar city and who visited with us yesterday. “When will the next one strike and where?” “Twelve days ago,” she continued, “a good friend was walking home from the mosque. A four-minute walk. An IED was … Continue reading “What Laila Sees”

Can W. Reinvent His Presidency?

As George W. Bush does a rash of media interviews to promote his new book, Decision Points, some people – even his nemesis, hip-hop star Kanye West – have begun to mute their criticisms of his presidency. This is nothing new; as time passes and old wounds heal, the nation’s impression of former presidents – … Continue reading “Can W. Reinvent His Presidency?”

Handicapping the Global Midterms

You can’t turn on the TV news or pick up a paper these days without stumbling across the latest political poll and the pros explaining how to parse it, or some set of commentators, pundits, and reporters placing their bets on the midterm elections. The media, of course, loves a political horse race and, as … Continue reading “Handicapping the Global Midterms”