U.S. policy when it comes to Afghanistan?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
With friends like Hamid Karzai, who needs enemies?
Here's what America's alleged ally - the president of Afghanistan - has been up to lately...
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/04/06/art.karzai.jpg caption="Afghan President Hamid Karzai (R) speaks with visiting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad moments before a joint press conference at the presidential palace in Kabul on March 10, 2010."]
- First - he invited Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to hang out with him in Kabul
- Then Karzai blamed the fraud in Afghanistan's elections on foreigners who he says wanted a "puppet government" in his country.
- This past weekend, Karzai reportedly threatened to quit the political process and join the Taliban if he kept coming under "foreign pressure" to reform
- Lastly - our good friend told a group of tribal leaders that the U.S.-led alliance won't move against Taliban fighters in Kandahar quote "until you say we can."
Enough already - the United States has poured hundreds of billions of dollars into Afghanistan - propping up Karzai's government - since the 2001 invasion... not to mention American lives. For what?
Tom Friedman recently wrote in his New York Times column when you can steal an election - like Karzai did - you can steal anything. He asks how the U.S. can rebuild Afghanistan while relying on a corrupt partner like Karzai.
Friedman worries that "once we clear, hold and build Afghanistan for him, Karzai is going to break our hearts." If that happens, it won't be the first heart to be broken in that cesspool of a civilization.
Meanwhile this afternoon, the White House indicated it may have finally had enough... saying it could cancel Karzai's upcoming U.S. visit if he keeps making "troubling and untruthful remarks."
Here’s my question to you: What should U.S. policy be when it comes to Afghanistan?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Ed in Camden, Ohio writes:
Simple: We shouldn't be in Afghanistan in the first place. The minute we leave, be it in a year or in 10 years, that country will revert to what it's always been, a lawless territory where tribal lords fight it out for control.
Adam in Simi Valley, California writes:
What it always should have been: Destroy al Qaeda and those that harbor and enable our enemies, such as the Taliban. We are far too weak on our foreign policy. If Karzai wants to become another Saddam and throw his lot in with the Taliban and other Islamic extremists, then he made his bed. He should suffer their fate.
Richard writes:
The Karzai regime is hated by most Afghans. Turn him over to the Taliban. Install an unbiased Afghan tribunal to govern internal affairs. Allow the tribunal to form its own non-Taliban military force while the U.S. flies cover. Eventually pull-back coalition forces to remote bases in Northern Alliance strongholds. Strike the Taliban with airpower (drones and AC130 gunships) when they make their power plays. The U.S. should adopt the guerilla tactics.
Mark writes:
Jack, You need to understand the situation he is in. His innocent fellow citizens are being killed by military mistake almost every month and he is seen as the head of government backed by the foreigners. Karzai is exercising independence to save face.
Joe in New Jersey writes:
We really need to know where the Afghans stand regarding their loyalty to Karzai. If he has their full support for his comments then perhaps we should think about packing up, taking everything that we own and leave the thorn to fester. They can return to the third century AD and continue their tribal ways.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Yes, cancel the visit. Hasn't the U.S. propped up enough corrupt governments over the past 60 years - Marcos of The Philippines, Duvalier of Haiti, Trujillo of the Dominican Republic, the Shah of Iran, Sadam Hussein when the U.S. thought he was an okay guy because he was fighting against Iran in the war between those two countries. Musharref of Pakistan - giving him billions certainly worked out well for the U.S., didn't it? Didn't we even at one time support Osama Bin Laden when he was supposedly fighting against the Soviets in Afghanistan? And the list goes on ad nauseum. Why is our country always backing the wrong horse? Let Karzai stay home, and in the future, let him pay for his own tailored robes.
Get out ot that country and Iraq. Bring our boys home and fight terrorism from within our own country by protecting it from outsiders and keeping a close eye on who we already have living here.
Mr. Cafferty,
Under normal circumstances, I can't stand your rhetoric or your views, but you hit this one dead on. The picture of Karzai and Ahmadinejad says enough! We have poured billions of $$ into that hell-hole, sacrificed the lives of our children in it's behalf, and we still don't have Bin Ladin. If we need to get rid of some of those out-dated nukes, I know just where we can drop them!
Get out!
Let's just bring our Army home and stop sending money to Afghanistan.
You can't rebuild a country with a crook that is president. Let the people of Afghanistan deal with Karzai after we've cut them off.
Bartlett, Tennessee
We entered Afghanistan to remove the Taliban and root out Al-Qaida, not to create a vassal state. Obama is treating Karzai like a puppet and a vassal. Big mistake. If all this posturing is a precursor by Obama to quit Afghanistan and withdraw, the consequences are that the Taliban returns along with its ally, Al-Qaida, and we have gained nothing and lost everything.
Create a secular government. Let's treat the people equally, and maybe it'll bring the tribes together.
"Meet the new boss, same as the old boss..."
Leave his country alone...that is how you deal with him....bring our troops home and move on.
Is Iran bullying Karzai behind the scenes?
Those who say whatever they think in in their personal interest will never serve the interest of their people.
Given the opportunity, he would and perhaps will become a tyrant.
What a partner.
Cafferty,
Everyone over there is corrupt and can't be trusted. Why should we be surprised? Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran are all the same. Its all about tribal ties, Islam, and personal relationships; not treaties or political deals between governments.
Cut our losses and come home. Now. Nothing we do will ever make a difference. Let 'em freeze in the dark.
1st they should cancel the meeting next week. Then they should remove the troops as soon as possible. This guy is not to be trusted.
In a word, not. Ever heard the phrase " birds of a feather"? Bring our troops home and let them guard our borders. We knew months ago Karzai was a weasel. Even his own countrymen think so.
Just like all the other countries in the world... Afghanistan will just walk all over Obama..... I mean us
Hi Jack,
Perhap your policy should be the same as Canada's. We committed through until 2011, and then we're out of there. No use trying to help someone who doesn't seem to want your help. The blood of many nations has been shed on his soil, yet he continues on his contemptuous path. Hosting the "Tyrant of Tehran" is a harbinger of a continued delineation between Karzai and the west. Gotta know when to fold up ....
Cut off some US funding, better still destroy the poppy fields, then he might start to act responsibly. The President should absolutely NOT meet with him.
If the leader of Afghanistan sees nothing wrong with corruption, poppy cultivation or the Taliban, what are we still doing there? Are there any leaders in that country that truly want peace and prosperity? How long can a nation be at war? Aren't the people of Afghanistan tired of all this violence and turmoil? What do the every day common folk want and why can't they have peace? I'm sure they would love to see their children and grandchildren have a decent chance for a real future.
