Hey guys remember how well Tom DeLay and the rest of the Republican Congress supported Bill Clinton in Kosovo?
― vulva eyes (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 21 September 2009 17:13 (fifteen years ago) link
It is, after all, His War now, and since He Owns It, you watch the criticism start to mount through 2010.
yeah i think we're on a short countdown to hearing about supporting afghan civil society and gov't as a fuzzy-headed liberal nation building adventure (which might even be true)
― goole, Monday, 21 September 2009 17:18 (fifteen years ago) link
I don't think so - Republicans are gung ho for this war, domestic support for it is almost entirely on the Republican side.
Also the War on Terror meme is dead. That particular propagandistic blight was owned by the Bush admin, and you'll note that Obama has foregone the phrase entirely.
Catching Osama and the upper Al Qaeda leadership is the only practical goal in sight here, and is probably foremost on Obama's mind (a little nation-building in Afghanistan is a prerequisite for accomplishing this though, and you can't do that unless the country is secured militarily... so he's kind of between a rock and a hard place. An open ended military commitment in Afghanistan is doomed, just as it was with the Russians, so that's not really a feasible strategy).
― Hat Trick Swayze (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 21 September 2009 17:19 (fifteen years ago) link
Republican support for the war in Afghanistan is at like 70% or something, are you guys not aware of this
― Hat Trick Swayze (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 21 September 2009 17:20 (fifteen years ago) link
i don't want to say you're not right Tracer -- the current media/political environment means that any action by the president necessitates a not-equal but furiously opposite reaction -- i just don't think afghanistan is a hill anyone wants to die on. where's the real constituency for it?
xps 70% really? you always have to correct for the GOP's atrophied share. ONLY 70% of the people still willing to call themselves republicans? feh, you couldn't go to war on that. can you stay at war on that?
― goole, Monday, 21 September 2009 17:22 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/15/afghan.war.poll/index.html
The poll suggests that 23 percent of Democrats support the war. That number rises to 39 percent for independents and 62 percent for Republicans.
― Hat Trick Swayze (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 21 September 2009 17:25 (fifteen years ago) link
Support will drop the longer Obama's president.
― vulva eyes (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 21 September 2009 17:26 (fifteen years ago) link
probably, but I think we're talking years not weeks there
― Hat Trick Swayze (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 21 September 2009 17:27 (fifteen years ago) link
Kosovo's a bad analogy - there were not terrorists who killed American civilians on American soil hiding out in Kosovo, it was an easy war for Republicans to oppose. To support withdrawing from Afghanistan, Republicans have to willingly and publicly admit that catching Bin Laden isn't worth it.
― Hat Trick Swayze (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 21 September 2009 17:28 (fifteen years ago) link
also they won't be able to say that Obama's made less of an effort there than Bush, because that simply isn't possible
― Hat Trick Swayze (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 21 September 2009 17:29 (fifteen years ago) link
so Karzai promised "change" in his re-inaugural address; sounds hauntingly familiar.
― Feingold/Kaptur 2012 (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 19 November 2009 23:34 (fourteen years ago) link
and hooray for David Obey:
http://abcnews.go.com/print?id=9126805
― Feingold/Kaptur 2012 (Dr Morbius), Monday, 23 November 2009 16:32 (fourteen years ago) link
so how do we get rid of this warmongering fuck in 3 years?
― Feingold/Kaptur 2012 (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 2 December 2009 03:15 (fourteen years ago) link
self-therapy:
http://pol.moveon.org/afghan_timeline/?id=18131-1293854-VAebEWx&t=4
http://rethinkafghanistan.com/?utm_source=credopetition
― Feingold/Kaptur 2012 (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 2 December 2009 21:31 (fourteen years ago) link
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2009/12/what-congress-should-ask-mcchrystal/
(in addition to What in God's Green Goodness ...)
― caek, Monday, 7 December 2009 18:04 (fourteen years ago) link
Palin/Beck '12!
― unobtaintium (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 7 December 2009 18:23 (fourteen years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bU0DxJVWhGw
― Feingold/Kaptur 2012 (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 8 December 2009 05:41 (fourteen years ago) link
http://i49.tinypic.com/2nb7vv8.jpg
― ♖♕♖ (am0n), Saturday, 9 January 2010 02:45 (fourteen years ago) link
hisssssssssssssssssssssss!!
