General Stanley McChrystal has tendered his resignation (not necessarily accepted) as the rows about his crazy surge and plans to make Jalalabad a second Fallujah spill out into the public domain.
UK Special Envoy Sherard Cowper-Coles – who is less keen on killing people but believes we should occupy Afghanistan for at least a generation – has been sent away on extended leave to lie down for a few weeks in a darkened room.
Meanwhile the activists of the Democrats are finally getting their arses into gear in a serious way. This is just one of scores of examples:
http://www.democrats.com/oppose-33-billion-war-supplemental-for-2010?cid=ZGVtczU3MjU1OGRlbXM%3D
The Danes, Poles and Canadians are planning to leave, and it was curiously the US reaction to the Israeli attack on Turkish vessels that lifted the taboo at NATO HQ on questioning the wisdom of following the US approach in Afghanistan.
Meantime a gentleman name Shahzad, unrepentant Times Square attempted bomber, demolished the entire rationale for the Afghan War. No matter how the tabloids portray it –
the import of Shahzad’s words is plain:
Replying to judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum’s questions over whether he feared killing children, Shahzad said: “I consider myself… a Muslim soldier. It’s a war. I am part of the answer to the US terrorising the Muslim nations and the Muslim people. On behalf of that, I’m revenging the attack.
“Living in the United States, Americans only care about their people but they don’t care about people elsewhere in the world when they die.” Shahzad told the court he armed his vehicle with three separate devices – a fertiliser-fuelled bomb packed in a gun cabinet, a set of propane tanks and gas canisters rigged with fireworks.
He added if America did not get out of Iraq and Afghanistan “we will be attacking the US”.
The notion that occupying Afghanistan prevents terrorism at home is plainly, in the words of Richard Barrett, formr head of counter-terrorism at MI6, “Absolute rubbish”.
Mr Barrett, who formerly headed counter-terrorism for the Secret Intelligence Service, dismissed the argument advanced by British ministers that the presence of 9,500 British troops in Afghanistan would reduce the threat to the UK.
“That’s complete rubbish. I’ve never heard such nonsense,” he said, warning that the presence of foreign troops risked inflaming anti-western sentiment among British Muslim communities.
“I’m quite sure if there were no foreign toops in Afghanistan, there’d be less agitation in Leeds, or wherever, about Pakistanis extremely upset and suspicious about what Western intentions are in Afghanistan and Pakistan”
https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2010/06/losing_afghanis.html#comments
Interestingly enough precisely the same points – that they had intended to attack as part of the war in Afghanistan – were made in court in the UK by Blackburn’s Ishaq Kanmi and Krenar Lusha when they were convicted recently of terrorist offences, but nowhere does this seem to be reported in the UK media.
I am now hopeful that we are approaching the end of the occupation of Afghanistan as the facts on the ground make the propaganda of the hawks irrelevant. If NATO does not wish to admit defeat, then it has only weeks to kick start serious work on a negotiated settlement with the Pashtun which it can claim as a reason to withdraw.
Wow. Shahzad, a murderous loser with Muslim crazy in the brain, is someone you wish to listen to.
If Shahzad had managed to be successful in his job in Connecticut, we wouldn’t be discussing that suicidal murderous creep.
whilst american is busy proping up its military base (israel), loosing the support of dozens of countries in the region. Its influence in central asia has almost but finished.
when is the us going to realize that its future lies in befriending the muslim world and not in attacking and occupying it. To many zionist seneters whispering in its ear. bit like wormtongue in lord of the rings
warey:
“zionist seneters … wormtongue in lord of the rings”
That pretty much sums up the hatred and idiocy behind Craig Murray’s blog.
I interpreted Sherard Cowper-Coles’s sacking as being caused by his outspoken criticisms of General Stanley McChrystal’s crazy and already failed military strategy in Afghanistan.
Now McChrystal’s personna non popula in Washington.
Whoever was responsible for Cowper-Coles sacking – Hague? Cameron? – seems to have chosen just the wrong time.
johnf
there is more to it than just that, but yes.
“Meanwhile the activists of the Democrats are finally getting their arses into gear in a serious way.”
Are you that stupid, former Ambassador Craig Murray? democrats.com is not affiliated with the Democratic Party. It’s a conspiracy nut site. Go ahead; search for 911 on that site. All sorts of conspiracy bullshit.
And they’re not “activists of the Democrats.” In no way do those silly gooses fit into any wing of the Democratic Party.
You seem to have a problem assimilating information.