Unless we want to stay there for the next century we should cut our losses asap. No american [ or anyone else for that matter] should die to protect this man. When one of us comes home in a body bag don't we claim he/she "died to protect our freedom" ? Oh, Really ?
Uhhhh....allow him to accept his fate as that of another Middle Eastern American-sponsored leader who is overthrown by religious extremists? Are there that many religious extremists, or is there a connection between corruption and the leaders that we place in power?
Our policy should be that we have over 30,000 of our troops and soliders in your country to make your country a better nation without terroists and Al-Qadia trying to take over, let the United States do there job in rid out the Taliban and Al-Qadia and lives may be lost along the way but that's how war works out you win some you lose some plain and simple! Who does Hamid Karzai think he is blaming the United States for civilian deaths? Like we're over there killing people on purpose and he may be forced to join the Taliban, are you serious? Get our troops out now while we can because President Karzai is a backstabber and traitor, let us just turn our backs on Afghanistan and see how they feel!
Scott Stodden (Freeport,Illinois)
/we went to avenge 9;/11. We got rid of Taliban, as it were, and allowed Karsai, or whoever would win the election, rule instead. that's why we went. That in my mind has been accomplished. Can we go now? We are bit supposed to be nation builders–or else how many nations need cleaning up upgrading??
Because this comment may come out as harsh, I do want to comment that I do not support the war in Iraq. HOWEVER– When it comes to Afghanistan, that is an entirely different story.
This is where the terrorists that attacked us on 9/11 came from. And considering that Hamid Karzai is now stating that he supports the terrorists I think it is time we use a little WWII and Vietnam tactics. In other words drop a ton of nepalm on this country then nuke it. When the body count is over with, lets see how many terrorists are left.
They have threatened us with nukes, so lets beat them to the punch.
String Karzai along until we get bin Laden, then get the heck out ... like every other empire has done.
We should leave. We tried to get bin Laden and failed. We've tried to rebuild the country as best we can, but without a strong partner, it's throwing good money after bad. The coalition can only do so much. It's up to the Afghan people now. It's time to leave the graveyard of empires, apologize and never allow US troops to set foot on Middle Eastern soil unless the sovereignty of the US is threatened. We are not the world's police force.
The Karzai regime is hated by most Afghans. Turn him over to the Taliban.
Install an unbiased Afghan tribunal to govern internal affairs. Allow the tribunal to form their own non-taliban military forces while the US flys cover.
Eventually pull-back coalition forces to remote bases in Northern Alliance strongholds). Strike the taliban with airpower (drones and AC130 gunships) when they make their power plays.
The US should adopt the guerilla tactics.
American policy should be to get out and stay out of Afghanistan. This costly useless war (as was Iraq) is a bitter lesson to mind your own business and use your resources to improve the life of Americans. US involvement in Afghanistan and Iraq have devastated those countries and accomplished nothing other than to demonstrate how powerless America has become. The terrorists won the "war" through the back door by bankrupting America.
This is a highly complex issue which requires careful thought, firmness and perhaps some subterfuge to solve. To the degree that he can control the Afghan military and police he can be a thorn in NATO's side. The proper treatment for a thorn is to remove it, cleanse the wound and let it heal. That may be the only way to handle such non cooperation after all that NATO (primarily the US) has done, at great cost, for the Afghanis. We really need to know where the Afghanis stand regarding their loyalty to Karzai. If he has their full support for his comments then perhaps we should think about packing up, taking everything that we own and leave the thorn to fester. They can return to the third century AD and continue their tribal ways.
Turn out the lights, the party is over. American lives, billions of dollars, no Bin Laden, 9 years. For what? So we can spend more money, have more Americans killed and watch a relationship bloom between Karzai and Iran. I think not.
Unfortunately, we are in Afghanistan for the "right" reasons, but the "wrong" guy. This is the country from where the 9/11 plotters were controlled, and where our most dangerous enemies hid. To walk now is to invite the Taliban and their cronies back into a safe haven, and perhaps to see Pakistan de-stabilized. So, we have a Hobson's Choice and it seems, for now at least, that the least bad one is to keep our troops in place and prop up this very bad guy. But , some day, when the Omars of the world are dead and buried, Mr. Karzai may find he holds an overplayed hand.
We know Karzai does not represent his people as he didn't win the election. The problem with the U.S government is this short sighted policy, supporting dictators around the world with the assuption that they will be loyal to our policy in that region. It is a wrong policy that the U.S government persue all the time.
The solution is to side with the people NOT their dictators.
Hy jack - karzi looks like he wants to go his own direction and we should move in that direction also– its time to redeploy and rethink
our mission away from controling the cities. do someting about
the poppy fields quikly -
Jack, With Obama signing nuclear agreement with Russia sounds like a good place to send any leftover ICBM,S is Karzai's Palace i.e. tent
Remove all U.S. troops and allied troops and let him take care of the problem, seems like they don't need nor want our help anymore. The U.S. has bigger problems at home that need to be delt with like this joke of a health care bill that this so called president of ours decided to pass.
Get our troops the hell out of there before any more American lives are lost. Afghanistan and Iraq are both lost causes. All these idiot presidents think they can go over and "fix" the middle east must be on some kind of mind altering drug. Simply explain to them, that we will pull out of the countries that don't want us, but if they try to stop selling us oil or any terrorist attacks on U.S. soil are traced back to them, then they are going to get a nuclear fireworks show free of charge.
We learned nothing from the Russians?
Gainesville, Florida
I believe that history shows that the players in the Middle East, like all geopolitical opportunists, play to benefit themselves; their history and culture do not encourage democracy but rather kings, despots, tribal chiefs and fiefdoms. They are masters at playing two sides against each other, making promises they don't intend to keep if something better comes along. Treachery and assassinations are endemic in their culture. We are pouring blood and billions of dollars into an Islamic sinkhole; we should stop, leave them to their friends and enemies. Karzai is emboldened by overtures from Ahmadinejad of Iran and publicly slaps us in the face. Echoes of Hitler and Mussolini. I say pull the plug; this is a fight we cannot win. Let's work on restoring our own economy and solving our own political and cultural problems.
very carefully, but the US holds the key to make him an ally. Have you seen the video showing the killing of the Iraqi people? I know it's not Afghanistan, but it shows such carelessness and a great deal of insensitivity on the part of some soldiers.
Jack,
We should announce that we are pulling out lock, stock, and barrel, as of the summer of 2011, and mean it. And conduct no more operations that will expose our guys to harm.
The Taliban may well be back in power in large areas of that country once we leave after 2011 anyway, so why put our soldiers' lives on the line for such a bunch ?
You can;t help people who won't help themselves
Relax Jack, Karzai is posturing for the domestic audience so he is not killed.
