Tag: afghanistan

Lemmingly, We Roll Along

When soldiers die, the politicians who sent them to their deaths typically use euphemisms and circumlocutions — like “lost,” “fallen,” or “ultimate sacrifice.” On one level, the avoidance of blunt language can be seen as a sign of respect, but on another, it is just one more evasion of responsibility for the snuffing out of … Continue reading “Lemmingly, We Roll Along”

Canada’s Foreign Policy at Odds With Popular Priorities

TORONTO — Canada has flexed its military muscles, first in Afghanistan for nine years alongside NATO forces and now in Libya in its supply of ships and combat planes for the rebel forces, but little debate has happened on the ground among Canadians themselves on this direction. A recent summer opinion poll by Environics discovered … Continue reading “Canada’s Foreign Policy at Odds With Popular Priorities”

More Lost by the Second

It’s a bit odd to me that with my sense of geographical direction I’m ever regarded as a leader to guide groups in foreign travel. I’m recalling a steaming hot night in Lahore, Pakistan, when Josh Brollier and I, having enjoyed a lengthy dinner with Lahore University students, needed to head back to the guest … Continue reading “More Lost by the Second”

Stop Sacrificing American Lives for Afghan Debacle

The 38 dead in Saturday’s helicopter crash in Afghanistan include 31 Americans, making this the deadliest day for U.S. forces since the war began. The tragic loss of American lives might be worth the sacrifice if it were making America safer, or if our presence were significantly improving the well-being of the Afghan people. But … Continue reading “Stop Sacrificing American Lives for Afghan Debacle”

Ex-PM Says Taliban Offer Talks For Pullout Date

KABUL – The Taliban leadership is ready to negotiate peace with the United States right now if Washington indicates its willingness to provide a timetable for complete withdrawal, according to a former Afghan prime minister who set up a secret meeting between a senior Taliban official and a U.S. general two years ago. They also … Continue reading “Ex-PM Says Taliban Offer Talks For Pullout Date”

Taliban Backs Off From Attacking Civilians

PESHAWAR — A series of Taliban attacks selectively targeting Pakistani security forces is being seen as an attempt to shore up the flagging popularity of the fundamentalist Islamic scholars. “As long as the Taliban targeted security forces alone, the local people supported them as they believed it to be part of the jihad against the … Continue reading “Taliban Backs Off From Attacking Civilians”

What Really Goes on in Afghanistan?

The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said the following in a May 25 press release: Afghan and coalition forces air assaulted into Do-ab district, Nuristan province today to assess insurgent activity. … “We have seen the insurgent claims in the media. Our Afghan and coalition forces are on the ground. There is some fighting however … Continue reading “What Really Goes on in Afghanistan?”

Afghanistan: Leaving as Tragic as Staying

“What do we care?” That’s what Bing West, former assistant secretary of defense and Vietnam veteran, exclaimed when it was suggested that Afghanistan might slip “back into warlordism” if the U.S. military stopped focusing on governance and development there. “The reason we tried nation-building in Afghanistan was because of our hubris, on the one hand, … Continue reading “Afghanistan: Leaving as Tragic as Staying”

The Lies That Sold Obama’s Escalation in Afghanistan

A few days after Barack Obama’s December 2009 announcement of 33,000 more troops being sent to Afghanistan, in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Defense Secretary Robert Gates advanced the official justification for escalation: the Afghan Taliban would not abandon its ties with al-Qaeda unless forced to do so by US military force and … Continue reading “The Lies That Sold Obama’s Escalation in Afghanistan”