Disillusioned Afghans Seen Turning on Karzai

President Karzai has been under pressure from the US and other allies to do something about the growing problem of corruption in his government, forcing him to shuffle his cabinet earlier this month. The mounting allegations have even extended to his family, with his brother reportedly linked to the nation’s burgeoning heroin trade.  >>>>>

Sources: US to waive visa rules for 7 countries

Congress last year enacted a law to expand the program while requiring that the government implement a system under which visitors from non-visa countries would have to register online with U.S. authorities before their departures and provide some personal information. Lieberman contends that program will not be in place when the new countries join. >>>>>

How Deeply is the U.S. involved in the Afghan Drug Trade?

The answer is simple and dismaying. America’s local allies in Afghanistan, the politicians and warlords who overthrew Taliban in 2001, are up to their turbans in the heroin trade. Drug money is the blood that courses through Afghanistan’s veins and keeps the economy limping along. The U.S.-installed Karzai regime in Kabul propped up by US and NATO bayonets has only two sources of income: cash handouts from Washington, and the proceeds of drug dealing.

When Taliban ruled 90% of Afghanistan from 1996-2001, it almost totally stamped out poppy cultivation as un-Islamic. The UN’s drug control agency has confirmed this fact. >>>>>

‘Collateral damage’ or targeted killing, the effect is much the same

But now I ask a question. When US troops massacre Iraqi civilians in Haditha because their buddy has been murdered, what is the difference between their revenge and that of Saddam? When a Taliban attack on Nato forces in Afghanistan provokes a US air strike on a village and leaves women and children torn to pieces in the ruins – this now seems the inevitable result – what is the difference between those innocent deaths and the destruction of the families of Abdullah’s grandchildren in Dujail?  >>>>>

US, Pakistan torn apart over terror

Commencing with the enormous backlash in Pakistan in the aftermath of the raid by US special forces on Angoori Ada in the tribal area of South Waziristan on September 3; the disclosure by the New York Times that President George W Bush issued secret orders allowing US special forces to undertake operations inside Pakistan without prior notice; and the aggressive statements of several Pakistani leaders, the entire country has been gripped by a wave of anti-American sentiment which the country’s top civilian and military leadership has also been quick to echo. >>>>>

French troops: We won’t go to Afghanistan

According to French media, troops in the 27th battalion stationed in a southern France military base said on Friday that they were unwilling to go to Afghanistan as part of France’s mission in the central Asian country…

Despite the fact that 50 percent of the French people oppose the deployment of thousands of troops to Afghanistan, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced at the last NATO summit in April that he would send an additional 700 French soldiers to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan, bringing the total to about 3,000.  Criticism of Sarkozy’s policies increased following the death of the 10 French soldiers. He has also faced severe criticism for being too close to US President George W. Bush’s administration.  >>>>>

Afghan President invites Taliban leader to join peace talks, ministry

Meanwhile, Mullah Omar demanded forces of NATO and US to withdraw from Afghanistan or face defeat.

“If you withdraw from our country, we will facilitate the ways for your withdrawal, failing which, like the Russians, you will face defeat in all corners of the world,” he said in a statement. >>>>>

Pakistan first

It is public that Bush signed a special order authorising attacks in sovereign Pakistan. It is a gross violation of international law, UN laws, EU laws and understandings between US, Pakistan, Afghanistan and NATO member states backed by EU. It is therefore time that Islamabad registers a case against Bush in International Court of Justice, for authorising killing of innocent Pakistanis. It is war crime. Bush’s presidential immunity does not go beyond American borders and rest of the world is run in accordance to international law not American constitution etc. >>>>>

NATO accused of sheltering Afghan heroin trade

Within the framework of the Russia-NATO Council Russia is financing and conducting special training for Afghan police squads dealing with drug trafficking. Unfortunately, for more than a year not a single Afghan policeman came to Russia for training which is no wonder considering the fact that all actions of Afghanistan’s security services should be sanctioned by the U.S. >>>>>

NATO bomb kills, wounds 12 civilians in E Afghanistan

“A NATO bomb missed its target and hit a house Tuesday, killing two civilians and wounding 10,” the newspaper said.

It quoted a NATO statement as saying “ISAF weapon malfunctioned which meant to target a spot used by insurgents to fire rockets.” >>>>>

Report: U.S., NATO airstrikes fuel Afghan public backlash

“U.S. investigations conducted have been unilateral, ponderous, and lacking in transparency, undercutting rather than improving relations with local populations and the Afghan government.”

The report also said a condolence payment system has not offered “timely and adequate compensation to assist civilians harmed by U.S. actions.” >>>>>

How about the U.S. keep their money from the condolence payment system, and let the Afghanis keep their blood?