That bunny is eating out of Hillary's hand our pockets.
GRL
I believe we should pull all his security and let the suicide bombers take care of him for us. The same applies for his brother.
just pull out the US?NATO ground forces (not drones) for 6 months and let Taliban extend the same courtesy to Mr. karzai, which tthey had extended to ex-President Mohammed Najibullah; after Taliban take over, ex-President Mohammed Najibullah's body was found hanging from a lamp post.
How could anyone think progress could take place in Afghanistan when we're forced to deal with a leader we clearly cannot trust. It's a waste of lives, time and money. Focus instead on Pakistan, Yemen and the Israeli Peace Process.
The mess in Afghanistan reminds me of a quote from the movie "Used Cars" (early Spielberg): "It used to be when you bought a politician, he stayed bought". Since he didn't stay bought, Karzai needs to be demoted to a clerical job near the boilers in the bowels of CIA headquarters. We should then declare victory in Afghanistan and move all of our troops into Pakistan where the real threat exists.
He has a brother who owns a restaurant in Baltimore. I think Hamid would make a great head waiter.
This is a no brainer...Pull ALL of our troops and money out of this backward little country immediately. Watch how fast Karzai and his country collapse. We are just plain dumb for being there in the first place...
Get Out: The middle east is predominant Muslim, and we are the invaders from a Christian ideology, sort of the President Bush, "crusade" comment that trigged the fundalmentalist cry to war. Islamic don't want democracy especially from the United States. How would we feel if the roles were reversed.
The Kingdom of Bush/Cheney has not left us with much choice. I think President Obama would be justified in telling Karzai to shape up or ship out. We should wipe out the Taliban and then quit squandering our resources and the precious lives of our brave young men and women to support a corrupt and rotten "nation" that is a putrified remnant of the British Empire. We should have learned when they failed to create a governable nation and when Russia also failed to make a dent in the morass. Or we could send all the Obama detractors who think they are so smart over there and see how they do.
Nucla, Colorado
First, we need to look at the arrogance of the Obama administration. Have they truly "interfered" with the Karzai democratically-elected government? Has Clinton/Obama made more demands on Afghanistan than had been in agreements? Better look at the beam in our own eyes first.
Get out of there and commit our resources (people & money) to our education system in America.
San Francisco, California
Time to pull out and go home.
If Karzai is displeased with our presence in his country, then maybe it is time for us to leave. Not another drop of precious American blood should be wasted. Let them kill each other.
It is a waste of the blood and money of America and its allies to continue to stay in Afghanistan. With Islamic militants now operating in many countries besides Afghanistan, it is clear that stopping them in Afghanistan will not have much effect. They will increase their operations in Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan and many other places.
American needs the war money to fix America–give us health care for all, better education, more jobs, high speed trains, clean energy.
Obama should accept the corrupt reality of Afghanistan and GET OUT NOW.
Pat him on his back – wave good bye – and leave the country!
Simple. We should leave with the promise to return in a very big way if we're ever attacked again from an Afghanistan-based group, just like we should have in the first place.
Come one now! How many slaps in the face must Uncle Sam receieve before changing personalities from "Anything goes" to "That's enough, it's obvous that you are not our friend, sooooo you are on your own now,,,,,Good Bye"
The problem is that Karzai is going "rogue". It was only a matter of time before he turned against the US. Remember Bin Laden was an ally in Afghanistan back in the days and we all know what he became. Remove the man from power before it is too late, change their constitution to limit a leader to one term.
On 9/11 how many terrorist came from Afghanistan or from Iraq ? How much money and arms did the C.I.A. give the taliabn when they were fighting against the Russians , they were called freedom fighters then ? When our tax dollars goes for this S–T, and we have so many problems here at home some body is making Big money off these wars.
I couldn't agree more with Mr. Cafferty.
Mr Karzai is making a mockery of U.S. policy and commitment to his "train wreck" of a country. As a Vietnam veteran, I'm paying close attention to this mess as it is terribly similar to Vietnam.
How dare Karzai put off an operation which will ultimately cost NATO lives. Never in history has an invader asked permission first. Waiting until the harvest?? What harvest....there's already plenty of opium flowing out of Afghanistan, When are we going to realize that opium is at the root of every action this guy takes. The money from its production has polluted the entire government there.
We need to draw the line. Either he goes along with the NATO plan or he gets removed from an ofice that he stole and had the audacity to blame on the U.S.
We should have dumped our stupid puppet along time ago. He can rule outside the presidential palace. The US should not waste the lives of our service people for a idot like Karzai since he is more wothless than Malakie in Iraq.
We haven't learned in 45 years that invading third world countries without any knowledge to the cultures always leaves us rejected.
Since Viet Nam we go into these countries and try to make them like us, when in fact we should give the people the opportunity to make their countries like they want to. It is up to the Afghans to rise up and develop their culture, and for us to stop enabling and get the hell out as there are no longer any Al Queda to fight any longer.
Why are we still there? we have wasted to much time ,Money .And our young soldiers for nothing. I was in viet nam in the 70"s .Look what happened there. Let the Taliban have that cesspool back.Stop wasting our future on those people. They could care less about us.
I am genuinely sorry to suggest that we make the area between Pakistan and Afghanistan glow. I am a far left sort of 60s liberal, but enough is enough. We need to take American troops out of harm's way, nuke that border back to the middle ages (the preferred era of the fundamentalist Muslims), and renounce any position in the Middle East except to acknowledge Israel as having also gone too far to the right. It is a pretty certain matter that we will have no less friends in that area if we should do so. We could certainly use the huge capital we are pissing away to rebuild the American economy. Supporting green job creation if nothing else will do more for our next generations than these stupid, stupid wars. Time to go for the change ( with a capital CHANGE) that Obama promised. Send the repugnicans out with that other Taliban and come to terms with American democracy again. It is clearly the best system yet IF we have the cookies to take it for real.
beginning to look like we have put all our political eggs in the wrong basket. if only the easter bunny could help, i would feel much better about the situation. karzai needs to go, soer rather than later......paging dr freud!! stat!!
Maybe someone should remind him that the same country who put him in power can also just as easily remove him.
Pull all the troops out. Let them kill each other as they have for eons but make it very clear if anyone attacks the US, we will be back and destroy the entire country.
Easy, just get out!
Karzai clearly wants to portray himself as the strong man in the face of increased foreign troop presence in his own country and steady western pressure on him to run a cleaner, more effective government.
It's a peculiar relationship now in what has become a test of wills with the deepest levels of doubt on both sides. Do we continue fighting and dying for his country?
Jack,
How many chances does he need to get kicked to the curb?
