Близькосхідне
Afghanistan is a tragedy: but it is not one the West can end. For a decade Nato has tried to fix a failed state and defeat the Taliban. This strategy required three things: preventing the Taliban from finding safe haven and supplies in Pakistan, creating an effective Afghan government, and winning the support of the Afghan people.
None of this has worked. The house-to-house shooting of women and children by a US soldier yesterday feels like a terrible, final symbol. But it follows many dramatic public examples of failure.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/comment/comment/the-west-must-get-out-of-afghanistan-this-year-7562308.html
These days, American and British generals strive to teach their men respect for local societies. They know that winning hearts and minds is vital. But in Afghanistan, even before this latest horror story, they have failed…However hard commanders try to disguise the fact, many Americans fighting in Afghanistan are viscerally hostile to Muslims, and regard local people with just the sort of cultural contempt their fathers displayed towards the Vietnamese
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2114149/The-Devil-dwells-And-possesses-soldier-fearful-behold-unleashed.html
The joint article in a distinguished paper such as the Washington Post is as integral a part of a British Prime Minister's visit to the United States as the state dinner, the basketball game visit and the talks. What today's piece doesn't say is as important as what it does, and I do my best below to fill in the omissions.
"Over the next few days, we will consult about preparations for the NATO summit in Chicago, where our alliance will determine the next phase of the transition that we agreed to in Lisbon. This includes shifting to a support role in advance of Afghans taking full responsibility for security in 2014 and ensuring that NATO maintains an enduring commitment so that Afghanistan is never again a haven for al-Qaeda to launch attacks against our citizens."
Translation: "We both want out of Afghanistan as quickly as possible."
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/thetorydiary/2012/03/a-translation-of-todays-obamacameron-washington-post-article.html
There is never a good time for an American serviceman to go on a shooting spree in Kandahar, methodically murdering 16 Afghan men, women and children - some in their beds. But coming soon after a wave of anger engulfed Afghanistan at the burning of Korans, and as American officials negotiate the departure of troops in 2014, it is difficult to imagine a worse time.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/robcrilly/100143175/afghanistan-shootings-diplomats-in-kabul-are-already-discussing-a-doomsday-scenario/
Con Coughlin
Con Coughlin, the Telegraph's executive foreign editor, is a world-renowned expert on the Middle East and Islamic terrorism. He is the author of several critically acclaimed books. His new book, Khomeini's Ghost, is published by Macmillan. American soldiers are losing the plot in Afghanistan
By Con Coughlin World Last updated: March 12th, 2012
Comment on this Comment on this article
An elderly Afghan man sits next to the bodies of victims of the shooting spree (Photo: Reuters)
First we had American soldiers burning copies of the Koran, and now we have the appalling sight of an American soldier running rampage in Afghanistan and killing 16 innocent Afghan civilians, including nine children. No wonder the Nato mission is going to hell in a handcart.
We all know that soldiers, without the proper training and discipline, can easily degenerate into a murderous rabble that terrorises the local population. We have seen this happen hundreds of times in Africa where armies are no different from the militias who rape, murder and loot at will.
But that is not how it is supposed to be with the Armed Forces of the Western powers, particularly those engaged in sensitive peacekeeping operations, which is what the U.S. troops in Afghanistan are supposed to be doing. The problem in Afghanistan, though, is that Nato forces - the Americans are the largest contingent - are trying to conduct a peacekeeping operation while at the same time fighting a very nasty war against the Taliban.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/concoughlin/100143118/american-soldiers-are-losing-the-plot-in-afghanistan/
The only answer is for the US to do something unprecedented. Under the agreement with the Afghan government that allows its forces to stay in the country, American troops can only be tried in their own country. Equally, any Pentagon inquiry into US forces would generally take place on American soil.
This time, Obama should waive both requirements. He should say that the soldier will be tried by a US military court sitting in Afghanistan. An official inquiry should also take place in the country, perhaps with the participation of Afghans. By taking those steps, Obama could show that American soldiers are genuinely accountable, not only to their own governments and people but also to Afghans as well. If Obama followed that course, he might repair some of the damage inflicted by this appalling incident.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/davidblair/100143296/afghanistan-shooting-barack-obama-must-let-afghans-see-that-justice-is-done/
“Why should foreign intervention be wrong when people demand it?” Muhammed asked. “Russia, Iran, Hezbollah all support the regime. That’s a form of intervention, isn’t it? We are not fighting just the regime, we are fighting foreign states that stand behind it. So make this an equal battle for us. We can take care of ourselves.”