― ♖♕♖ (am0n), Saturday, 9 January 2010 02:46 (fourteen years ago) link
huh
I dunno how much to trust polling in such a country but still
― larry craig memorial gloryhole (Shakey Mo Collier), Monday, 11 January 2010 19:05 (fourteen years ago) link
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8464763.stm
Militants attack Afghan capital Kabul
― ♖♕♖ (am0n), Monday, 18 January 2010 07:24 (fourteen years ago) link
is there a better afghanistan thread? anyway greenwald has been really enlightening lately imo - http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/04/05/afghanistan/index.html
― maderator (k3vin k.), Tuesday, 6 April 2010 04:22 (fourteen years ago) link
damn cold
― Nhex, Tuesday, 6 April 2010 04:36 (fourteen years ago) link
that is the all-purpose reaction to any greenwald piece
― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 6 April 2010 10:11 (fourteen years ago) link
my brother's being shipped out there next month :-/
― latebloomer, Tuesday, 6 April 2010 10:22 (fourteen years ago) link
dude. i am sorry to hear that.
― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 6 April 2010 10:43 (fourteen years ago) link
How to End the War in AfghanistanBy David Milibandhttp://www.nybooks.com/articles/23870
― caek, Tuesday, 6 April 2010 15:09 (fourteen years ago) link
New information not good:
U.S. Admits Role in February Killing of Afghan WomenKABUL, Afghanistan — After initially denying involvement or any cover-up in the deaths of three Afghan women during a badly bungled American Special Operations assault in February, the American-led military command in Kabul admitted late on Sunday that its forces had, in fact, killed the women during the nighttime raid....Three women also died that night at the same home: One was a pregnant mother of 10 and another was a pregnant mother of six. NATO military officials had suggested that the women were actually stabbed to death — or had died by some other means — hours before the raid, an explanation that implied that family members or others at the home might have killed them.Survivors of the raid called that explanation a cover-up and insisted that American forces killed the women. Relatives and family friends said the bloody raid followed a party in honor of the birth of a grandson of the owner of the house.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/world/asia/05afghan.html
KABUL, Afghanistan — After initially denying involvement or any cover-up in the deaths of three Afghan women during a badly bungled American Special Operations assault in February, the American-led military command in Kabul admitted late on Sunday that its forces had, in fact, killed the women during the nighttime raid....Three women also died that night at the same home: One was a pregnant mother of 10 and another was a pregnant mother of six. NATO military officials had suggested that the women were actually stabbed to death — or had died by some other means — hours before the raid, an explanation that implied that family members or others at the home might have killed them.
Survivors of the raid called that explanation a cover-up and insisted that American forces killed the women. Relatives and family friends said the bloody raid followed a party in honor of the birth of a grandson of the owner of the house.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/world/asia/05afghan.html
― Adam Bruneau, Tuesday, 6 April 2010 15:58 (fourteen years ago) link
There's also that crazy video that leaked today (via gov't enemy Wikileaks) about US forces gunning down civilians in Iraq, including some Reuters journalists...
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshowpics/5766554.cms
― Adam Bruneau, Tuesday, 6 April 2010 16:00 (fourteen years ago) link
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/world/asia/07convoys.html?ref=global-home
For months, reports have abounded here that the Afghan mercenaries who escort American and other NATO convoys through the badlands have been bribing Taliban insurgents to let them pass. Then came a series of events last month that suggested all-out collusion with the insurgents....“We’re funding both sides of the war,” a NATO official in Kabul said. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was incomplete, said he believed millions of dollars were making their way to the Taliban.
Then came a series of events last month that suggested all-out collusion with the insurgents.
...
“We’re funding both sides of the war,” a NATO official in Kabul said. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was incomplete, said he believed millions of dollars were making their way to the Taliban.
― fman29.5 (k3vin k.), Monday, 7 June 2010 03:38 (fourteen years ago) link
Dammit, when we buy people, we expect them to stay bought!
― Aimless, Monday, 7 June 2010 03:42 (fourteen years ago) link
that was just posted a few minutes ago i think, there was a related terrifying story i read in print this morning, lemme find it
― fman29.5 (k3vin k.), Monday, 7 June 2010 03:45 (fourteen years ago) link
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/06/world/asia/06warlords.html?ref=todayspaper
― fman29.5 (k3vin k.), Monday, 7 June 2010 03:48 (fourteen years ago) link
by golly we're gonna fix that place just you wait and see
― Super Cub, Monday, 7 June 2010 04:20 (fourteen years ago) link
i feel like there should be a different thread to put this in, but as this story unravels it's becoming one of the more heartbreaking things i've read this year. these people are honest to god heroes in every sense of the word
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/10/world/asia/10aidworkers.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper
― k3vin k., Wednesday, 11 August 2010 03:26 (fourteen years ago) link
(has this been brought up elsewhere?)
