Asia Times : Losing faith in Afghanistan

[tocqueville]

By Syed Saleem Shahzad

KARACHI - Even as the Bush administration steps up pressure on Afghanistan over the plight of a Christian convert, thousands of youths are descending on Kabul to demand that he be hanged for renouncing Islam.

US President George W Bush and other Western leaders have latched onto the case of Abdul Rahman, 41, who was arrested last month and accused of apostasy for converting to Christianity in 1990, saying that the issue was one of "honoring the universal principle of freedom".

For many Afghans, though, it is just another rallying point to step up pressure for a broader alliance against the presence of foreign forces in the country, while for the Bush administration and its allies it is an opportunity to rethink their position on Afghanistan.

The United States has more than 18,000 troops in the country, while the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force numbers about the same. Germany and Italy have already hinted they may reassess military support for Afghanistan. And German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble suggested that Afghanistan could lose aid or technical support for reconstruction because of the case. The US begun reducing its troop strength in Afghanistan this year and has indicated that it will continue to do so.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/HC25Df02.html

[leveymg]

1. A close source says we'll be out of Afghanistan w/in 12-18 months

She works for a development agency there, and says that the US and western countries are already pulling up stakes.

[tocqueville]

2. they are needed for Iran

far more important. Or Iraq to prevent mayhem adter a strike on Iran.

[leveymg]

3. Development agencies?

Sure, why not? The first assault wave will be clean water project directors, followed by local government taxation experts.

Shock and awe! ;)