Bush's U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, William Wood, is known in Kabul as "Chemical Bill."

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.e-ariana.com/ariana/eariana.nsf/allDocs/EF6838516C602F71872575510038A84E?OpenDocument

<snip>He has even taken a shot at the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan, William Wood, saying that because of his support for using herbicides on opium poppies, he's known in Kabul as "Chemical Bill." The nickname is a reference to Ali Hassan Majid, Saddam Hussein's cousin, who became notorious for ordering poison gas attacks on Iraqi Kurds and was given the name "Chemical Ali."

To Afghans, Holbrooke's appointment reinforces tough talk by Vice President Joe Biden, who signaled in a visit last month that the United States could scale back its support for Karzai unless he changes his ways.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. So, is Karzai to be Afghanistans's Ngo Dinh Diem?

With the same results in an unwinnable war we shouldn't be in using the same tactics we used in Vietnam?


From the article:

Holbrooke, who embarks on his first official visit this week, has declared in recent months that the government of Afghan President Hamid Karzai, a longtime American ally, has failed. In opinion columns, he has pointed to "massive, officially sanctioned corruption," along with drugs, as the country's most severe problems.

Holbrooke has also called for vigorous action to deal with extremist sanctuaries in Pakistan. He charged that Pakistan has the power to destabilize its neighbor Afghanistan, "and has."

[NNN0LHI]

2. Sounds more like Karzai may be the next Manuel Antonio Noriega soon

Thats how the story struck me anyway.

Don

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

3. With our long history of toppling governments that don't obey us, I wouldn't be surprised.

The beloved CIA is probably straining at the bit to do a little assassinating. All for a good cause, of course.

The idiots engineering this latest disaster never learn.

[Metta]

4. Any Afghani policy that doesn't deal with tribal leaders will fail.

Just look at how well it's been going without that.