Tag: afghanistan

Bloggers Chasten Washington Know-It-Alls

When the elite meet – and speak – we listen, especially in Washington, where every word uttered by the chosen few is like a breadcrumb tossed out for a starving man. Washington’s national security elite gathered itself up to deliver a full feast this month, collectively declaring that the Afghanistan policy is a disaster and … Continue reading “Bloggers Chasten Washington Know-It-Alls”

For Afghan Refugees, Polls Are Far and Near

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Afghan voters just went to national parliamentary elections, but refugees from that country here in neighboring Pakistan could only rue the fact that they have been left out of this vote. Some 2 million Afghans living overseas in Pakistan and Iran took part in the 2004 presidential election and the first parliamentary … Continue reading “For Afghan Refugees, Polls Are Far and Near”

The Petraeus Bait and Switch

In interviews in recent weeks, Gen. David Petraeus has been taking a line on what will happen in mid-2011 that challenges President Barack Obama’s intention to begin a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan by that date. This new Petraeus line is the culmination of a brazen bait-and-switch maneuver on the war by the most powerful military … Continue reading “The Petraeus Bait and Switch”

Doubling of Night Raids Backfired in Kandahar

During a round of media interviews last month, Gen. David Petraeus released totals for the alleged results of nearly 3,000 "night raids" by Special Operations Forces (SOF) units over the 90 days from May through July: 365 "insurgent leaders" killed or captured, 1,355 Taliban "rank and file" fighters captured, and 1,031 killed. Those figures were … Continue reading “Doubling of Night Raids Backfired in Kandahar”

The American Way of War Quiz

Yes, it would be funny if it weren’t so grim. After all, when it comes to squandering money and resources in strange and distant places (or even here at home), you can count on the practitioners of American-style war to be wildly over the top. Oh, those madcap Pentagon bureaucrats and the zany horde of … Continue reading “The American Way of War Quiz”

Calls for Change of Afghan Strategy Grow Louder

Amid continued high levels of violence and a steady stream of reports of high-level government corruption in Kabul, a growing number of foreign policy specialists are urging President Barack Obama to reconsider his counterinsurgency (COIN) strategy in Afghanistan. In a new report released here Wednesday, a bipartisan group of some three dozen former senior officials, … Continue reading “Calls for Change of Afghan Strategy Grow Louder”

What Obama Should Have Said About Afghanistan

My Fellow Americans, … so much for Iraq. Turning now to Afghanistan, let me be clear. My learning curve has been steep, as the New York Times noted last weekend. The curve has also been jagged as I have tried to assimilate the not-always-consistent advice the four-star generals have given me. It’s been more than … Continue reading “What Obama Should Have Said About Afghanistan”