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Oct
8
2007WEST’S POLITICAL DOUBLE-TALK TRUMPED BY TALIBAN BRUTALITY
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Officials Spout Feel-Good Chatter While Afghans Die
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At risk: Afghan civilians left exposed by timid, posturling NATO political leaders
According to Afghan journalists who witnessed the events, they were not pretty. First, another suicide bombing outrage by the Taliban, on the road to Kabul Airport on Saturday. A US soldier and four civilians were killed, 12 Kabulis were wounded.
Next, a disgraceful display by two Canadian cabinet ministers, who arrived shortly after the bombing, yet pressed ahead with their plans to stage a news conference with officials of the Karzai regime.
Incredibly, the pair told Afghan journalists – described as “sceptical” by at least one Canadian reporter in the room – that stepped up Taliban bombings across Afghanistan are evidence of an improving security situation. The Taliban, reasoned International Cooperation Minister Bev Oda, have shifted their bomb attacks to Kabul out of despair over the “success” of the US/NATO war effort.
Really?
Consider the minister’s logic in light of this comment, emailed to skyreporter shortly after the airport road bombing: “It really makes people feel hopeless about the future.”
The sender is a law student in Kabul. He says: “We don’t know what to expect each day when we walk out the door. Everyone is frightened.”
That fear is plainly evident in Kabul, where the final days of Ramadan and the approach of the festival of Eid al-Fitr would normally see streets and shops teeming with people, eager to get food and presents in for the holiday. Instead, shoppers are scarce and some streets are all but empty.
But mere facts, apparently, must not get in the way of a pre-planned, pre-scripted photo opportunity between President Karzai and his foreign sponsors. So the two Canadian ministers cheerfully recited their lines about the Harper government’s commitment to the regime.
“I felt disappointed,” one Afghan journalist tells skyreporter. “It was like she (Oda) was talking about some other Afghanistan, not the one we really live in.”
The UN has reported that violence in Afghanistan has surged 30 per cent this year. The Associated Press puts war-related deaths so far in 2007 at 5,086, compared to 4,019 in 2006.
The ministers’ clumsy, insensitive display is a setback for the current public relations drive by the Canadian Embassy in Kabul (where, incidentally, security measures are said to be at an all-time high). With a federal election possible in Canada within months, Ambassador Arif Lalani has concentrated most of his diplomatic resources on projecting a positive image of the Harper government’s Afghan initiative – mainly targeted at voters back home.
Last month, the embassy’s staff was consumed with preparations to airlift a group of journalists embedded with Canadian Forces from Kandahar to Kabul, in order to hear President Karzai’s appeal for an extension to Canada’s combat role in the southwest. The mission is scheduled to end in February, 2009.
The Prime Minister’s office was adamant that the visit, and Karzai’s comments, come only after important by-elections in Quebec, where public sentiment runs against the Afghan combat deployment. The votes were Sept. 17th. Karzai’s comments hit most Canadian newspapers on the 19th.
As well, the newser was cleverly timed for Ramadan, making it much more difficult for any enterprising members of the junket to search out other, more revealing stories in the Afghan capital.
Just one hot yarn on offer: the issuing of an arrest warrant for the former Head of Administration of Karzai's Ministry of Interior, where Canadian aid dollars have been embezzled, evidently without a trace (please see TOP COP ACCUSED, Sept. 12, and MINISTRY OF BRIBERY AND FRAUD, May 31, in Recent Stories).
“Oh, Canada!” the national anthem goes: “The True North, strong and free.”
True enough. There’s just one verse missing, the one about government disinformation campaigns, paid for by Canadian tax dollars – and the lives of innocent Afghans.
Arthur.I must say this little display by Bernier and Oda left much to be desired.
This quote from Bernier at the Globe and Mail online last evening.Quoting JFK.
"Ask not what the government of Afghanistan can do for Canada,but rather what the people of Canada can do for Afghanistan".
What a moron.Seriously.What are these people thinking?
Canadian troops have been killed doing for the Afghan people,According to Esprit de Corps 550 have been injured.
Then there's all those tax dollars,many of which have gone missing.
This is shameful.