This is almost a case when a person with addictive behavior screams out for help thru their addiction. Is he on drugs?
Jack,
We need to do what everyone else throughout history has done when they have marched into Afghanistan...realize the mistake and leave. Especially considering how soft our own government and civilian population has become to "war." If we aren't going to let our troops fight; we need to bring them home. With the drug trade and corruption, we might as well call Afghanistan the "Mexico of the Middle East." We should just treat them like we treat Mexico and ignore the problem. Seems to work with Mexico, er, wait...
Dump him and let him go to the Taliban – they'd take care of him for us – or what about our own CIA, they'd eliminated "problems" before.
For sure, we shouldn't spend 1 more life there
Our policy should be to annihilate the taliban and then leave and offer no future aid of any kind. All their soldiers are high on opium, and are nearly impossible to train, and the governments out there are so 3rd world and corrupt. US needs to stop trying to be the hero and focus on strictly the US now. None of these other nations appreciate us, and we need to help ourselves now more then ever.
We should begin the process of ending our military involvement in that country.
Seeley, CA
Don't you think that it is possible that he now feels that the US is unreliable and that the Europeans are not committed so he is trying to save his position in the future? I do not think that he is the best leader for the time but that may also apply his counterpart in the US.
Hi Jack,
Two words: Manuel Noriega. I think we have seen this story before.
Best,
Jack
Its thier country, let them live it thier way. LEAVE NOW. Put our people
and money to work here at home protecting borders, cities.
Riley,charleston wv
Karzai has never been a friend of the US. He has taken the side of the Taliban more then once and has infuriated the people of Afghanistan with his words against the US.
We are caught between a rock and a hard place with this person. We cannot pull out of Afghanistan with the money and lost of life that we put into that country, trying to take down the Taliban. At the same time, we are not getting full cooperation from Karzai and many of his followers making it difficult for us to continue to be in Afghanistan. Maybe it is time to have an accident with one of our predator drones.
Waterboard Karzai.
We should pull out of Afghanistan and let it deteriorate back in the hands of the Taliban. If the Taliban have the country again maybe they'll pull back from the instability they've created in Pakistan, which should be a concern to the United States as Pakistan has nuclear weapons. And if they Taliban can come back into Afghanistan they'll be so much infighting amongst the members they won't be much of a bother to the world for years. Our only concern is to have strong borders to prevent another terrorist attack on our shores. Our presence in Afghanistan hasn't deterred terrorism; the underwear bomber's attempt in December is proof of that.
Karzai is no different from Saddam Hussein. The United States was buddy buddy with Saddam in the 80s, giving him billions to fight Iran, and look where that relationship wound up. We should cut our efforts and pull out, and let's see how long Karzai stays in power without the protection of those meddling foreign powers he's complaining about.
Jack,
We can't let Afghanistan go back to being a safe haven for al-Qaeda. We need for that country to be an ally that will stand up to terrorists and destroy the poppy crop. If Karzai won't lead in that direction, then we need to back another horse.
Jim
Reno, Nevada
Get out! Wasn’t this war was about retaliation for the attacks of 9/11? If Al Qaeda is no longer in Afghanistan, why are we? Enough, already.
Let's see if I got my history right: Alexander the Great, the Khangis, then the English, Soviets, and now the Americans. How about we let China try a crack at it and see what happens. What's the worst that could happen....
They were/are hiding Osama. They started this war. We need to get out NOW! Let them clean up their own mess!
The posturing has begun. By the time our work is done, Karzai needs to show he can stand up on his own 2 feet, without resorting to our protection or puppet strings.
It's his neighborhood, not ours. Once we move out, he still needs to live (or die) in it. Let the string cutting begin.
10 billion a month! We can pay for health care with money left over!!! and save lives instead of killing people.
Dear Mr. Karzai:
Wanna live in the fourteenth century? Be our guest, we're outta here!
Very truly yours,
United States
P.S. Any attacks on US interests emanating from your territory, we'll nuke you back to the Jazz Age.
U.S. policy against Afghanistan should be to make sure no one from that region poses a threat to U.S. security. Note that doing so does not mean we should be in the business of nation building.
Get out, take a more aggressive special ops and air campaign against the Taliban. The Taliban will likely take back over, fine we can bomb them into submission and save American lives and money – think about it no more nation building, just beating the Taliban to a pulp. A win win.
This is so simple, our gov'ts stupidity makes my head hurt. Pull out our troops, TONIGHT! If this little tyrant or any other 5th century moron wants to put our nose in it, then we'll use to 90's technology via Cruise Missiles to shut them up.
it is time to come home.
Order the CIA to overthrow him, or cut bait and get the HELL out! Our young men and women over there need not suffer any further to support a two faced liar.
Jack,
Four simple little words everyone can understand. "Get the hell out."
What should our policy be? Leave Afghanistan to the Afghans!! Bin Laden has left the country; so should we.
Sarah
Denver CO
get out, no trade or support; no tolerance for attacks against us. Kick the dust from our shoes and let the crazies have at each other.
Cau you say Asta La Vista Baby?
Make it clear he can negotiate with anyone he so desires but if he, his country, or anyone in his country does anything to cause harm to any US citizen of our country, including Rush Limbaugh, we'll be back and next time we will not come throwing money.
Isn't this just history repeating itself? How many times have we gone into what we would consider third world countries, installed someone we picked and trusted in power and then had it backfire? Weren't we the ones who originally propped up Saddam and how about the Shah? I guess as long as America thinks that we can buy friendship, situations like this will always happen. I say dump Afganistan and leave it to it's own devices.
We must get out of Afghanistan completely now. We can fight terrorism from Pakistan and with our very effective drones. Also, as someone else once said, "Afghanistan is where empires to to die."
Cut him loose! Let's face it, when Bush sold our country out for the oil fields of Iraq, his administration allowed the Taliban to regroup and come back even stronger in that country. Obama needs to look towards the welfare of our country, our troops, and our economy. Pull all American troops out of Afghanistan now!
I'll tell you exactly what our policy should be, get the H-E-double hockey sticks OUT. Let him side with the Taliban all he wants. Let him be Russia's problem again. How dare he with all the blood, sweat and money we've put in that hell on earth.
Duh!!!
WITHDRAW
Karzai is no different that Iran;s "Imanutcase"
He has just shown his true colors!
Join the Taliban???
Indeed!
Ray
Vancouver
Canada
Bring the troops home.
It's plain and simple: Being our men and women home. It's apparent that Karzai is as corrupt as the Taliban. And since he says he may join them, why are we over there still trying to do his job for him. Let them have that dump and bring our troops home and strengthen our own country.
