The mess does not exist only in Iraq. Quietly, this administration is also making a mess in Afghanistan. From last (4 Oct 2003) week's The Economist
Quote:
The tinsel-clad petrol station at the edge of Maydan Shahr, a desert town west of Kabul, feels like a portal to another and more dangerous country. Aid wokers stop here to check tyres and oil on their jeeps. They do not want to break down. Ahead is southern Afghanistan - a bloody mess that is getting bloodier. Armed attacks on aid agencies in the south, once sporadic, are now daily. Such attacks used to extend only to a pistol whipping. The new rules for those stopped by insurgents are more brutal. If you are a foreigner you will be executed. If you are an Afghan working for a foreigner, you will be hectored, perhaps mutilated, and then executed. Afghan aid workers are the prime targets. Seven were killed last month....
The United Nations thinks 16 of Afghanistan's 32 provinces - almost all in the south - too dangerous for its international staff to venture through. Red Cross officials privately say their marked vehicles are proving a liability. Red Crescent workers are no better off: several were recently murdered. ...
It could get worse. If neo-Taliban are happy to murder those bringing food and water, what might they do to those bringing democracy and rights for women? Officials charged with going out and registering Pushtun voters for the elections will be sitting ducks.
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Adminstration officials quietly talk about the next target - Syria. When Israel attacked Syria, George Jr called for restraint - wink, wink. This blood thirsty administration is so gun-ho as to forget to first solve the only military invasion that was justfied. Since this adminstration has no idea of how the world works - due to extremist rhetoric as a replacement for logical thought - even Afghanistan is falling apart.
Wide spread among the accusations - still many town have not had running water restored. What has America been doing all this time? Doing same as in Iraq?
In the movie Ugly American, a new highway is dedicated. Insurgents attack opening ceremonies. One reason for this adminstration's "shakeup" of management is that the one highway under construction in Afghanistan takes so long to complete. Ineffective American action makes Afghanistan a breeding ground for terrorists who would attack Americans. A situation created because George Jr had other nations to conquer.
We need resources just to solve the Afghan situation. But this administration is talking among themselves about invading Syria?
Who is next? This adminstration has no long term solution for Afghanistan, no exit strategy for Iraq, is making more enemies in both countries, has no plans for government in either nation, cannot even trust close friends to help solve the Iraq mess, but would solve all this by attacking Syria. This administration would even undermine potential allies in Iran - leaving Americans in both neighboring countries with but another enemy to confront. Who elected this president - a question not only about the president's intelligence. Some of us want this deception - don't want to hear how Afghanistan also is getting worse. Some just like to be deceived by this administration.
Take away a White House spin and we have facts. Both Iraq and Afghanistan are getting worse - with no expectation for improvement - NONE. And no long term plans for any solution or exit strategy. How curious. Just like VietNam when another American president decieved and repeatedly lied to the nation. Since many of us did not know VietNam, then the so many similar details are not so apparent. This is how VietNam got created. It started with a lying president.