Tag: hamid karzai

As Iraq Threatens to Come Apart, US Problems in Afghanistan Mount

Washington once again finds itself dangerously entangled with the hostile policies, nationalistic interests and supporters, and personal ambitions of a foreign figure whom it counted on to serve American interests. This time it is in Afghanistan, the latest in what, alas, must be described as America’s quasi-imperial foreign military adventures. This is a country to … Continue reading “As Iraq Threatens to Come Apart, US Problems in Afghanistan Mount”

US, Karzai Clash on Unconditional Talks With Taliban

KABUL – On the surface, it would seem unlikely that Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who presides over a politically feeble government and is highly dependent on the U.S. military presence and economic assistance, would defy the United States on the issue of peace negotiations with the leadership of the Taliban insurgency. But a long-simmering conflict … Continue reading “US, Karzai Clash on Unconditional Talks With Taliban”

Our National Cognitive Dissonance

“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.” – Bertrand Russell Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on the Sunday gab circuit that rooting al-Qaeda out from Afghanistan is our only goal in that country. That’s interesting, considering that … Continue reading “Our National Cognitive Dissonance”

Afghanistan as a Patronage Machine

It’s now a commonplace of the Afghan War. Western leaders in London, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Washington, as well as on flying visits to Kabul or even Kandahar, excoriate Afghan President Hamid Karzai for the “corruption” of his government. In return for their ongoing support, they repeatedly demand that he take significant action to “step up … Continue reading “Afghanistan as a Patronage Machine”

Hillary’s Dope Deal?

Adnkronos International (AKI), the Italian news agency, reports that the U.S., in the person of Hillary Clinton, pressured Hamid Karzai rival Abdullah Abdullah to drop out of the presidential race. The way AKI describes it, this was the biggest foreign policy coup of the Obama administration to date. It was a four-or-more-way swindle in which … Continue reading “Hillary’s Dope Deal?”

‘Twas Brillig in Bananastan

Who’s the bigger fraud: Hamid Karzai, or the phalanx of Western toads who are hailing him as the "legitimate" president of Afghanistan? To review the bidding: Karzai appointed a gang of crooks as election officials who threw the original election to his corner. UN election monitors tossed out a million or so votes, so Karzai … Continue reading “‘Twas Brillig in Bananastan”

Tossing the COIN in Afghanistan

Our new counterinsurgency doctrine [.pdf] is obsolete before it has even been tried. If you have a high tolerance for asininity, go directly to the Web site of "President" Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and feast your eyes on the litany of congratulations emanating from world leaders upon his election "victory." From an official statement by … Continue reading “Tossing the COIN in Afghanistan”

The American Way of Abandonment

When America is about to throw an ally to the wolves, we follow an established ritual. We discover that the man we supported was never really morally fit to be a friend or partner of the United States. When Chiang Kai-shek, who fought the Japanese for four years before Pearl Harbor, began losing to Mao’s … Continue reading “The American Way of Abandonment”

Questions on the Eve of the Afghan Election

How many Marines and soldiers will die in Afghanistan before the mainstream media dares to speak the truth and ask questions based thereon? Yes, it is the mainstream media that is keeping us locked in Afghanistan, and they are doing so for two reasons: They will do almost anything to avoid asking President Obama a … Continue reading “Questions on the Eve of the Afghan Election”

Afghan Election 2009: Freedom, Fraud, and Fornication

In those heady days of 2003, when the War Party was really feeling its oats and the neocons, the "warbloggers," and the television talking heads were triumphantly hailing the invasion of Iraq as an unqualified success, one Iraqi pretty much summed up the Arab response to the "liberation," as reported by the New York Times: … Continue reading “Afghan Election 2009: Freedom, Fraud, and Fornication”