Declare success and depart, leaving Mr Kharzai in charge of his government. Let the chinese and the russians deal with them.
get the hell out and let them take care of themselves
Jack
You are old enough to remember how we used to get rid of leaders who were self declared opponents of US policy and a bit too left wing for our tastes. Let’s see if this old solution re-emerges for a US ally and judging by his corruption and love of money, a solid capitalist.
Afghanistan is a worthless pile of rocks inhabited by a group of thugs with colorful headgear hiding the emptiness of the heads they cover. WHY are the idiots in Washington sacrificing our sons and daughters and wealth over this? Nuke the damn place and let God sort 'em out.
it is about the united states need to get out and look for Opium else where
Put him on methadone like all of the other heroin addicts
It is not in the best interest of the United States to support the head of state of a country that does not want our help. By making empty threats he is just trying to stir up some attention for his own political purposes. Power in the hands of the ignorant is what has gotten us into this mess and it is what will keep the world from reaching true peace.
Our policy in Afghanistan should be U R on your own . Get out now and stay out. As you said if we were to somehow stabilize that place who would we turn it over to?? We have lost enough there as it is yime to get out and let the Taliban deal with Karzai..
If he chooses to join the Taliban he should then become a target. The Taliban are our enemy. We kill our enemies. The White House should ofcourse cancel his visit or let him come and take him prisoner. Why are we still fighting in that country? The chances of us catching or killing Osama Ben Ladin are next to zero. Lets get the hell out of there and Iraq. What is gained by our men in uniform continuing to die . At this rate we will still be there 10 years from now.
Hello Jack Cafferty and CNN friends,
The U.S. policy should be to Attack All Enemies, Stop Terrorist, Maintain Ground and Really Build Up Afghanistan. Otherwise Sooner or Later there will be No Tomorrow!
Greetings,
Jurgen R. Brul
I think that it is time to give Karzai an ultimatum. He can either work with us or we leave Afganistan. Karzai knows that he will likely be murdered within a short period of time of the US troops leaving.
I figure the only reason that we are staying in Afganistan is because it gives us a base fro which to launch attacks against Iran, if necessary.
Here's a thought, "Get out of other peoples' countries...and stay out!" They'll soon stop hating you and you can then safely turn your attention to fixing your own messed up country.
American money seems to buy disrespect, less keep it at home.
There is no real central government in Afghanistan. Our foreign policy should focus on those local leaders willing to work with us, and limit our support to Karzai to the extent he will live up to international standards of behavior.
If diplomacy fails and you there is an inherent threat to our children and way of life..Nuke it. Some times people should get what they deserve. this might be one of those cases.
The problem folks is closer to home. Mr. Obama landed in town and browbeat a man who is called the 'Mayor of Kabul' – with word on the street that your guy told Mr. Karzai that it is later than everyone thinks for the American engagement in Afghanistan. The result was predictable – Mr. Karzai has decided to start looking for new, more reliable friends.
I am not saying he is right, Jack, but going back to the times of Henry Kissinger, the U.S. had made an art of squeezing smaller players until the pips squeaked, and that skill appears lost to Mr. Obama.
Karzai is reminding me of the puppet governments during the Viet Nam War.
Step one: Bring our troops home
Step two: cut off all funding to or for Afgans
Step three: Let whatever happens to them happen
Step four: Smile
We can blow the hell out of any country from long distance, we don't need to be there wasting more lives and tax dollars.
We could resolve all the political and drug problems in Afghanistan, and reduce the Nuclear stockpile in one go. Why scrap the weapons, use them.
Here's a revolutionary idea... why not let the Afghanis decide for themselves? We've been in their country for nine years, we haven't captured bin Laden, and all we've done is spend money we didn't have on a war that they may not want to fight, and lost the lives of American soldiers and innocent civilians in the process.
If the Afghani people don't want to be ruled by the Taliban, they are going to have to confront them. However, the only thing the Afghanis hate more than each other are foreign invaders, no matter what flag they fly.
And we worried about Saddam. We just can't get things right over there. I figure give them all equal weapons and let them blow each other up, especially the Saudis who are totally worthless – but take the horses out first – at least they have value.
Spray baby Spray (or defollinate) their popy crop for the next 20 years.
The cost of this would be so much less and you cut off the head of the snake this way. No money or cash crop and their ability to wage war
against anyone is taken away.
buy all the poppy from the farmers and destroy it annually. Obama and more imortantly our country are being made to look like fools. get out and you will see Karzai either hanged by the Taliban or seeking asylum in Saudi with the billions of dollars he stole from us.
Look don't you get it?
We are the enemy! All we have to do is submit to Sharia Law and all will be OK We haven't any constitution here anymore or abide by our own laws, what the hek. Roll over. Lets put President Mahmoud in charge in stead of Obama, he is going to nuke us anyway if we don't. And the world will like us better for it.
Ocala Fl.
We should never have invaded Afghanistan; we should now get out just as quickly as possible. Anyone who thinks that a culture like Afghanistan is ever going to "westernize" should look more closely at the facts. So long as we are helping their economy, they might put on a friendly face, but underneath they hate us for our invasion and occupation. This was a fool's errand from day one– the sooner we admit that and cut our losses and get out, the better for everyone.
Jim, Craig, CO
We should dig deep in Tora Bora and put a Military base there. Take ALL of our troops out of the rest of the country and peroidocly Bomb ALL the Bridges, Roads, Water Plants, Electric Plants, Goverment buildings, Presidential Palaces, and Poppy fields untill Mr. Karzide understands that we won't give up untill the Taliban is gone and Bin Laden and his cronies are dead or captured.
Pull the troops back to their bases and sit for awhile. Cut all the aid to Afghanistan. Let the Afghan government and people decide what plan they want to pursue. Make them truly independent. If they want us to leave, fine.
Our country, as has yours, have lost precious young lives attempting to help this country thru its struggles..He comes across as an ungrateful, selfish SOB...Pull out ASAP, this moron has given us both a reason...Fly all the good citizens out to Canada and the US..Maybe you guys could unload a few "obsolete" nukes in that godforsaken place...Maybe smooth out a few of those mountain ranges for them..
If Karzai and his ilk are slowly becoming our enemies instead of our partners in the fight against terrorism, then it's time to pull our troops and our money out of Afghanistan. Not only will our soldiers be out of harm's way, but we can use those diverted funds to reduce our national deficit and/or put towards our health care programs. There's an old saying, Jack...charity begins at home.
He is running this country like a Republican , after all there the ones who put him in office . He needs to go ,
This is the guy who was hired by us to do our job 9 years back. He lied and back stabbed his way through out including nepotism, mudslinging his neighbors and blaming everyone but himself for his country's problems. Now he is trying to bite the hand which fed him all along.Why are we surprised?
