Rumsfeld in Afghanistan
Apparently, Afghanistan opium production is now Europe's problem.
Two other interesting inclusions in this article:
Rumsfeld also called on Europe to provide a "master plan" to Afghanistan to help curb its massive drug trade, which has seen heroin flood Europe and Russia.
Two other interesting inclusions in this article:
Rumsfeld's remarks at a news conference came hours after the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan said the rise of Taliban resistance in southern Afghanistan reflects the weakness of the government more than a strengthening of the fundamentalist movement that once sheltered Osama bin Laden.....Also, there was this diplomatic slap in the middle of Rumsfeld's central Asia trip. (He didn't stop in Kyrgyzstan.)
Eikenberry would not discuss any plans to increase or decrease U.S. troop levels, which now stand at about 23,000. Last December, on his most recent previous visit to Kabul, Rumsfeld announced that U.S. troop levels would drop from 19,000 at that time to 16,000 by this summer.
Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Ministry has decided to expel two U.S. diplomats from this ex-Soviet republic for ''inappropriate'' contacts with nongovernment organizations, an official said Tuesday.
posted by mikevotes at
7:19 AM
4 Comments:
But, but, but...! The Dear Leader declared Afghanistan to be free of Taliban and a land of freedom and liberty, milk and honey flowing in the streets. (insert swelling patriotic music here)
Does ANYONE believe ANYTHING that comes out of this White House!?
By
-epm, at 10:22 AM
Reading some of the English repors, protecting the poppy crop is largely behind the renewed support for the Taliban.
While Brit troops have friendly chats with villagers in the South, they are often attacked now by Taliban as they are leaving.
It seems the poppy growers stall them long enough to have the ambush set up.
By
Cartledge, at 12:39 PM
There is a solution to the poppy crop. It's called Taliban. The Yanks drove them from power in 2001/2002/2003/2004/2005/2006, but they keep getting bigger and stronger it seems.
By
Anonymous, at 1:53 PM
EPM, the more frightening question to me is does the White House believe what comes out of the White House. If yes, that's terrifying, if no, then it's worse than even we think.
Cartledge, maybe outside your area, but I've read the same thing and it reminded me of Columbia and the FARC before they got strong enough to contest territory.
Romunov, that's another unreported story that the Taleban had been pretty successful trimming the poppy crop. Then, the US strategy of using the warlords, armed them up and emboldened them and put them right back where they were in charge of their fiefdoms.
Not that I think the Taleban should come back, but the relative strength of the warlords are a by product of the US strategy in Afghanistan, trying to keep US troops out to save them for Iraq.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 1:59 PM
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