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/michaelweiss/100143085/despite-the-horrors-of-homs-syrias-rebel-leaders-are-bullish-as-assads-regime-rots-from-the-inside/
None of this has worked. The house-to-house shooting of women and children by a US soldier yesterday feels like a terrible, final symbol. But it follows many dramatic public examples of failure.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/comment/comment/the-west-must-get-out-of-afghanistan-this-year-7562308.html
These days, American and British generals strive to teach their men respect for local societies. They know that winning hearts and minds is vital. But in Afghanistan, even before this latest horror story, they have failed…However hard commanders try to disguise the fact, many Americans fighting in Afghanistan are viscerally hostile to Muslims, and regard local people with just the sort of cultural contempt their fathers displayed towards the Vietnamese
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2114149/The-Devil-dwells-And-possesses-soldier-fearful-behold-unleashed.html
The joint article in a distinguished paper such as the Washington Post is as integral a part of a British Prime Minister's visit to the United States as the state dinner, the basketball game visit and the talks. What today's piece doesn't say is as important as what it does, and I do my best below to fill in the omissions.
"Over the next few days, we will consult about preparations for the NATO summit in Chicago, where our alliance will determine the next phase of the transition that we agreed to in Lisbon. This includes shifting to a support role in advance of Afghans taking full responsibility for security in 2014 and ensuring that NATO maintains an enduring commitment so that Afghanistan is never again a haven for al-Qaeda to launch attacks against our citizens."
Translation: "We both want out of Afghanistan as quickly as possible."
http://conservativehome.blogs.com/thetorydiary/2012/03/a-translation-of-todays-obamacameron-washington-post-article.html
There is never a good time for an American serviceman to go on a shooting spree in Kandahar, methodically murdering 16 Afghan men, women and children - some in their beds. But coming soon after a wave of anger engulfed Afghanistan at the burning of Korans, and as American officials negotiate the departure of troops in 2014, it is difficult to imagine a worse time.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/robcrilly/100143175/afghanistan-shootings-diplomats-in-kabul-are-already-discussing-a-doomsday-scenario/
Con Coughlin
Con Coughlin, the Telegraph's executive foreign editor, is a world-renowned expert on the Middle East and Islamic terrorism. He is the author of several critically acclaimed books. His new book, Khomeini's Ghost, is published by Macmillan. American soldiers are losing the plot in Afghanistan
By Con Coughlin World Last updated: March 12th, 2012
Comment on this Comment on this article
An elderly Afghan man sits next to the bodies of victims of the shooting spree (Photo: Reuters)
First we had American soldiers burning copies of the Koran, and now we have the appalling sight of an American soldier running rampage in Afghanistan and killing 16 innocent Afghan civilians, including nine children. No wonder the Nato mission is going to hell in a handcart.
We all know that soldiers, without the proper training and discipline, can easily degenerate into a murderous rabble that terrorises the local population. We have seen this happen hundreds of times in Africa where armies are no different from the militias who rape, murder and loot at will.
But that is not how it is supposed to be with the Armed Forces of the Western powers, particularly those engaged in sensitive peacekeeping operations, which is what the U.S. troops in Afghanistan are supposed to be doing. The problem in Afghanistan, though, is that Nato forces - the Americans are the largest contingent - are trying to conduct a peacekeeping operation while at the same time fighting a very nasty war against the Taliban.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/concoughlin/100143118/american-soldiers-are-losing-the-plot-in-afghanistan/
The only answer is for the US to do something unprecedented. Under the agreement with the Afghan government that allows its forces to stay in the country, American troops can only be tried in their own country. Equally, any Pentagon inquiry into US forces would generally take place on American soil.
This time, Obama should waive both requirements. He should say that the soldier will be tried by a US military court sitting in Afghanistan. An official inquiry should also take place in the country, perhaps with the participation of Afghans. By taking those steps, Obama could show that American soldiers are genuinely accountable, not only to their own governments and people but also to Afghans as well. If Obama followed that course, he might repair some of the damage inflicted by this appalling incident.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/davidblair/100143296/afghanistan-shooting-barack-obama-must-let-afghans-see-that-justice-is-done/
“Why should foreign intervention be wrong when people demand it?” Muhammed asked. “Russia, Iran, Hezbollah all support the regime. That’s a form of intervention, isn’t it? We are not fighting just the regime, we are fighting foreign states that stand behind it. So make this an equal battle for us. We can take care of ourselves.”
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/michaelweiss/100143085/despite-the-horrors-of-homs-syrias-rebel-leaders-are-bullish-as-assads-regime-rots-from-the-inside/