Afghan president blames “the West” for Islamic extremism

The propaganda used to justify the US-led occupation in Afghanistan typically leaves out any explanation of the origins of tendencies such as Al Qaeda, the Taliban movement and other Islamist groups resisting American and NATO troops. The spin merchants of the so-called “war on terror” would have people believe that the US and its allies are fighting religious fanatics who have no support in the country and are motivated by an inexplicable and irrational hatred of Western civilisation.  >>>>>

US losing the moral high ground

First came reports that foreign and local troops had stormed a house in Kabul, killing a man, his wife and two children. Next, ISAF admitted four children had died in the south-eastern province of Paktika after being hit by its artillery.The question Afghans are asking is “Why do they do these things?” and, increasingly, there appears to be no obvious answer. Even Hamid Karzai, the country’s president, struggles to explain the reasons his allies make so many mistakes that cost innocent lives.  >>>>>

Interior Minister Denies Pakistan Cut Off NATO Afghan Access

In a move seen by some as the latest fallout from Wednesday morning’s US attack on South Waziristan, the Pakistani government has reportedly ordered that supply lines to NATO troops in Afghanistan be immediately severed for an indefinite period of time.  Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik later denied the report, insisting that the interruption was not retaliatory but only a temporary response to security reports, and that the link had already been restored.

The move comes as thousands of protesters marched through South Waziristan’s capital of Wana chanting “death to America”. Pakistani media cited unnamed sources who said the move came as the government feared retaliation from South Waziristan tribesmen for the US attack. >>>>>

COMMENTARY: Israel of the Caucasus?

Israel began selling arms to Georgia seven years ago. U.S. grants facilitated these purchases. From Israel came former minister and former mayor of Tel Aviv Roni Milo, representing Elbit Systems, and his brother Shlomo, former director-general of Military Industries. Israeli UAV spy drones, made by Elbit Maarahot Systems, conducted recon flights over southern Russia, as well as into nearby Iran.

In a secret agreement between Israel and Georgia, two military airfields in southern Georgia had been earmarked for the use of Israeli fighter bombers in the event of preemptive attacks against Iranian nuclear installations. This would sharply reduce the distance Israeli fighter bombers would have to fly to hit targets in Iran. And to reach Georgian airstrips, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) would fly over Turkey. >>>>>

Russia trifles with genocide

Of Russia’s many excuses for invading Georgia, its claim of preventing genocide has set back a new idea in human history. In 2005, the UN said the international community must intervene in countries suffering mass atrocities – putting mercy before sovereignty. Russia abused this idea in Georgia. The world now needs to save this humanitarian impulse to prevent real genocides. >>>>>

Thanks for the tip, CNS. Does this mandate apply to all the countries Muslims are dying in by the thousands?

Afghans urge coalition military changes

…The demands come after a U.S. airstrike Friday which the Afghan government says killed about 90 Afghan civilians and which the U.S.-led coalition says killed insurgents…

…”Unfortunately, to date, our demands have not been addressed, rather, more civilians — including women and children — are losing their lives as a result of air raids,” the council said.  >>>>>

The Zionist West Has Met Its Match

…This lunacy of backing Israel blindly for 60 years to the severe and brutal detriment of many Islamic nations in the Middle East (and now the Islamic peoples of the Caspian Basin, Iran and Pakistan) has proven to be a colossal mistake and monumental failure of US foreign policy. There is only so much belittling, demeaning, humiliating, abusing, maiming and killing any peoples of any land will tolerate. The US is no longer welcome in much of this world.  

The US is not hated for its freedoms. It is hated for its policies and what these butchers think they alone have the right to do to other nations, other human beings.  >>>>>

Afghanistan criticises US attack

Afghanistan’s president has criticised US forces for “unilateral operations” in the west which, the government says, killed at least 70 civilians.  >>>>>

 

 

These are a people who have always claimed that they do not support, nor were responsible for 9/11.  When asked, most Americans still can’t come up with the reason for why we attacked Afghanistan.  The real reason was planned years before the war, to seek a safehaven in controlling oil distribution via a pipeline.  The spark to war was the claim that Osama, who was living in Afghanistan be arrested and extradited without a tria, etc.  Afghanistan needed more evidence, and they were right.  We have already proven that we have lied our way into Iraq.  Since Afghanistan is misunderstood, and more impoverished than Iraqis (who weren’t at all), Americans are less likely to complain.

We have no true justification for being in either war, including by way of U.S. and international laws – much less the sovereign laws of the very same nation(s).  Karzai, our implanted head of state, who controls the patch of Afghanistan that he controls, continues to complain about what amounts to be war crimes.  When an ally is doing this, and those defending the occupation, how much more of a megaphone does one need?  These war crimes are not isolated incidents.  We are just having a tough time suppressing the complaints. 

Afghan militants kill 10 French, strike at US base

SUROBI, Afghanistan (AP) — Insurgents mounted two of the biggest attacks in years on Western forces in Afghanistan, killing 10 French soldiers in a mountain ambush and then sending a squad of suicide bombers in a failed assault early Tuesday on a U.S. base near the Pakistan border.

The audacious strikes suggested a bolder insurgency is now willing to launch frontal assaults on U.S. and NATO troops.  >>>>>

It’s about time that we, the Western powers, leave the region.  We had no justifiable reason for occupying them in the first place.