Karzai Threatens to Block NATO's Kandahar Offensive

[tekisui]

Source: Reuters

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, April 4 (Reuters) - President Hamid Karzai, under fire for anti-Western remarks, distanced himself from his foreign backers in a speech on Sunday, telling tribal elders Afghans need to see their leaders are not "puppets".

Speaking in front of some 1,500 elders at a "shura" or traditional council meeting in the southern city of Kandahar, Karzai said he would block an upcoming major NATO offensive in the area if it did not have the support of local people.

The commander of U.S. and NATO forces General Stanley McChrystal, who flew down to Kandahar with Karzai, sat on the stage behind the Afghan president but did not speak.

"Afghanistan will be fixed when its people trust their president is independent ... when the people trust the government is independent and not a puppet," Karzai said, adding that government officials should not let "foreigners" meddle in their work.

"The other day, I told Mr. (Barack) Obama: 'I can't fix this nation through war,'" he said. "It has been eight years that this situation is going on, we want peace and security... I'm engaged with all my force to bring peace in this country."

U.S. President Obama met Karzai in Kabul last week during a brief nighttime visit to Afghanistan, his first in the nearly 15 months since he took office. The visit was overshadowed days later when Karzai delivered a verbal attack on the West.

more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SGE63300G.htm?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[bigtree]

1. he's contradicting the WH narrative

... who also says this is about hearts and minds, but insists on conquest first.

[protocol rv]

2. I think you guys are toast

Maybe it's time for US forces to pack and go home. There's no way you can win in Afghanistan anyway.

[bigtree]

4. I hope the President realizes that

... I doubt he sees it that way, though.

[qazplm]

7. eventually he will pull us out

but Karzai isn't the end all/be all of Afghanistan, and quite frankly if they could just find a decent person to put in there, while it would come nowhere close to guaranteeing success, it wouldn't hurt...Karzai ain't that guy.

Maybe that guy doesn't exist, I don't know. I think Obama is trying to play for time. Get as much of a stable environment as he can in some period of time and then pull out. I think we probably pull out in his second term, and we probably begin reducing to pre-surge levels before then.

[amborin]

3. get our troops OUT of Afghanistan!

[MadMaddie]

5. There ya go

Time to end it - screw Karzai he knows exactly what he is doing.

[KharmaTrain]

6. Sounds Like Nygyen Van Thieu...

Another puppet who had been out of touch with his people, seeing his power slipping away and blaming the US for his failures of bhis own corrupt regime. Damn right he's scared...the moment the US and others move out, his chances for survival are slim to none.

[robdogbucky]

8. Another reality thread

about Afghanistan that is sinking like a stone.

This news is what you get when you ignore all the signs.

When you ignore your own ambassador:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/11/AR2009111118432_2.html?wpisrc=newsletter&sid=ST2009111201583


When you ignore our own expert, Matthew Hoh, on the ground in country: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/26/AR2009102603394.html

When you ignore the Afghan women: http://www.rawa.org/index.php


When you turn a war zone into a tourist attraction for politicians: http://blog.taragana.com/politics/2010/03/05/report-vip-visitors-in-afghan-war-zone-are-just-one-challenge-to-struggling-civilian-surge-22171/


I wonder where the war is like a trip to the dentist experts are on this site now? Nothing to say about this latest piece of news?

What has happened to the bally-hooed "surge," in Afghanistan?

Is our puppet not following the script?

Imagine my surprise!


Out of Afghanistan now. Start restoring America's credibility around the world. Tell the eternal war maongers no, not again.


Question of the day: How long, since the inception of this country, have we gone without a day being at war?




Just my dos centavos


robdogbucky