Kandahar 'offensive' scaled back; new goal to improve government

[laststeamtrain]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

Kandahar 'offensive' scaled back; new goal to improve government
By Dion Nissenbaum and Jonathan S. Landay, McClatchy Newspapers 1 hr 15 mins ago

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — Although it's just beginning, the U.S.-led effort to pacify the Taliban's spiritual capital in southern Afghanistan already appears to be faltering.

Key military operations have been delayed until the fall, efforts to improve local government are having little impact and a Taliban assassination campaign has brought a sense of dread to Kandahar's dusty streets.

NATO officials once spoke of demonstrating major progress by mid-August, but U.S. commanders now say the turning point may not be reached until November, and perhaps later.

At the urging of Afghan leaders, U.S. officials have stopped describing the plan as a military operation. Instead, they've dubbed it "Cooperation for Kandahar ," a moniker meant to focus attention on efforts to build up local governance while reducing fears of street battles.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100513/wl_mcclatchy/3504438

---

Murders rattle Kandahar, thwart drive to restore government
By Dion Nissenbaum and Hashim Shukoor, McClatchy Newspapers Thu May 13, 4:55 pm ET

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — The assassins arrived by motorcycle early in the morning, took aim at the tribal elder and shot him in the head. It was just one in a series of assassinations that have rattled nerves and hampered U.S.-backed efforts to install a functional government and improve the lot of the people in southern Afghanistan's largest city.

The victim, Abdul Rahman , a man in his 80s, all but saw it coming. Rahman had risen before a gathering of his peers early last month and publicly criticized President Hamid Karzai for not doing enough to bring security to southern Afghanistan .

Other Kandahar elders told Karzai that they were putting their lives in danger by working with his U.S.-backed government to seize full control of the Taliban's spiritual birthplace.

Attackers in Kandahar province have killed 21 Afghans in the last six weeks, including half a dozen tribal elders like Rahman, according to a tally kept by Sami Kovanen , a veteran security consultant in Kabul . Insurgents have killed four Kandahar government leaders, including the deputy mayor, who was gunned down while at prayer in a mosque.

The latest killing occurred Tuesday, when gunmen on a motorcycle killed a top Kandahar prison official as he headed to work.

"There is no government at all," said a police official in Kandahar's rural Arghandab district, where Rahman was gunned down. McClatchy is withholding his name for his protection.

<more>

http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100513/wl_mcclatchy/3504259

[Vinnie From Indy]

1. Eight fucking years later and the only thing that has changed

continually are the names of the "operations". Afghanistan is simply a huge sponge sucking up American lives and treasure. We could be there another thirty years and nothing will ultimately be changed. The tribes will continue to war with each other while waiting for the next empire to step up for an ass-whooping.

[bemildred]

2. So, it dawned on someone that it was a stupid idea to attack people to win their loyalty? nt

[sam sarrha]

3. There Is No Government in Afghanistan.. just War Lords Looting the STUPID American InfadelTax Payers

the Afgan President's brother is running the Opium/Heroin production in Afghanistan. GET OUT NOW... don't look back.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/28/eveningnews/main5439648.shtml.
"I personally have been shown Western intelligence reports that would appear to indicate that he is indeed deeply involved in drugs," said Gretchen Peters, the author of a book on the Afghan drug trade. "He is the one that will make sure the customs and border police don't search the trucks that are full of drugs."

[hayu_lol]

4. No one, least of all those in our govt. who are trying to fix...

the unfixable, have obviously never read the history of Afghanistan and it's people. They are tribal to the extreme. Tribes hate each other. Blood feuds are very popular and come in all sorts of flavors. They hate their government and any government that takes the place of the ruling government. The most ferocious hate is directed against foreigners of any description and very probably the worst of that hate is directed against the US at this point. We have somehow overtaken the reputation of the Raj.

Hating is a way of life. Not going to change that by backing this tinpot ruler or that one. The people hate them all.

[Robb]

5. Yes, those pitiable savages.

Why is it so much of the "expert opinion" on Central Asia on this board can barely contain its own racism?

Wait, next you'll tell me some of your best friends are Afghan?

[laststeamtrain]

6. Good point.

We, the proud people of McCivilization, are so often hideously arrogant.

Some of the music from that part of the world is stunning.

http://www.folkways.si.edu/find_recordings/CentralAsia.aspx

They were giving away downloads a while back.

For some reason a lot of people seem to think everyone is ready to trade in their traditions for two-ply toilet paper.

I remember seeing a photo from Iraq of the ruins of the city known as Ur of the Chaldees in the bible. Abram, later Abraham was from there. Some marine had scrawled Semper Fi on a wall. Barbaric.

I want everyone to stay home & work on & in their own traditions.

We need a moratorium on this marching around the world, telling everyone what to do stuff.

[Lost4words]

7. +1 nt

[ShortnFiery]

8. No disrespect. It's a tribal culture that's decentralized and we can't even begin to understand.

By all accounts it WILL stay tribal and untamed.

Get out now and let the locals settle their differences.

Or are you siding with "White Man's Burden" arguments? :(

[sam sarrha]

10. yea... the results of staying or leaving will both be tragic., it has been tragic since the Genocide

of the Buddhists in Afganistan during previous Jihads.

but remember, the live by "Insallah", we can only put off the inevitable tragedy, any time a blessing or just shit happens it is gods will.

we cant feel guilty about the tragedy's their culture breeds. we just have to accept/respect the Prime Directive and leave them the hell alone. or they will never evolve out of the hole Mo dug for them.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[grantcart]

11. Great more anti Islamic garbage

And yes I have lived in Muslim Countries.


The first book this poster is hawking is by Ali Sina who compares Obama to Hitler


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Sina_ex-Muslim

Ali Sina has been very critical of Barack Obama and has launched a petition for presidential candidates to be subject to psychological analysis.<17> He believes that Obama is a narcissist who has no concern for other people. Obama is often compared to Hitler and other mass-murderers by Ali Sina and others on his site<18><19>.