Simple, we should leave. Heck, maybe we could pay healthcare costs for every man, woman and child with the money we'd save.
And we wouldn't have to try to cover up any more mistakes where pregnant woman are killed. They really don't want our help, the price we and they pay is just too high to continue.
For the hundreds of servicemen and women that already died there, and the thousands of American familes that grieve for their deceased family member daily, the question is a no brainer, let's leave. He, that country and his neighbors are not worth another honorable soldiers life; they are too valuable. Why be in a country where we are not wanted.
Maybe it should be the same as what the Soviet Union's policy in Afghanistan eventually became? Can we afford to be there? Can we afford to be anywhere other than at home right now? I suppose Afghanistan is different than Vietnam, but it's hard to know when the media can only report what it is allowed to report. Nevertheless, Vietnam was at one time viewed as a great threat to our way of life. As we know today, those fears were unfounded. Extremist terrorism fueled by religious and ideological zeal may pose a very real danger, but it's difficult to say without hindsight unless we look to the Soviet Union's experience there. In any event, I am for getting out and staying out of the country and it's politics. I think it's a risk we should take and maybe one we can't afford not to take.
Its not america and our power is really in america only have we so stop cold turkey all the extra spending let's get back to america
Pack up the troops too be home by the 4th of July for the celebrations.
Jack – all but eliminate our military profile, elevate what we seek to do economically with both Afghanistan and Pakistan (with whom military programs continue) and monitor through local intelligence and drone technology those situations in Afghanistan that are deemed important enough to deal with unilaterally or through international consensus.
Our business in Afghanistan is simply "To Kick Al Queda's and the Taliban's Ass". In accomplishing our mission anyone and anything who gets in our way should quite simply be chalked up as a "Cost of Doing Business". That should take care of how we do business with Hamid Karzai as well.
simple, Nuke them and be done. Its obvious that diplomacy doesn't work. Save the tax money for something useful. Not only will this garner us respect but it will let others know we mean business.
We need to inmmediately get out of Iraq and Afghanistan and let those ignorant slugs fend for themselves. There is, not now nor will there ever be, a reason for America to be there. Karzai, is just another American implanted puppet that has decided he can work both sides of the political street. Same thing happened in Iran, and Iraq. When will America learn? Get out! Get out! Get Out of Afghaninistan! Not next year. Now!
It's been over ten years now since Bush, Cheney and Rice – the oil barons that occupied the White House – insisted on fighting to get their pipeline built. Let's get out of there and spend our money on finding alternatives to fossil fuels – now.
Afghanistan is a hopeless basket-case. I thought we would have learned from our Vietnam debacle that you can't get involved in someones civil war. Afghan is worse. It is someones civil and religious war. They have operated with corrupt governments for thousands of years. I submit none of the middle eastern countries will ever develop a functional, democratic society. We also didn't learn from Russia's adventure into futility. We armed the Taliban against Russia and now we're fighting the Taliban.
Enough already. Let's get out now. President Karzai doesn't deserve another American dollar or another American life.
Jack,
We are interfering. We never should have tried nation building. War is about killing the enemy. It is another country's business how they want to run politically, regardless of how corrupt and inhumane we may think they are. Our only purpose should have been to follow al-Qaeda–and since everyone's pretty sure they're in Pakistan now, we should have been long gone from Afghanistan. Our continued stay in the Middle East, and our continued support of a bullying Israel, will only spur another generation to hate America and continue attacks against our nation. Imagine if China (or any other country) kept bases in the U.S., patrolled our streets accidently killing innocent civilians, and told us who we could elect into key positions. Our reaction would be exactly like what civilians in Iraq, Afghanistan, and most of the Middle East are doing: rebelling.
Thanks for reading,
Matt R., TX
It's all about the drug opium Jack. These people have been growing it for there income from time in memorium. Why do we impose our imperious ideals opon them...? War on drugs..? it is more of a war on the people just like the poor souls who suffer from the addition of the drug or beneift from the good it is used for pain relief. Why in the hell do we have to police the world from the good or evil that we decide.
Plain and simple. We should not be dealing with, supporting with funds and arms and trading with countries with known corrupt and untrustworthy "leaders." Our track record shows that this is a common practice with our Presidents and Congress'. We are in debt to and in economic distress to China. Not their fault...our government's. Still trading with Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Chili, Venezuela, Mexico, China, Vietnam, to mention a few, when we know damned well they are corrupt dictatorships, communist, drug suppliers, anti-American, anti-human rights, or just plain radicals without concern for human lives.
So what we should be doing is stop any dealing with Afghanistan and the rest immediately and completely. The time for being at war with or putting boots down in other countries is over. Wars are not an answer and until all cooperate openly and honestly for the good of their peoples, they should be left alone.
Thom Richer
Negaunee, MI
I think consensus shows that the mood of America is time to get out. The Republicans are the only one who wants us to stay there. Enough already. I never thought we should have gone anywhere after 9/11. Diplomacy must continue. Guns are not the answer, when Washington sent out the troops people obeyed, we are a nation of laws, I sincerely doubt if the Middle East will ever have peace, sadly.
He needs to be reminded that we had a legal right to invade his country, and therefore we ARE going to tell him what to do or will replace him.
Jack,
The United States has wasted millions sacraficing our ecomony along with the blood of our military supporting a war for that thankless, crooked idiot who isn't the least interested in making life any better for his people or care for any democratic government.
After his latest demonstration and meetings with " Uh dinner jacket", all the countries involved in the war should all pull out of that country and leave them to their own demise.
Cut our losses and come home. Now. Nothing we do will ever make a difference. Let them go back to the Middle Ages.
Get out now! Kudos to Karzi! Afgans dont want us there and the majority of America want us out. Let them run their own country.
To me, the United States, and perhaps the West in general, have forgotten that "War is Hell." War is something that is supposed to be avoided. War is for when all diplomatic channels have failed. Today, war is way too pristine.
My policy for Afghanistan would be to shift to a real war, where we send in troops and wipe out the enemy. Kill and destroy everything in the way of completing the mission. Just wait and see how quickly we can accomplish our mission when the enemy knows we're going to actually go to war and destroy everything in sight until we win.
We must never forget that it was Afghanistan that was instrumental in the 9/11 attack on our nation.
He wants to play his own game with the rules he writes, so let him! Let him play with Al Queda and the Taliban. Let Iran, Iraq, Somalia, and Pakistan join in.
The US should pull out by the end of the year and let the game begin. Karzai can be both the coach and score keeper if he lives long enough,
Karzai and the Afghan people must broker deals to get along with all their neighbors in the Middle East and the U.S. remaining there isn't in their best interest. It's time for the U.S. to let Karzai know we won't standup for him and we won' back down if he continues his actions.
