Karzai only controls 1/3 of Afghanistan

[ckramer]

Source: YN

WASHINGTON - More than six years after the U.S. invaded to establish a stable central regime in Afghanistan, the Kabul government under President Hamid Karzai controls just 30 percent of the country, the top U.S. intelligence official said Wednesday.

National Intelligence Director Michael McConnell told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the resurgent Taliban controls 10 percent to 11 percent of the country and Karzai's government controls 30 percent to 31 percent. The majority of Afghanistan's population and territory remains under local tribal control, he said.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080228/ap_on_go_ot/terrorist_threats;_ylt=AmeVLVMcBNvBeiIlKp2GLQKs0NUE

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What happened to the coalition of willing?

[spindrifter]

1. Check out Sarah Chayes's interview on Bill Moyers' Journal.

I'm not sure if it's on his web site, but it ought to be. I just got back from Afghanistan a couple of months ago, and agree with Chayes's view that most of the Karzai government is totally corrupt. This is why the government is not trusted by the locals. The officials are busy bleeding bribes out of everyone, and taking extra cuts from the aid money that has been sent there. Thirty years of disruption in Afghanistan has left a tremendous deficit in the development of the country. Imagine thirty years of disruption in Iraq. The difference is that Iraq had a far more educated population, as well as far more development of its infrastructure. The war, however, is allowing the education and infrastructure to diminish and deteriorate.

[daleo]

3. It sounds like South Viet Nam, back in the 60's

That didn't work out too well either.

[Why Syzygy]

2. This should be HUGE news!

I posted the info below in GD and got no interest.

So, the GOP wants to strut around about the big winning strategy in Iraq. wink*wink

What about the OTHER war? The first one we started?

Army plans to cut length of combat tours in Iraq
But Tuesday, GOP lawmakers made a tactical decision to allow further debate of the measure. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he welcomed the opportunity to discuss progress in Iraq.
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-usiraq27feb27,1,5900877.story?ctrack=2&cset=true


Sarah Chayes, author and former journalist who has been helping rebuild Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban regime, with a look at the front lines of America's war there.

February 15, 2008
Recent official reports have touted many successes in Afghanistan, but the country still faces many problems. Back to back bombings in one week of February 2008 left over 140 dead — leading to calls from NATO leadership for troop increases. In addition, Afghanistan's government ranks high on indices of corruption and more and more Afghans are turning to opium production for money and the Taliban for security. According to the U.S. Department of State, "Afghanistan is the world's leading producer of illicit opiates."
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/02222008/profile2.html


NATO may follow if Canada exits Afghanistan
1 day ago

OTTAWA (AFP) — Canada's defense minister urged parliament to keep its 2,500 troops in Afghanistan until 2011, warning that an earlier withdrawal could lead its NATO allies to abandon the shaky nation too.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5h4mnjEaMsbFDipu18x3IsQL76Zjg


Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq top index of weak states
Tue 26 Feb 2008, 17:16 GMT
(Adds White House reaction)

By Sue Pleming

WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - Somalia, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq are the four weakest states in the world, according to an index of fragile nations released by two U.S. think tanks on Tuesday.
http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnN26236536.html


Much More
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=&q=afghanistan&ie=UTF-8


Don't let them tell ANYONE that any part of that mess is a SUCCESS!

[acmavm]

4. Yeah, it should be HUGE news but there are two problems right off the bat

that keep it from being a major public concern. First, the lack of truth and coverage in the US msm. They don't want people to know what's going on so they bury the stories. People are either too damn lazy to work a little bit to find out what is going on. And they are totally burnt out on the bad news. They're being fools. They think that if they ignore the truth about Afganistan it wont' affect them. They think that if they ignore it, they can escape the reality that we are fighting two wars that we cannot possibly win and that it is bleeding us dry both finanically and militarily. You don't see casualty counts unless you really look for them (by our military and Iraqi/Afgani civilians). You don't see shit except for the stories coming from the liars who got us into these messes about how great things are going. People would rather believe that than get off their asses and really do something. And why wouldn't they? Second, they've seen the rule of law be completely turned upside down for seven long years. They've seen a vice president tell a senator to fuck himself. They've been told that the clown that was installed (never elected) as front man has the right to overrule the Constitution and write his own ticket and give himself dicatorial powers. So people feel hopeless. I AM NOT EXCUSING THIS BEHAVIOR. I just know what its happening.

[Why Syzygy]

6. It needs to be put on the table.

No boasting of Iraq should be accepted AT ALL, and especially not in light of the other war.

I happen to know that tours in Afghanistan have been lengthened as well.

[acmavm]

5. Dupe (and I only hit the post button once). I hope it's not going to be that

kind of day.