Rumsfeld arrives in Afghanistan

[cal04]

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has arrived in Afghanistan on an unannounced visit to the capital Kabul.

Mr Rumsfeld said the purpose of the visit was to strengthen strategic ties and work through issues arising from the increasing Nato role there.

He will hold talks with Afghan President Hamid Karzai, which are expected to include discussions on escalating unrest in the south.

On Monday the UK said it would send 900 extra military troops to Afghanistan.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5167474.stm

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. "issues that seem to be arising from time to time"

Like the general insurrection that is on it's way?

[Newsjock]

2. Perhaps he needs to visit his dealer

... to bring back some prime coke for Chimpy.

[Charlie Brown]

3. yawn. Another poll-driven vacation on the tax-payers' dime

that begins and ends at the US fortress in Kabul.

[NYC]

4. One way ticket?

[cal04]

6. no such luck

:(

[lpbk2713]

5. I suggest the real reason for Rummy's visit ....

to tell the military medical examiners what evidence they will find pertaining to that fourteen year old girl. That being, that they will find no conclusive evidence of forcible rape. This is the type of message that had to be delivered in person, no paper trail and no eavesdropped phone calls.

[lumpy]

12. Rumsfeld's in Afghanistan not Iraq.

The rape and murders happened in Iraq.

[lpbk2713]

13. I knew that..... I read the original post and I do watch the news.

It wouldn't be quite so obvious if he went there instead of walking right up to them while they were doing their examination. He would have them sent to him in Afghanistan.

[uppityperson]

7. keep him. eom

[Up2Late]

8. O.K. NOW they are just showing off!

They're just trying to make the Fox "news" lemmings think things are safe, and travel is easy.:mad:

[Up2Late]

9. Rumsfeld in Afghanistan amid Taliban resurgence (AFP)

Rumsfeld in Afghanistan amid Taliban resurgence

11/07/2006 06h46

KABUL (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has arrived in Kabul for talks with President Hamid Karzai amid a resurgence of Taliban violence that is challenging NATO's expansion into Afghanistan's troubled south.

Rumsfeld's arrival came as a spokeswoman for the US-led coalition in the violence-wracked central Asian country announced that at least 30 Taliban militants had been killed in an early morning air strike in Helmand province.

The US defense secretary warned Monday that drug money was fueling the Taliban's rise and called on Europe and Russia to do more to help stem the demand for narcotics from Afghanistan's lush poppy fields.

Lieutenant General Karl Eikenberry, commander of the 23,000 US troops in Afghanistan, told reporters traveling with Rumsfeld that the Taliban had extended their influence from traditional strongholds into areas where the government is weak.

(more at link) <http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/060711060848.js2n57ni.html>

Here's a link to the Reuters story: <http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=12798349&src=rss/politicsNews>

[daleo]

10. Inspecting the poppy fields

"Excellent, it looks like a bumper crop", says Rummy.

[Up2Late]

11. I get the feeling they are doing more than just inspecting the crop...

...they seem to be going there almost once a month, might be the safest way to smuggle it in...:tinfoilhat:

[daleo]

14. That's a point

And I'm about that cynical about the whole business.