With alleged massacre suspect Staff SGT. Robert Bales being charged with 17 counts of murdering Afghan civilians as they slept, the Karzai regime calling America's military satanic demons and the Taliban saying they have little faith in America justice while vowing violent retribution, its hard for us to fathom any deal or partnership being worth the paper its written on.
In a teary eyed and anger inspired rant, at a meeting with relatives of the massacre victims Karzai stated "They claim they burned Korans by mistake, but really those were “Satanic acts that will never be forgiven by apologies.” Karzai went on saying "The massacre of 16 Afghan children, women and men by an American soldier “was not the first incident, indeed it was the 100th, the 200th and 500th incident.” “Let’s pray for God to rescue us from these two demons,” Mr. Karzai said.
The unmitigated lunacy of seeing Sec. Clinton alongside Afghan Foreign Minister Zalmay Rasool, failing miserably to convince anyone this pre-NATO summit announcement was any more than a quick face-saving facelift of US/Afghan relations. One can only speculate, but a rational case could be made this announcement was a poor attempt to hold the coalition together long enough until all can get out together.
Since things have gone so badly for so long some NATO partners are looking to bust a solo move. Signing a deal or establishing achievable parameters for any lasting agreement seem unreasonably optimistic considering the crisis of "conditions on the ground". As poling consistently reveal a majority of Americans and coalition nations are increasingly disenchanted with results, cost, direction and clarity of mission, its difficult to comprehend why the Obama administration is attempting to convince the world a little more time will heal these wounds.
Understandably, the timing of the 2012 elections will prohibit President Obama from leveling with the American people and allies who've sacrificed in so much in Afghanistan. But, its apparent to most, there are no face saving exit options left in Afghanistan. The mission or goal of opening the door for Afghans to sit down with other Afghans, to work out the future for their country according to Secretary of State Clinton has failed.
The goals of getting the Taliban to break ties with al Qaeda, renouncing violence, respecting the Afghan constitution, including rights of women and minorities will never be achieved. If this is the plan it aint working, it never did and in reality it never could.
The Taliban don't like President Karzai any more than they like President Obama. The Taliban thinks President Karzai is a US stooge. The Taliban is correct. While it is true President Karzai is a stooge, he is also a master of CYA. He will sellout anyone anytime to feather his private coffers.
So here's the real deal: When the US and NATO leave, there will be a civil war like the one America left in Iraq. The Taliban will eventually confront Karzai and he and his crew will cave. The Afghan army and police will weaken and defect back to Afghan life. The Taliban will regain a measure of power and respect. They will rule in the areas they wish to rule and they will create partnerships and alliances with whomever they choose. That is the future of Afghanistan.
After burning over a half trillion USD's in ten years and outside of nailing Osama bin Laden getting virtually zilch for the effort, we say its time to call it a tie!
Comments
Post a Comment