President Karzai and the Ally Deadline

Afghan President Hamid Karzai states that he has no problem with the withdrawal plan of the USA and NATO troops from his country in eighteen months. Even though it is unlikely Afghanistan will have time to train the approximate 250,000 soldiers they will need to continue the fight against the Taliban and al Quada, President Karzai is confident the Afghan people can take the initative and be ready.

Another interesting statement he made involves the Taliban. He stated that he has always wanted to open negations with the Taliban and that it has been th USA that has blocked the initiative.

Interesting. I suggest that President Karzai clean up the nepotism and corruption in his administration before meeting with the Taliban. After all, the Taliban way be extremist nuts but they frown on corruption and deceit, two things very prevalent in the current Afghan government.

I hope that President Karzai is serious about cleaning up his act and working with the the world aide agencies to better the condition of the people of Afghanistan. At the same time I hope he makes a real effort to create a true coalition government of the various tribes that make up Afghanistan and that he cooperates with the USA and NATO in what should be a very intense eighteen months.

Let us hope that the effort of the next eighteen months leads to the beginning for a democratic Afghanistan where all are truly equal. Or, at least more equal than they have ever been in the past.

If Karzai does not cooperate and reform, then our human and material treasures will have been wasted in Afghanistan and that is unacceptable.

Its Common Sense!

Return of the Taliban

Evidently the United States cannot continue to pay for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Secretary of Defense Gates is now telling the members of NATO, as well as Japan, who do not have troops in Afghanistan, that they either have to provide troops or money to train Afghan troops. What a way to win friends and influence people. What is it about the leaders of our country that makes them think they can tell other nations what to do? We committed ourselves to these wars, we need to take care of our people. If we can find allies, great, but to badger other nations and mandate what they should do just doesn't cut it.

Of course we all know that Afghanistan is the war we should have fought all along. We could be making the poppy growers pay for the war and keeping heroin off of our streets. Of course that is not going to happen. I get the feeling that many of President Karzai's biggest supports are in the drug trade and he is going to do nothing to disrupt their income. Since the USA does not have adequate troops in Afghanistan, there is nothing we can do about the situation either.

Now I have learned that several top members of the Taliban were in Saudi Arabia last month dining with the king. Could it be that the Saudis are trying to broker a peace between the Karzai government and the Taliban? The Taliban are dangerous fundamentalist and I fear the King of Saudi Arabia is trying to find a place to send his nut jobs so they do not become a threat to his throne. Afghanistan is suppose to have a presidential election within a year.

If the king brokers a peace agreement between Karzai and the Taliban, then with the arrival of "peace" there is no longer a need for American or NATO troops. (I have to believe that the only thing the Japanese may contribute is money after what happened to their people in Iraq.)
Bin Laden can come out of the cave in Pakistan where he has been hiding and take up residence, legally, in Kabul.

Why did George W get side tracked with Iraq? Why did he give up on hunting the perpetrator of 9/11?

The scenario I envision - a deal between Karzai and the Talban, Afghanistan turning into an Islamic Fundamentalist State, with maybe a lessening of the rules the Taliban loves, (until Karzai disappears) - leaving us right back where we started six years ago. What the hell?

Our leaders have once again put our country in a no win situation. Regardless of who becomes president, if Karzai and the Taliban make a deal, we lose. I have no idea what deals are being made, to what extent the King of Saudi Arabia will use his money and influence to make the deal, but I believe the deal is coming.

Of course maybe I'll be wrong. Maybe Karzai will stand strong against the Taliban and the USA and her allies will take out Bin Laden, Al Queda and the Taliban. I do not see that happening, but I pray it happens.

Listen to what the candidates are saying about Afghanistan. Our economic crisis is giving our enemies an opportunity to run wild because the media is not paying attention and unfortunately I think they know more sometimes than our so called intelligence services.

Stay alert, let your voices be heard.

Its Common Sense.