Karzai has never shown an interest in making his country better for the people. It has only been at our insistance that he has tried to improve anything. He has always been and always will be for himself and his family not the Afgan people. We should remove him and have him replaced. Karzai and "his" people allowed their country to be a staging area for many, many terrorist operations. That allowance has a price that has to be paid.and that price is "we" have an inherant right to make the country a stable place for its people with or without Karzai. When the leaders of Afganistan understand that it is not and will not be as it has been for generations they will work with us. They understand outright, confrontational and strong leadership. Until they find their own strength we must be it for the people.
Our policy should be what it has always been....to keep a toehold in southwest asia. We don't invade places just because they stone their women and harbor WMDs....we attack places to project our power, keep the military industrial complex going, keep our troops battle tested, and, most importantly, protect the oil fields. That's who we are and what we do. We're Americans, damn it!
Our policy in Afghanistan should be that any person who is a terrorist threat is legal game for us to hunt since Afghanistan can't seem to police its own backyard. As far as Karzai is concerned let him join the Taliban and then he too can enjoy the bombing(s) with a front row seat.
Pensacola, FL
This whole thing is about BIG BANKS and OPIUM and the money flow. Don't you know that's the reason for this war?
Say Good bye to Afghanistan for ever....
We need to kick him out, he is corrupt and useless to our cause, let us install new government, for once we need some balls in Washington and do the right thing
Does anyone have a doubt about what this man stands for? I don't!
Here is another ruler selling his soul to the devil to remain in power. Don't let him decide when he turns taliban. His is already one of them.
What are we waiting for to ask him to leave the palace and join Ben Laden? I bet he knows where he is and we will kill two birds with one one stone
our policy should be to "get out and let them kill themselves". they have shown that they can't get out of thier own way. how does rebuilding that country create jobs for us? leave now! nothing we do or don't do will change thier opinion of our government! lets get out of there!
Pull every troup out of that forsaken place. Get real with immigration and strenghen security (remember the 9/11 terrorist slipped under the radar). Let the Taliban and Al Quida get as mad as they want, we can't passify the world, we can strongly secure our borders.
Foley,al get the he'll out. You know you"ve got a problem when this war is the only thing that the republicans agree with president Obama on!!! Hint, hint!!!
How about LEAVING!!!!!! We've wasted enough money and lives trying to help this obviously unappreciative country. Continue covert operations to locate Bin Laden, But get our troops out now. How about napalming the poppy fields on the way out?
Jack – No body trust Karzai – Gen Musharaf has painted Karzai's true picture before our commanders on the ground and to the state dept several times... Plus India's invlovement is also questionable in that region – There's too many irons in the fire already. We need to get out of this mess – We need to learn from Charlie Wilson's era. Why cant we just LEAVE and let them resolve their own mess and focus on our own internal security Air / Ground and Sea.
Ten Thousand years ago, it was Tribes, living in and among the rocks & dirt. How is it much different today?
Many world powers have tried to bring order "forcefully" to the Tribes living amongst the rocks & dirt. (British, Russians, Americans)
Funny today, they are still tribes living amongst the rocks & dirt.
What should U.S. policy be when it comes to Afghanistan?
That the US no longer NEEDS a policy with Afghanistan, its occupation & alliance with its corrupt leaders. This occupation of Afghanistan has amounted to nothing but wasted lives & money.
Mr Brown
California
The guy ruined the best shot we had at stablizing Afghanistan in decades. Afghan people know its not he foriengers who created all the coruption that's going on in Afghanistan. Now he wants to join the Taliban? I say go for it ,, maybe then we can get some one who cares about Afghan people . Once he is gone I'm sure Taliban and coruption will go with him.
Pull out!
Jack, it's time this Clown packed his bags and headed for the hills. Our country has enough problems diplomatically and otherwise without his likes. We no longer have an equity in Kabul or anyplace else in the region that is worth the lives of our military personnel. Bring all the troops home and accept our losses as a bad investment. Let Karzai and his country return to their meaningless way of life and let the world move on.
Jesse in Texas
His comments are probably his political reality, he does not live in America. By the same token you do not get to against the grain without consulting with us while living off the American checkbook.
This is a card game, he needs us, he will fall back in line. We need to be flexible and not be so ethnocentric.
There needs to be a very frank, private conversation between US leadership and Afghan leadership... no guessing what this means or than means, no inuendos or 'strong suggestions'. There needs to be frank questions like, "What do you mean by (each of his comments). It is the obvious, easy and justified thing to simply pull out... but ultimately that punishes the civilians in the area much more than the government that is unable to protect them from the onslaught of power brokers in a US evacuation. Thankfully Pres. Obama is not one to rush to judgement but is thoughtful and resourceful.
Enough is enough. Let them fight their own damn war. Send ALL our troops back home. He and his country do not deserve the American blood spilled on their soil.
When the head of a country that you're seeking partnership with, is mouthing off, not to mention that the people themselves won't stand up, you're fighting a losing battle.
Leave. The US and the coalition forces need to leave now and take their guns and money with them. It took 10 years before Russia took the hint. Get rid of that 'win at all costs' attitude. Pride can lead one to ruin. But for some reason we want to attempt sliding on that banana peel thinking we won't fall.
Jack until we legalize narcotics, the unrelenting violence and and the massive profit they provide, there will never be a soultion. Countries like Afganastan, Mexico will always be provided with all the money they need to wage these drug wars. it is a nasty circle with end, until we stand up and face the obvious,
Tell Karzai to either shape up or we ship out.
We should move all the troops to the northern provinces where the "northern alliance" was and make sure they are secure and have a good life. Protect the people that want to be protected.
Make sure Khabul is aware we are pulling out ant that the Taliban can have free reign where we arent.
Arm some of the former southern warlords, let them know we will help them form their own little countries as they declare their independance from a corrupt regime. Once Afghanistan is 5 or 6 other countries it becomes easier to manage.
Look Jack I am sick and tired of us spending our resources in places, on people who dont want us there...... we dont seem to learn anything, history repeats itself....... I cant wait until we are out of there.
pack up and come home.should never have gone in the first place. it's vietnam with camels.
Pull out the troops, but leave behind special forces and CIA operatives to monitor the Taliban. A little "wet work" should be part of the covert stay-behind mission.
Can't trust middle easterners. I know most everyone thinks we should leave. maybe we should stay and be their thorn, especially if there is some colluding with Iran.
Enough already. How many more corrupt so called leaders do we have to support around the world, only to have them turn on us after they are built up. How much of our national treasure must we loose in both money and lives to reach the tipping point each time?
