Mike Pouraryan
The Attack on Kabul: The Day After
:
Now What!?!?
I continue to be in a state of shock at the brazen attack by the Taliban at the Center of Kabul. Kabul is supposed to be the most secure city in Afghanistan. The center of town where the Afghan Presidential Palace, the Arg, is is supposed to be even more secure. The gunmen got really close and made a lot of noise. If that does scare and concern all major players in Afghanistan today, I don't know what will.
As I noted in my daily write-up, the parallels with Vietnam are so profound. The U.S. and the South Vietnamese did defeat the Viet Cong. But, the defeat came at a heavy price. Seven years later, the humiliation of the Ambassador leaving is something that should concern all policy makers right now. I have seen reports that security within Government Buildings was not compromised. But, that was not the point that the Taliban made. With a handful of suicide bombers, they were able to strike at the heart of Kabul. There is no confidence no matter what the Afghan political players insist.
The Taliban won big yesterday. Anyone who denies that is denying the realities on the ground. Those who think Afghanistan is not Vietnam need to take stock of what Dr. King said back in 1967:
When I read about Karzai's cousins making millions at the expense of US tax payers, I shiver at how disconnected we are and how totally clueless we are. I see that as the biggest tragedy of it all.
As I noted in my daily write-up, the parallels with Vietnam are so profound. The U.S. and the South Vietnamese did defeat the Viet Cong. But, the defeat came at a heavy price. Seven years later, the humiliation of the Ambassador leaving is something that should concern all policy makers right now. I have seen reports that security within Government Buildings was not compromised. But, that was not the point that the Taliban made. With a handful of suicide bombers, they were able to strike at the heart of Kabul. There is no confidence no matter what the Afghan political players insist.
The Taliban won big yesterday. Anyone who denies that is denying the realities on the ground. Those who think Afghanistan is not Vietnam need to take stock of what Dr. King said back in 1967:
When I read about Karzai's cousins making millions at the expense of US tax payers, I shiver at how disconnected we are and how totally clueless we are. I see that as the biggest tragedy of it all.
