Related: Karzai Kicks Out U.S. Contractors
Sigh.
Yeah, that is what you are dying for -- that, oil pipelines, and drug profits.
"Karzai now says he will back anticorruption panels; Afghan leader’s decision follows a push by Kerry" by Farah Stockman, Globe Staff | August 21, 2010
WASHINGTON — After diplomatic prodding from Senator John F. Kerry, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said yesterday that anticorruption task forces in his country should be permitted to do their job “free from foreign interference or political influence.’’
The statements from the presidential palace came hours after Karzai met and dined with Kerry, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who was in Kabul to warn the Afghan president that he risks losing the support of Congress unless he proves he is serious about fighting corruption in the US-backed government....
Like what, you are going to pull the plug on the war spending?
Pffft!
I love MSM cover stories, don't you?
The REAL REASON Kerry was THERE!
Kerry said he also personally asked Karzai to be flexible about his sudden demand for the disbanding of private security companies within four months — including both foreign and Afghan contract forces. The Obama administration supports Karzai’s plan to rein in militias, Kerry said, but four months is too short a time frame to develop alternative ways to protect aid projects and convoys that deliver essential goods to US bases....
Why don't we just pay Taliban like we have been doing?
Also see: Why Obama Went to Afghanistan
How come the AmeriKan MSM never tells you the truth about anything?
Even after Karzai’s statement, Kerry struck a cautious note regarding the Afghan leader’s commitment.
“Prominent [corruption] cases are going to have to move forward,’’ said Kerry in a telephone interview during a layover in Dubai after a grueling trip that included visits to war-scarred Kandahar and a tour of the flood-affected territories of Pakistan. If they don’t, he said, “we are on a path for some confrontation, which does not help our larger mission.’’
Ah, the burdens of empire.
*******
Kerry’s efforts were aimed at lessening tension over a standoff between Karzai and two US-backed Afghan law enforcement units — the Major Crimes Task Force and the Special Investigative Unit — which have targeted officials in Karzai’s government.
The units have far more powers and resources than local police, including arrest, surveillance, and wiretaps, causing Karzai to complain that they operate outside of the Afghan Constitution at the behest of foreign powers.
After the recent predawn arrest of one of Karzai’s senior security advisers, Mohammad Zia Salehi, on allegations that he accepted a car as payment to help shut down another corruption investigation, Karzai intervened personally to have Salehi released, according to a report in the Washington Post.
Yesterday, Kerry declined to say whether Salehi must be rearrested, but he said: “The case has to move forward under the law.’’
So when are you and yours going to crackdown on the wasteful war looters we rarely read about over here, Johnnie?
Kerry added that Karzai had some “legitimate concerns’’ about the creation of entities that appear to operate outside of the Afghan legal system.
“He doesn’t want parallel systems in his country,’’ Kerry said. “There are some legitimate concerns about who is calling the shots.’’
As long as the AmeriKan military is there.... need I finish the thought?
Candace Rondeaux, the International Crisis Group’s senior analyst based in Kabul, said it is not clear what Karzai will do in the days ahead, but that he has come to see the units as a threat.
“Karzai at this stage is trying to protect his power, and right now, he sees his power located in the protection of this core group of people who support him,’’ she said. “Karzai’s constituents today consist of criminal syndicates, former warlords, [and] businessmen who are on the verge of becoming warlords.’’
But it is OKAY because they are OUR WARLORDS, America!
See: Slow Saturday Special: AmeriKa's Mass Grave in Afghanistan
Much better than icky-pooh Taliban that have lived there for centuries.
US officials heavily vet the Afghans on the task force and use polygraphs to try to ensure that they are not corrupt....
Then why are they shooting up coalition squadrons?
State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said Kerry went to Kabul on his own and was not sent by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, although Dan Feldman, deputy to Richard Holbrooke, the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, also went on the trip. Karl Eikenberry, the US ambassador to Afghanistan, was involved in some of the meetings.
Who cares how many crypto-Zionists and Zionists contributed to the global warming problem by going with him?
Kerry also praised the Pakistani military for helping to rescue people in flood-affected Pakistan, where millions remain homeless....
See: Pakistan's Oasis
“It is really devastating,’’ said Kerry, who said the country needs more support. “It has enormous consequences and it will require a great deal of support from the outside.’’
And more missiles rained down on them (sorry, bad pun and choice of words).
And was clean government worth the sacrifices, America?
