Welcome to Outsiderviews. This forum provides an opportunity for outsiders to think and reflect upon our ever-changing world. Thanks for your visit and your interest.
The Gaza War has temporarily shifted focus on another crucial war: Afghanistan. Earlier today, an Australian soldier lost his life when the Taliban attacked with rockets. The Taliban continue to tighten their grip on the countryside.
As I saw the report of the Australian soldier, the simple question in my mind is where and how the Taliban is getting the ammunition needed to fight the most sophisticated fighting machine the world has ever seen. The world has 75,000 troops fighting in Afghanistan. I realize that the Taliban are financing part of their cost with the increased Poppy production. Until the fundemental problems in Afghanistan is truly addressed, this vicious cycle will continue. I wonder what the useless Karzai's response to this truly is.
:I wonder what Karzai's response is? Not Much.....
This is one proof of what is going on with the Afghans right now:
As all watch this clip, there has to be a realization of the extent of the challenge facing the incoming Obama Adminstration. Although Mr. Obama has talked about the Afghan Problems, this human toll on what has been going on is simply not acceptable. The useless Karzai seems not to have any clue as what is going on in his own country. Sending more than 30,000 US Troops also bothers me a great deal. Admiral Mullen is right now in Afghanistan and talked about it earlier.
Now, as the issue of security becomes center stage, we seem to forget about the toll on the average Afghan. I noted the desparation that is driving Afghan Men to go to Iran looking for work. The reality is Iran is just as bleak. I wrote about it earlier.
Right now, the Taliban are winning. They won't take this lying down. The Taliban understand how to adapt. There has to be a way to get these people to sit down and talk. Seven years of war has done nothing but further push Afghans down to a path of further poverty and depravation. I wonder if the Taliban will indeed have the last laugh or will this be a true success by the international community. One thing is for sure: Karzai has to go. I am sure that Afghans will agree.
I have been reading with horror what has been happening in Mumbai. A group of thugs that calls themselves the Deccan Mujahedeen assaulted the two major hotels (Oberoi and Taj Mahal) and apparently has taken hostages. 80 People have died. Right now, Al Jazeera is reporting live that the TAJ is still on fire and live pictures are being shown. Riz Khan is right now reporting that things have fallen apart in the City. This is a city that is the financial center of India.
I remember the TAJ. I had the good fortune to stay at the TAJ and visit the Oberoi years ago. It was one of the most beautiful hotels in the world that I have stayed at. The people who have done this are, in my view, animals. There is no question that India is the emerging superpower. But, the attacks throughout the year concerns me greatly. What is even more bothersome is the fact that British and American passport holders were targeted. George W. Bush always used to remind everyone that Terrorists have to be right just once. They were right on in Mumbai. I have also seen reports that security forces have captured some people. I hope they will get to the bottom of this. All of us around the world have to realize that we are all victims of this attack. What drives such people to carry out such acts? Why should anyone have to suffer? I wonder if these animals truly realize that even one life matters. I suppose if they did they would not walk into a hotel and start shooting or strap bombs onto themselves and blow themselves up. Adults will somehow overcome. But, what about a child?
What did this child do to deserve this?
Right now, the sense of shock and chaos is still prevailing upon Mumbai. CNN, France24, BBC, Al Jazeera & other major news outlets continue to report this nonstop. Of all the places that has been attacked, I am trying to figure out why hospitals were attacked. Is no where safe now?
Bin Laden's number two, AL Zawhari, barked up and attacked Barack Obama today. He called Barack Obama a "house slave" according to the translation I read on the BBC. I wonder why he is given the stage and the publicity as he is. The fact that he is calling for the killing of innocent civilians is against the very tenants of Islam. All faiths call for dialogue, love and understanding. Unfortunately, he and his boss have blood on their hands by virtue of what they have espoused. Although they seem to be on the run, the fact does remain that they are dangerous and must be dealt with harshly. The fire that Al Qaeda began has consumed Pakistan and pushed it to the edge of the abyss. It is to be one of the many challenges that Barack Obama will face when he takes over the reigns of Government. Some interesting guidance is at hand in this excellent reporting done by the Real News:
I wrote earlier about the useless Karzai offering to meet w/Mullah Omar. I actually tracked down and listened to his entire comment. To paraphase the fool, he said that if the foreign powers did not like his proposal, they can remove him. He just admitted that he is just a simple stooge and has no moral basis to occupy the position. Because of this, I hope the Foreign Powers who have kept him as a nominal figurehead will in fact remove the idiot. All of us have committed our treasure and our blood for Afghanistan. So far, nothing has happened. It broke my heart when walking around the local memorial to the fallen erected at Mission Viejo City Hall in Mission Viejo, California. The men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice were from all walks of life. They were fathers, brothers, sisters, sons and daugthers who were forever lost to all us. Yet, we have to continue to prop up a useless fool who readily admits that he has lost all crediblity. I do take comfort in Barack Obama having noted that there are problems with the people in charge in Afghanistan. This really proved to me why the Taliban has gained as it has. It is not because NATO has not tried. It is because NATO can't do it alone.