Information is delivered as PowerPoint slides in e-mail at the flow rate of a fire hose. Standard operating procedure is to send everything that you have. Volume is considered the equivalent of quality.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/08/27/afghan_powerpoint_rangers/
― progressive cuts (Tracer Hand), Monday, 30 August 2010 14:25 (fourteen years ago) link
Nine Afghan Boys Collecting Firewood Killed by NATO Helicopters
gruesome, horrifying, heartbreaking story. hearts and minds, we're winnin' em
― kl0p's son (k3vin k.), Thursday, 3 March 2011 18:31 (thirteen years ago) link
I'MSOSORRY
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-07/u-s-defense-chief-gates-meets-afghans-amid-protests-over-civilian-deaths.html
― kind of shrill and very self-righteous (Dr Morbius), Monday, 7 March 2011 18:30 (thirteen years ago) link
analysis of taliban chant music
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/section?content=a934337516&fulltext=713240928
― goole, Wednesday, 9 March 2011 17:29 (thirteen years ago) link
* Oh youth, quit volleyball, football [soccer], and cricket. Take the Rocket-Propelled Grenade launcher [RPG] on your shoulders. Oh youth, quit volleyball, football [soccer], and cricket. Take the Rocket-Propelled Grenade launcher [RPG] on your shoulders. Play with human heads instead of playing with balls. Play with human heads instead of playing with balls.
* Quit kids' games; take the RPG on your shoulders. Quit kids' games; take the rocket on your shoulders.
* Oh youth, quit playing volleyball, football, and cricket. Take the RPG on your shoulders. Take the RPG on your shoulders.
* You look good with the weapon and Moswak [herbal toothbrush] but not chewing gum and chocolate. Oh youth, Take the RPG on your shoulders.
* Oh youth, quit volleyball, football, and cricket. Take the RPG on your shoulders.
* Purchase every worthless human for free (Kill the enemies.) Purchase every worthless human for free (Kill the enemies.) Take the RPG for on your shoulders.
* Oh youth, quit volleyball, football, and cricket. Take the RPG on your shoulders. You will soon defeat the enemies. You will soon defeat the enemies. You only need to put some more efforts defeating them. Take the RPG on your shoulders.
* Behead by using the sword those people who open the country gate to the strangers. Behead by using the sword, those people who open the gate to strangers.
* Oh youth, quit volleyball, football, and cricket. Take the RPG on your shoulders. Walk beside Ayubi [poet]. Don't be even late for a minute! Take the RPG on your shoulders. Don't be even late for a minute! Take the RPG on your shoulders.
* Oh youth, quit volleyball, football (soccer), and cricket. Oh youth, take the RPG on your shoulders. Oh youth, take the RPG on your shoulders.
― goole, Wednesday, 9 March 2011 17:31 (thirteen years ago) link
* The enemies have come in the shape of friends. They look like human beings but they are wild animals. The act of disuniting people stays in their blood and their messages are look like flowers but they are full of poison. They have come under the banner of the friends but they are murderers.
* The enemies have come in the shape of friends. They look like human beings but they are wild animals. I have always made the destiny of this country. I have brought happiness and beauty to my country. They have come under the name of sympathy but they are muggers. They have come under the name of sympathy but they are muggers.
* The enemies have come in a shape of friend. They look like human beings but they are wild animals. They are Jewish but half of them are idolaters. They are fire worshippers who came from East and West.
― goole, Wednesday, 9 March 2011 17:33 (thirteen years ago) link
Thanks!
― Play with human heads instead of playing with balls (kkvgz), Wednesday, 9 March 2011 17:46 (thirteen years ago) link
so this oughta be wrapped up pretty soon eh
― no slouch of a snipster (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 3 May 2011 16:22 (thirteen years ago) link
Ask the Taliban
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 4 May 2011 03:33 (thirteen years ago) link
― ban drake (the rapper) (max), Wednesday, 4 May 2011 03:48 (thirteen years ago) link
tangential, but the words without borders afghan literature issue is out this month - link offers an overview. words without borders is pretty rad imo
― five gone cats from Boston (underrated aerosmith bootlegs I have owned), Wednesday, 4 May 2011 04:18 (thirteen years ago) link
Afghan authorities said on Sunday NATO had killed 52 people, mostly civilians, in air strikes against fighters, as violence picked up in recent weeks with the start of the fighting season.
Separately, the governor of Nuristan on Sunday said that 18 civilians and 20 police were killed by "friendly fire" during recent US-led air strikes against al-Qaeda-linked fighters in his troubled northeastern province.
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2011/05/2011529102045125188.html
― 40% chill and 100% negative (Tracer Hand), Tuesday, 31 May 2011 13:51 (thirteen years ago) link
"the start of the fighting season"
― Shart Shaped Box (Phil D.), Tuesday, 31 May 2011 14:00 (thirteen years ago) link