"FALLEN ARMY RANGER LAID TO REST IN N.H. -- Patricia Nicol (right), mother of Sergeant Andrew Nicol, followed the casket holding the 23-year-old Army Ranger yesterday as it was carried from Holy Family Parish in Amesbury. The Kensington, N.H., man died Aug. 8 from wounds suffered in an improvised explosive attack on his unit in Afghanistan. He was buried in the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen (Boston Globe August 19 2010)."
"Taliban attack road crew; several dead" by Amir Shah and Mirwais Khan, Associated Press | August 20, 2010
KABUL, Afghanistan — Also yesterday, US Command said an American service member was killed the day before in fighting in the south, where Afghan and international forces were pushing into areas long held by Taliban insurgents. The death brought to at least 17 the number of US troops killed in Afghanistan this month. Sixty-six American troops died in July — the deadliest month for US forces in the nearly 9-year-old war....
In neighboring Kandahar Province, eight NATO service members were injured when their helicopter made a hard landing during a joint Afghan and coalition operation. According to initial reports, the aircraft was not taking enemy fire. An investigation is underway....
I won't be holding my breath.
--more--"
"Karzai helped accused official; Aide was charged with corruption" by Eric Schmitt, New York Times | August 23, 2010
WASHINGTON — Also yesterday, four US troops were killed in fighting in eastern and southern Afghanistan. Three of the troops died in insurgent attacks and one was killed by a homemade bomb, NATO said.
The deaths bring the number of international forces killed in Afghanistan this month to 42, including 28 Americans. Sixty-six American troops were killed in July, making it the deadliest month for US forces in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion.
The exact places where the casualties occurred were not given, although heavy fighting was reported in Jaji district of eastern Paktiya Province, about 12 miles from the border with Pakistan....
--more--"
"Afghan force readiness a year off; Trainer’s estimate hints of problem for US exit plans" by Anne Flaherty, Associated Press | August 24, 2010
WASHINGTON — Attacks by insurgents killed five foreign troops in Afghanistan yesterday, including two Americans, two French marines, and a Hungarian soldier. The attacks came in the north, south, and east of the war-torn country, the military alliance said....
Yesterday’s deaths bring the number of foreign forces killed in Afghanistan this month to 47, including 30 Americans. No additional information was given about the latest American casualties....
France’s Defense Ministry said a lieutenant and corporal from the 21st Marine Infantry Regiment were killed in a gun battle in the Bedraou Valley in the eastern province of Kapisa. Three other French troops were wounded, it said.
The deaths bring the number of French troops killed in the Afghan war to 47. The French contingent to the NATO-led international force numbers about 4,000.
Hungary’s Defense Ministry said its soldier was killed after his convoy was hit by a blast and then strafed by gunfire from all sides. The attack occurred 12 miles northwest of the town of Pul-e Khumri in the northern province of Baghlan.
The new deaths occurred amid a particularly bloody period for international troops, with 66 Americans killed in July, the deadliest month for the United States in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion that overthrew the hard-line Islamist Taliban government.--more--"
"Two Vt. Guardsmen killed in Afghanistan; Firefight wounds 3d soldier in unit" by Lisa Rathke, Associated Press | August 25, 2010
COLCHESTER, Vt. — Two Vermont National Guard soldiers — one from Vermont, one from Connecticut — were killed in a firefight in Afghanistan, officials said yesterday.
Sergeant Tristan Southworth, 21, of Walden, and Sergeant Steven J. Deluzio, 25, of South Glastonbury, Conn., died Sunday in a prolonged gun battle after their unit was attacked by insurgents using small arms and rocket-propelled grenades in Paktika Province, about 12 miles west of the border with Pakistan.
An Afghan border police officer was killed in the battle and another Vermont soldier was wounded, the National Guard said. The wounded soldier, whose name was not released, is expected to return to duty.
You know, this is NOT for what the NATIONAL GUARD was meant!
Vermont Guard officials had no details about how Deluzio was killed.
Friendly fire?
Southworth was trying to rescue a fellow soldier when he died, the Guard said.
Or is this just another military deception like Lynch, Tillman, and who knows who else?
Southworth had the same compassion for others in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, where he was a three-sport standout at Hazen Union School, according to Aaron Hill, his basketball coach....
Southworth joined the Guard while in high school in April 2006, graduated from Hazen Union in 2007, and was deployed to Afghanistan in March....
When are you finally going to kick the military out of your schools, America?