>there is more to it than just that, but yes.
all ears
General Stanley McChrystal is the least of President Barack Obama’s problems. Its all the other pentagon generals that may come out in support of McChrystal that has Obama spooked. I wonder if Obama will last his term?.
“I wonder if Obama will last his term?.”
So, Anonymous, do you really think that America will now fail? It’s been fairly stable since 1787, and you think that now everything will fall apart?
What makes you think that the Pentagon will turn against the government? What do you think that Pentagon has done lately to the citizens?
You say
“I am now hopeful that we are approaching the end of the occupation of Afghanistan as the facts on the ground make the propaganda of the hawks irrelevant.”
I do wish so but when have any facts affected peoples actions. I believe it’s now about losing face. They talk about making big sacrifices but it’s not them who make them it’s the people and families of those who die.
Theyre making too much money off the heroin to withdraw and let the Taliban burn it all.
“Theyre making too much money off the heroin to withdraw and let the Taliban burn it all.”
Gee, let me guess. No evidence, right?
In April 1951, Truman removed General Douglas MacArthur from his command of the United Nations forces in Korea.
JFK had problems with pentagon generals.
‘Truman Doctrine’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmQD_W8Pcxg
Larry demands evidence, Larry gets it.
From 2001
“International narcotics experts have commended Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers for virtually wiping out opium production from a country that until two years ago provided three-quarters of the world’s supply.”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/afghans-selling-children-after-taliban-wipes-out-opium-trade-692159.html
Even the father of the 300th troop who died at the weekend has doubts on the ‘mission’.
On Sunday, Marine Hollington, also 23, of Petersfield, Hampshire died in a Birmingham hospital eight days after being wounded in a blast.
He was the 300th member of the UK armed forces to die in Afghanistan since the conflict began in 2001.
His father, Robin Hollington, has demanded a personal explanation from Prime Minister David Cameron about Britain’s role in the conflict.
He told told ITV News: “I do not see a huge amount of progress being made and it would be extremely interesting to hear from Mr Cameron… exactly why we are there.
“Because I don’t think the public are being told enough to justify what is going on at the moment.”
He described his son as a lion, and said the UK soldiers in Afghanistan were fighting for each other rather than for “Queen and country”.
“They are doing it because, by looking after each other, they have the best chance of coming back alive,” he said.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/10389526.stm
Meanwhile the media crap continues. Both BBC News and Sky News are embedded in Winchester ready to transmit the parade of the returning 11 Light Brigade with three bands and the Crocodile Wife in attendance.
Sky are saying as ‘Breaking News’ that Karzai is giving support to the madman McChrystal and imploring Obomber not to sack him. Says it all.
June 23, 2010 11:53 AM
Don’t take ‘Larry from St. Louis bait’. He only comes on here to destabilise the thread, he doesn’t want you to talk about ‘The War Falls Apart’. Ignore him.
Larry Crazy from St.Louis,
Imagine instead of Afganistan or Iraq, your town, your country, and instead of american and british soldiers the muslim army doing the same as the americans and british are doing in their countries. What would you do?
@Larry:
“Wow. Shahzad, a murderous loser with Muslim crazy in the brain, is someone you wish to listen to.”
Yes, I do want to listen to him when trying to understand why he — and others like him — do the things he does.
If you’re serious about wanting to prevent terrorism then you should be listening to him as well.
Listening does not imply agreeing with or liking what someone says.
If you want to stop something happening it’s best to understand the causes of it. Ignoring those causes and instead randomly blowing shit up is rarely a solution and usually (as in this case) makes things worse.
Craig,
After reading your previous post mentioning Jalalabad, I tried to find out more about the place. You have suggested that Jalalabad could be a second Falluja. But most of the information I can find (not much) about current events in Jalalabad seems to suggest that it is already fully under the control of occupation forces, for example the Wikipedia ‘Jalalabad’ page:
“Today the city is being rebuilt under NATO and UN direction after decades of war and has been receiving an influx of returning refugees largely from Pakistan. The city is considered one of the most important cities of the Pashtun culture. The Military of Afghanistan is in control of security while the United States Military also has a heavy presence. There are a number of US military bases, with the one stationed at Jalalabad Airport being the largest.”
Perhaps you could expand on this? Is there some particular area of the city that is not controlled by the occupying forces? Are the US bases outside, rather than in, the city? Or do they only control a few areas, as happened in Mogadishu? Is the city zoned/ghettoised like Baghdad? Why would Pashtun refugees be returning there, if it is controlled by the Afghan army (AKA the North Alliance)? Is there really any ‘rebuilding’ going on?