January 20th cannot arrive fast enough so that we can hopefully see some movement. TIme is of the essence. Barack Obama seems to realize that.
Karzai wants to see Mullah Omar!! My first reaction when I see the dispatches was, so what???? The man has no crediblity and no mandate. Mullah Omar cotrols 80% of Afghanistan. Why would Mullah Omar want to talk to Karzai? karzai is a useless, corrupt fool who is a stooge. The Taliban are not a solution, either. But, the Afghan Government exists in name only. The Taliban, to me, need to be also have a battle for the hearts and minds. If they truly want to be an alterative, they have to work on building schools, creating a stable environment, elevate the rights of women and not go around destroying schools. They are not a viable alternative. But, what is there now is not working either. All that is happening is that innocent civilians and poor soldiers are dying to no avail. I would be quite interested to see what the reaction of the Taliban is.
The so-called President of Afghanistan is in London. I was just listening to him on the BBC. He wants resources for the Afghan Government to do its' job to overcome drugs, the taliban threat and everything else. The question I have for the idiot is this: what do you think the world has done over the past seven years? The world has paid a heavy price. Yet the useless fool keeps asking for more. Until the fool is no more, Afghanistan will not change. As for the Taliban, they now seem to understand how to play the publicity game. There was a spokesman actually talking to the BBC. The Taliban are stronger while the world figures out what to do. At least Barack Obama is thinking about a bit more than just throwing more soldiers at the problem.
I can't help but be worried. As I continue to write about our world, I want to remain hopeful. But, the bad news continues coming in. The Dow lost over 300 points on Friday. As America continues to be in the midst of a Presidential Campaign, the world seems to be falling apart. BBC is reporting on a very disturbing development in Colombia threatens to undermine all that seems to have been achieved in the so-called war on drugs. A number of Army colonels have been sacked because they apparently kidnapped homeless men and then killed them to secure body counts and in turn promotions. Colombia was the same country, of course, that pulled off the release of Ingrid Betancourt and others using the emblems of the International commitee for the Red Cross. I view it as a bothersome development because it will undermine the very perilous nature of achievements made in the war on drugs that the world seems to be losing. Look at what is going on in Mexico. I regard Uribe as the ultimate teflon, though. I think he would muddle through as he has through other crisis.
The more worrisome development, though, is the killing of foreigners in the center of the Afghan capital, Kabul. Afghanistan is on fire. Karzai is useless and is a lost case. I am heartened by Joe Klein's comments on Time.com about Barack Obama's views. According to Klein, Barack Obama (and General Petreaus) are in favor of negotiations with the Taliban. I would be interested in any alternative anyone could offer. Right now, I see none
There has been talk about applying the Iraq "surge principles" to Afghanistan. I have read of commanders complaining about the fact that adequate resources are not available. There was also an overture by the useless Karzai to engage the Saudis to have the Taliban come back to the negotiating table.
First of, as it stands now, the Taliban are winning. Karzai has no crediblity in my view. The Taliban's only requirements is for Foreign Troops to get out of Afghanistan. If that happens, the house of cards built around Karzai is going to collapse. Then, the world is back to square one after all the blood, sweat and tears that has been spent. I view the need to have a political settlement, though, as vital to this disastrous war coming to an end. Fortunately, I am not alone in this assessment. According to a story posted on the London Sunday Times for October 5, The Senior Military commander in Afghanistan for British Forces, Brigadier Mark Carleton-Smith, noted that a deal with the Taliban should be considered. In addition, the same report notes a memo from a French diplomat quoting the British Ambassador, nothing that the current strategy was "doomed to fail". We all must take note of such doubts and think through a strategy. The shooting war that has pursued has clearly not worked
There is a story on CNN's political ticker about Sarah Palin and Hamid Karzai meeting during the UN General Assembly meeting this coming week. I guess the idea is to "bolster" Governor Palin's foreign policy credentials. When I read this, I laughed.
If the intent of the McCain campaign is to pump up Sarah Palin's Foreign Policy Credentials, they ought to have picked someone else. Karzai is the problem. He has no control over his country. He can't even control Kabul. He can't even control his own family. The Taliban have sway over 80% of the country. She can look "Presidential" all she wants. At least I would have hoped that the McCain Campaign would have the sense to choose someone else
Alitalia, the Italian national airline, is on the verge of bankrupcy. It has been on virtual life support for many years now. I find poetic justice because Silvio Berlussconi, the con man and friend of George W. Bush--who happens to be Italy's Prime Minister, promised to save Alitalia. The man is as full of himself as it possibly can be. Italy is the sick man of Europe. He dominates the media, has been repeatedly indicted on corruption charges and has spent the last number of years trying to shield himself and his buddies. Although I am sorry for the poor employees who have been backed into a corner and will lose their jobs and livelihood, Berlussconi will be shown to be a fraud. Although he will try and fashion the message in a way to blame the poor employees. Romano Prodi tried to engineer a deal with Air France-KLM. Berlussconi blocked it. What the Italian people see in him I don't understand. The people will be losers, yet again.
Mike Pouraryan
Add Comments
Read More