Not as long as that federal dollar is your savior, huh?
See: An Army Life
I thought ONLY TERRORISTS RECRUITED 13- and 14-year-olds!!!!!
“This is a tough time in Afghanistan for our brigade,’’ said Vermont National Guard Major General Michael Dubie, who reassured guardsmen’s families that the soldiers are highly trained and well prepared....
Southworth leaves his parents and two younger brothers.
Deluzio leaves his parents, his fiancee, and a brother, Staff Sergeant Scott Deluzio, a member of the Connecticut Guard who returned from Afghanistan for his funeral.
“He’s a hero, and he’s the greatest son,’’ said their father, Mark, his voice choking with emotion. “Two sons I have — the greatest you could ever ask for.’’
Parents should never bury their children.
--more--"
Is it worth it, America?
"Fight vs. corruption challenges US; Karzai has vowed to impose limits on investigators" by Rod Nordland and Mark Mazzetti, New York Times | August 24, 2010
I thought Kerry got him to back down?
KABUL, Afghanistan — As corruption investigations begin to focus on President Hamid Karzai’s inner circle, an Afghan official yesterday pinned blame for endemic corruption in Afghanistan on foreign contractors, who he said had created an “economic mafia’’ in the war-torn country....
Related: The OverBearing Government of Afghanistan
The REAL RULERS of Afghanistan.
Updates:
"CIA reportedly pays Afghan officials; Practice seen as a method to cultivate sources" by Kimberly Dozier, Associated Press | August 28, 2010
WASHINGTON — The CIA has multiple members of the Afghan government on its payroll in order to help it keep track of various factions within the Afghan government, according to former US officials.
YOUR TAX DOLLARS at WORK, America!!
These individuals confirmed reports that the agency has used payments to cultivate intelligence sources across the Afghan government, a practice that has raised concerns at a time when the United States is fighting corruption there.
I can't imagine why!
See: The Boston Globe's Invisible Ink: Karzai's Kin
Isn't this getting to be a bit silly, America?
The New York Times and the Washington Post have reported the agency is paying Mohammed Zia Salehi, the chief of administration for Afghanistan’s National Security Council, for information.
Salehi is accused of accepting a car in exchange for his help in exerting pressure on Afghan officials to ease off in another corruption case.
He didn't bargain for more?
The United States has said it views Salehi’s arrest as a test case of Karzai’s willingness to battle corruption in his government. But the revelation that he has also received payments from the US spy agency demonstrates the complex relationship Washington has developed with the Afghan government....
Is that what they are calling all the double-crossing deceptions these days?
A current and several former US government officials said the United States has little choice but to cut deals with corrupt individuals....
Right, we have little choice.
If so, I CHOOSE to LEAVE!
“The real issue here is clearly defining the US government’s priorities in Afghanistan,’’ said one of current US officials, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to talk about classified intelligence matters....
Oil pipeline. Drug trade profits. Base for power projection (not necessarily in that order).
The official said it was not news that the United States secretly makes payments to foreign government figures....
Yup, it is SOP!!!!
Three former senior intelligence officials also said it was common practice for the intelligence community to develop sources of information within fragile or hostile foreign governments. The former officials spoke anonymously because they are not authorized to talk about classified matters to the media.
Yeah, you see, it is OKAY if WE SPY on YOU!!!
One of the officials explained that from 2003 to 2004, the CIA had “a third of Iraq’s original coalition government on the payroll.’’ He added, “One of the first things we attempted to do when we went into Iraq is buy the loyalty of the former Ba’athists, so they wouldn’t fight us. You buy the leadership.’’
We BOUGHT Saddam's guys, huh?!!?!
Then WTF did we FIGHT the WAR FOR?!!!
I guess that is sort of the way ISRAEL has BOUGHT AmeriKa, huh?
UN-FLIPPING-REAL, readers!
"Homemade bombs leave three US troops dead" by Associated Press | August 28, 2010
KABUL, Afghanistan — Homemade bombs killed three US troops in southern and eastern Afghanistan yesterday....
No other details about the attacks on the US troops were given by NATO.
A total of 55 foreign troops have been killed in Afghanistan this month, including 35 Americans, according to a count by the Associated Press. July was the deadliest month for US forces in Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion, with 66 killed.
US troops make up about 100,000 of the 120,000-strong foreign military contingent in Afghanistan, most in the south and east, where the Taliban is most entrenched....
Worth it, America?