Go ahead and wipe out their poppy crops which finaces their radical elements and turn our attention to where we really need to show concern, namely western Pakistan and the training camps of Al Quida there and in Somolia. Cut off Karzai's treasure both from US aid and the illegal drug money. Let's see how he likes that. Let him get his aid from his good buddy in Iran.
Jack,
We have to practice what we preach. We preach freedom and democracy. We must respect the sovereignty of that state. If Karzai wants to do his own thing then so be it. Lets pack up and go home. Though if it comes to that then we must have Pakistan as a stronger supporter in the region. We can't afford to let it fall back into the terrorist utopia it was before we got there.
These people are ingrates and they should be left on their own cesspool. Karzai is a corrupt politician and should not be supported anymore by the U.S. We should pull out of that country and leave them to their bacward attitude.
Mr. Karsai is in between a rock and a hard place....the United States and the talaban. The United States should take the rock and throw it at his kneecap, not his head. If he continues the crap, through it at his head ... then pack up and leave.
I read above that someone thinks we should "just nuke em". Let's not forget that there are thousands of oppressed women and children in Afganistan. The women there are the most mistreated in the world. That's why their country is so dysfunctional. Any country who murders a women for talking to a man, any country that allows men to throw acid in girls faces because they go to school, is a regime that does not deserve to exist. I have no idea what the answer is, but to desert these women is more than cruel, it is appalling. The Taliban are evil men, who hide behind "God" to commit unspeakable crimes against the weak.
Simple. Leave and let him twist in the wind.
Karzai linked to Conoco was hand picked by Bush to replace the Taliban to build the pipeline through Afghanistan. Now we see his brother Ahmed is an opium albeit heroin dealer. Dubya had Jeb steal his election, Karzai has Ahmed to steal his. See what family politics can do for one's career?
Afghanistan is called the graveyard of empires – US should get out ASAP. Karzai is saving his own hide, he knows that US will leave one day, however Iran and some elements of Taliban will always be there.
If Karzia wants to become a Taliban then shoot him! Give him the same fate that the Taliban fighters get!
Karzai knows that Obama and the US Democrats are going to eventually abandon him and Afghanistan. Karzai is playing both sides of the fence to stay alive.
Sound & fury to regain his credibility in a land where strongmen and warlords reign, signifying desperation.
We let Karzai puff up a bit & he doesn't appear so much like a U.S. puppet. Might work for him in the short term, to our detriment.
Long-term, the U.S. will have no positive impact in a country that refuses to leave the 7th century, and we will bankrupt ourselves. We need to spend our money at home. Let Pakistan flush out Bin Laden & call us when they're done. He's probably been on a beach in Karachi for the last few years anyway.
You know this is the wrong question. The question should be why do we have an Afganistan policy in the first place. It is dizzying the different excuses this government has used to explain its presence and the loss of life that happened over the past eight years. Whatever the Afghanistan government decides to do isn't it ultimately their affair? As my father used to say ," A big part of gift giving is realizing that once given the gift is not yours." OR was the money given to Afghanistan something else?
Viatnam II – Nation building is not possible in Afghanistan, we trained them well.
Karzai is an Afghan, and since 2001 he was nothing but a puppet. I think he finally woke up to realities and read Afghan history and found out how traitors and puppets were treated and viewed in their history. Karzai has had enough of Afghan blood spilled by foreign occupiers, and that's why he's talking like this adn wants to join the Taliban, because most Afghans do not want invaders in the country. I am an Afghan, and since day 1 of the invasion, I have opposed foreign troops in Afghanistan. Afghanistan has never been occupied successfuly, and if the US succeed, this will change the 10,000 years of history of Afghans that were never conquered. Karzai has to choose between his masters in the Petagon and his peoples' 10,000 years of proud history of never having been defeated.
Really are we surprised here? This area of the world has been the same for over 2000 years, killing each other over religious differences. Just pull out, we don't need this garbage, use the money to defend ourselves and improve OUR own country, it's all going back to hell once we leave anyway. If you're not convinced, go tell a giraffe to stop growing a long neck... see what happens and how long it takes, because that's what you're dealing with here.
Jeromy – Detroit, MI
Jack.......
Our new policy should be to use "him " as an educational tool.
Fly the guy to the US.....and have him give a series of lectures to our foreign policy makers about how easy it is for Governments like his around the world to bilk billions out of this country by making all sorts of silly, pro American promises about nation building, stable governments, free elections, democracy and military support in local conflicts. ........without keeping any of the promises.
After mandatory attendance over an extended period of time....with pop quizzes and a final exam just possibly, our policy makers will see errors of our ways.
The only friend of Karzai is Karzai.
Whoever replaces him will be the same way.
Another leftover (hangover) of the Bush days.
Jack, I don't know whose idea it was that we can remake Iraq and Afghanistan in our image, but we don't have enough money to do it. We went into Afghanistan to capture or kill bin Ladin, and should have limited it to that mission. We should not have gone into Iraq but since we went there to capture or kill Saddam we should have limited it to that mission.
To stay in either place past next week is more wasting of American lives and money that we don't have. We should have been gone long ago, but we need to start pulling our troops and financial support out.
Why do we need a policy on Afghanistan? Let them run their own country. It's our insatiable appetite for drugs and our failed illegal drug policy that is funding much of the "real" crime/terrorism in Afghanistan and around the globe. Poppy's, coca, and marijuana are not any harder to grow than corn, yet I do not see many revolutions funded by produce. Make it illegal and now it's worth its weight in gold. We are to blame for creating this situation. You can still think drugs are bad, and most are, but making them illegal causes far more harm. It’s time we start profiting from our demand and stop paying for it with billions of dollars and thousands of lives.
After karzai's statements we should pull out today. We are spending money on afghanistan when we're cutting off unemployment benefits to our own people. After 10's of billions spent we are not any safer ( and maybe less so) that we were 7 years ago. Its time to go.
Our ability to install something as foreign as a democratic state in the middle east has not proven it self in Iraq, let alone in afghanistan.
Why is it that all of the countries in the middle east are authoritarian states? Is there a reason I'm missing? Maybe freedom has to be earned not given before it can be appreciated for what it is. Its time to let them fight for there own freedom ( if they want it) Otherwise its time
to bring our fine soldiers home. There have been enough of our fine men and women killed for people whom don't appreciate the oppurtunity that we are giving them. Bring them home
jeff- Dayton, ohio
It
Karzai is not unlike politicians in the US – he will say anything to appeal to the masses, and bashing "foreigners" is a good thing to do there. The US let him get away with stealing an election and now we are reaping what we have sewn. All the US can do is threaten him with immediate withdrawal of military backup; let's see how long he lasts without international troops protecting him.