Taliban attacked two US forward operating bases on Saturday a day after home-made bombs killed 3 US soldiers. The Afghan Persian press reports that NATO sources say 11 insurgents were killed and that little damage was inflicted on the US bases or personnel.
On Wednesday, according to official Iranian news sources, Afghan mobs had invaded a base in Badghis to the north and set fire to part of it, as a way of protesting the killing of an Afghan soldier by Spanish troops on whom he had turned.
Documentary film-maker Paul Refsdal has done a unique segment on the Taliban shot while he lived with them…
The attacks came as President Hamid Karzai lambasted the Obama administration for its plans to begin a drawdown from Afghanistan in summer, 2011, saying that the deadline was giving heart to enemies of the new government.
At the same time, the Washington Post has revealed that the US Central Intelligence Agency has a number of officials high in the Afghan government on its payroll, in part as a way of keeping an eye on the unpredictable Karzai.
I still have no idea why the US is in Afghanistan. I wish the US would come clean with the REAL reasons …..
Please let us simply leave Afghanistan, immediately and completely leave. As for Karzai criticizing the President, Karzai is only following the lead of American generals who have repeatedly criticized the President:
link to democracynow.org
August 25, 2010
Top US Marine: Withdrawal Deadline Boosting Taliban Morale
By Amy Goodman
The top US Marine is questioning the Obama administration’s non-binding timetable for beginning a US withdrawal from Afghanistan next year. On Tuesday, General James Conway said the July 2011 target date is boosting the morale of Taliban fighters.
“In terms of the July ’11 issue, you know, I think if you—if you follow it closely, and of course we all do, we know the President was talking to several audiences at the same time when he made his comments on July 2011. In some ways, we think, right now, it’s probably giving our enemy sustenance. We think that he may be saying to himself—in fact we’ve intercepted communications that say, ‘Hey, you know, we only have to hold out for so long.'”
Conway went on to say he thinks the withdrawal will be pushed back at least “a few years” because Afghan troops won’t be ready to assume full control.
The US foreign policy in Afghanistan reminds me of a line from ALICE IN WONERLAND, “When you don’ t know where you are going, all roads take you there.”
I found the Taliban video an extraordinary counterpoint to Wikileaks Collateral Murder. Really stunning and thought provoking — these are the forces who we are most definitely NOT “bringing to heel.” The quiet discipline, the pretty-much utter seriousness, the palpable solidarity of this little group. I am unable to find the full video — extended link says not available in “your area” (USA, I presume). Thanks again, always.
It’s like manys another war, it’s easier to get in than it is to get out.
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