Surprises All ‘Round
Two stories out of Afghanistan of note. First, air strikes in a recent clash in Afghanistan have reportedly killed some 50 civilians. Wali Jan Sabri, a parliamentarian from Helmand, claimed that the reports given journalists were credible.
The second is about a recent surface to air missile attack on a C-130 Hercules aircraft. The article obviously points the finger at Iran as the source for the shoulder mounted weapon, which is believed to be a Soviet era SA7 – which is, in truth, quite antiquated. Given that caches of Soviet weapons aren’t unheard of in Afghanistan and Pakistan, or the border regions where black marketers often operate, the probability that it came directly from the Iranian government, or military, seems somewhat ‘convenient’. There is also the possibility that a US Stinger missile could have been used, having been provided the Northern Alliance and Mujahideen in the 80’s by the United States. As recently as the late 90’s, the CIA were actively attempting to buy back random Stingers that had not been used.
In Iraq, the government is reportedly in its ‘deepest crisis’, with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki asking President Bush directly to remove US General David Petraeus – a request that was, obviously, denied. According to The Telegraph…
“Although the call was rejected, aides to both men admit that Mr Maliki and Gen David Petraeus engage in frequent stand-up shouting matches, differing particularly over the US general’s moves to arm Sunni tribesmen to fight al-Qa’eda.
One Iraqi source said Mr Maliki used a video conference with Mr Bush to call for the general’s signature strategy to be scrapped. “He told Bush that if Petraeus continues, he would arm Shia militias,” said the official. “Bush told Maliki to calm down.”
At another meeting with Gen Petraeus, Mr Maliki said: “I can’t deal with you any more. I will ask for someone else to replace you.”
Now isn’t it interesting that a man such as George Bush can champion Iraqi democracy domestically as a way to promote the purpose of the war itself, and yet, at the same time, completely overrule the requests of its elected leader?
There is no democracy in Iraq, nor has there been in any true sense since the US began promoting the creation of a central Iraqi government when Bremer was still at the helm. Iraq is a militarily occupied country, one in which various reactions to that occupation have occurred. Iraqi democracy is a fallacy, a creation to assuage US domestic support for a disastrous foreign policy doctrine, its lynch pin being 9/11.
Lastly, ironies with regards to Saudi Arabia continue unabated. While some view Saudi Arabia’s role with regards to Iraq as counterproductive - and why shouldn’t they being that a fair share of foreign fighters in Iraq are, in fact, Saudis – the Bush administration is on the verge of asking Congress to approve a $20 billion dollar arms package for the Saudis and their neighbours. This, of course, had to be countered by offering the Israelis a ten-year, $30.4 billion dollar, military aid deal.
Surprises all ‘round.
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July 28th, 2007 at 7:16 am
Surprises indeed.
Unfortunately I don’t see any of the Democratic presidential hopefuls doing anything productive in the region either. Some advocate pulling out altogether, others a slow decompress with regional allies helping the U.S. save face. The issue I find is that the U.S. administration has to be seen to fail. Anything less will lead to the dangerous ideas that this type of experiment can be conducted again. In Vietnam it was obvious to the home front and abroad that they had “failed” (Although what’s winning when your business is in death and destruction?). This “failure” had slowed down the full scale invasion ideas for a decade or two with only a few incursions into other countries that did not lead into full invasion/occupations. This time however, the stakes are higher, and if they don’t appear to fail and have the citizens of the U.S. don’t learn from this, the rest of the world is still in peril. I say this because what’s to stop little neo-con juniors two decades from now picking up the old fight of their fathers and starting another ill-advised plan to plan for “full spectrum” dominance?
July 28th, 2007 at 8:15 am
I know this has nothing to do with the article. But that new cd is fucking awesome. I’m going to buy it now. Just signed up here. Don’t feel like reading this article today. I’m drunk. hahaha
July 28th, 2007 at 9:38 am
Wow. It’s frustrating how blatantly asinine decisions continually get made.
July 28th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Hey Matt-
I’ve been a fan of yours since the early days. I think it’s great your emerging as a Canadian voice on these issues- an alternative voice I should say- I don’t believe anything the corporate media presents the public as a rule. Anyone who researches the role of the US military in Iraq quickly realizes they aren’t there to help. Canada’s troops have a different personality and a different mandate in Afghanistan, but despite their good intentions they are still just pawns in the game of geo-politics- just as Canada is a pawn to US/NATO initiatives. The point I’m trying to get to is that the US government has made a mess of Iraq by design- to the benefit of all the corporate contractors. There are documented cases of CIA being exposed as insurgents carrying out bloody missions of insurrection to stir things up further. There has even been atleast one occasion where a shaped charge was used as an IED (shaped charges are sophisticated and the hallmark of special forces…) My concern is the CIA/US special forces are behind the inflammation occurring in Afghanistan recently in an effort to destabilize that country for some alterior reason (perhaps to apply pressure on Karzai’s government?) Such activity obviously is a detriment to our troops, as it embroils them in an escalation of violence. One last comment is that I’m sure many of the “insurgents” killed by NATO/US troops are nothing more than drug gangs outside the CIA’s sphere of influence. If what I’m saying seems outlandish I suggest people do some real research and stop forming opinions based on the network “news”. All the best Matt!
Cheers!
July 28th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Surprised? Not at all. Disgusted? As always.
July 28th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
while im no fan of Bush, I’m no fan of Iraq President’s telling us who our general can and can’t be….if heasked us to leave and we didn’t that would be different
July 30th, 2007 at 5:59 am
[quote comment="20814"]while im no fan of Bush, I’m no fan of Iraq President’s telling us who our general can and can’t be….if heasked us to leave and we didn’t that would be different[/quote]
He has, and we haven’t left yet.