I’m losing count. Is this the 4th death this week?
Breaking News (BBC) A marine from 40 Commando has been killed by small arms fire in Afghanistan: MoD
Yes it is the fourth death this week. From BBC News; A Royal Marine has been shot dead in a gun battle with insurgents in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
He is the fourth member of 40 Commando to be killed in as many days in the Sangin district of Helmand province.
The serviceman was conducting a security patrol to reassure locals when the firefight broke out on Wednesday.
A total of 303 UK service personnel have now been killed in Afghanistan since the conflict began in 2001.
Jamaican police said they captured alleged drug kingpin Christopher “Dudus” Coke.
What is the betting that at his trial a link is generated to Hugo Chavez. More demonisation before the US steal Venezuela’s oil.
‘Editor’s Note: Georg Hodel, who died Sunday after surgery in a Swiss hospital, was a courageous journalist with the tenacity to dig into complex and difficult stories that scared away many other reporters ?” and he paid a career price for his bravery.’
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2010/062210b.html
“More demonisation before the US steal Venezuela’s oil.”
Sure. Any time now.
McChristal offered to resign because he had embarrassed his Commander-in-Chief Barack Obama. That is a separate question from whether the war is falling apart. I imagine that he will be swiftly replaced. The USA is not likely to do a deal with the Pashtun and withdraw if there is any chance of Al-Qaeda getting back into Afghanistan, so any deal would have to include the Pashtun clamping down on the Taleban – if they could. I am content to leave Shahzad’s fate to Judge Miriam Cedarbaum.
‘Media Disinformation: The Demonization of Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez’
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=19855
‘”The general’s staff is a handpicked collection of killers, spies, geniuses, patriots, political operators, and outright maniacs. There’s a former head of British Special Forces, two Navy Seals, an Afghan Special Forces commando, a lawyer, two fighter pilots and at least two dozen combat veterans and counterinsurgency experts. … they pride themselves on their can-do attitude and their disdain for authority.”‘
‘For good measure, Hastings adds a troubling vignette. Someone apparently called his attention to what Hastings calls “a piece of suspense fiction” written by McChrystal for the literary magazine at West Point while he was studying there. Hastings includes a description of the short story:’
“The unnamed narrator appears to be trying to stop a plot to assassinate the President. It turns out, however, that the narrator himself is the assassin, and he’s able to infiltrate the White House: ‘The President strode in smiling. From the right coat pocket of the raincoat I carried, I slowly drew forth my 32-caliber pistol… I had succeeded.'”
http://www.consortiumnews.com/2010/062210d.html
McChrystal has stepped aside, replaced by Petraeus, and a video of Obama’s speech is now available:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJaApTr5Onw
We are no better. The Coalition just put VAT up to 20% to pay for the war in Afghanistan. Very similar figure.
Surprise, surprise, there’s a letter from a small group of Afghan Christians here:
http://barnabasfund.org/%20/?m=7%23227&a=1728
“The Afghan Parliament, Senate, Religious Council and Islamic Parties and leaders made statements that the Afghan Government has to search, find, arrest, deliver to courts and execute all Afghan Christians, and the Christian NGOs and Organization have to be stopped too. University students protested against Afghan Christians in Kabul and Herat Provinces, and the Afghan Government also made a statement that all Afghan Christians will be arrested and executed, and the Christian NGOs and Organizations which involved with the issues of conversion will be closed.
“Mr. Mujajdi the Chairman Of Afghan Senate said that if the Afghan Government does not take serious action, he and other Islamic leaders will call and request the Afghan people to take practical measures to kill all Afghan Christians.
“President Karzai himself showed his personal interest in this regard and said that all Afghan Christians will be arrested and executed and Christian organizations which are involved with this issue will be stopped. He ordered the Afghan security organs to take serious measure in this regard. The Afghan Home Minister and the Chairman of the Afghan Intelligence told to the Afghan Parliament that 4 Afghan Christian individuals and one family are arrested and they are under investigation, 13 NGO are recognized and suspended, names of the Afghan Christians are listed and the Afghan Intelligence agency is trying to arrest them. Two Church organizations by the names of WCA and NCA are closed.”
So there we have it. Karzai isn’t just corrupt, he’s also a genocidal goatf***er like the rest of them.
I say, pull the troops out of at least Pashtunistan and let them kill Mujadidi and Karzai, and scorch the earth as they go.