Yes, and Bernier's travelling companion compounded her earlier gaffs by offering the troops her worst Marie Antoinette: "Little cakes for you."
Reality check: the first priority of any government that orders its troops to war is to spare no effort, politically and diplomatically, to prosecute the war effort effectively. Instead of feel-good disinformation junkets, Harper's ministers should demand a longer leash from their boss's paranoid information managers - and get some real work done.
What the troops need most is meaningful diplomatic pressure on the Taliban leadership sheltered a hundred miles south of their positions - in Baluchistan province, Pakistan. And a house-cleaning, not a cover-up, of the Karzai regime in Kabul.
Canada has decided to sidestep the corrupt Afghan government and ensure the safety of Canadian soldiers by paying Afghan police directly, in cash.
Is this a workable proposition Arthur?
Canada is supposed to be helping the Afghan government get on its feet. By sidestepping the Afghan government, we are sidestepping our stated objectives. Arthur Kent: I have a question for you! I hope you can take a moment to answer. Is the Pakistani intelligence service (name and acronym unknown to me!) promoting the Taliban and if so, in what ways?
First time reader and poster.Great stuff here. Just 2 quick questions. 1) Do you have any political affiliation. 2) Why aren't these situation not being reported in the canadian MSM?
Thank You!
Kevin. I believe the ISI helped setup the Taliban in 1996 as a counter balance to the northern Alliance that was supported by India.Also,several mid to high level Pakistani Army people left to join the Taliban effort post9/11 in protest to the Musharaff tilt to the US.along with the FBI/CIA involvement in Pakistan.Keep an eye on the Warizistan Province that borders Afghanistan. Those skirmishes could lead to a much bigger problem. It all depends on the reaction of the fat and very rich Pakistan Army/ISI.I believe Bin Laden is also now in the mix as he has stated in his last videos that attacking a fellow Muslim govt.that is not committed to IslamicFundamentalism/Theocratic rule is allowed.....
Mr. Kent, am I way off?
R.C.: thank you for the information on the ISI.
Good points, R.C. ... and actually Pakistan's ISI began nurturing the Taliban midway through the civil war period, 92-96. The ISI's leadership had grown impatient with their long time stooge, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, and were impressed with Mullah Omar's ability to rally Kandahari refugee-guerrillas, who had been excluded from the power struggle among the former mujahideen parties.
The ISI provided logistics and training - it was under ISI instruction that Omar, Dadullah and their crew honed their own brand of four-wheel, truck-borne lightning warfare.
These days, elements of the ISI shelter and support both Mullah Omar's circle and Gulbuddin Hekmatyar. While it's true that Gen. Musharraf has his army pressing al Qaeda and hardcore Pakistani Talibs in Waziristan, that's a long way from the Kandahar-Helmand theatre of Afghanistan. The relevant Taliban leadership in that region are holed up in Baluchistan province, Pakistan - courtesy the ISI.
Ted, you bet. Check out our recent updates on the embezzlement of foreign aid intended for police salaries - including Canadian taxpayers' donations. Anything the Forces can do to ensure that honest cops get paid will certainly yeild security dividends in the field.
Also, for a historical look at Pakistani involvement, check out FANNING THE FLAMES, March 15, in Recent Stories, and BUSH ADMINISTRATION BUNGLES PAKISTAN AGAIN, July 30th.
5Posted by R.C. | October 9, 2007 8:23 a.m.
First time reader and poster.Great stuff here. Just 2 quick questions. 1) Do you have any political affiliation
Please don't ask about his brother , a Martin , Chretian , Dion , Layton stooge .
You know, I can understand the genuine anger and frustration that appears on this board about the subject matter. I don't understand the occasional hateful posts. What is the point in being just downright mean Keith?
The stroy of embazelment of Candian aid money by the top cop who is at large is still unclear. The subject cop seems to have joined his family and claims that he was set up. What is the truth?
Great stuff Arthur...I appreciate your perspective on Afghanistan. I can't belive that Oda and Bernier would forge ahead with a news conference immediately after a suicide bombing - what were they thinking ?
Thanks, gang, for the lively discussion - and regarding that earlier question, no, of course. Skyreporter has no political or corporate affiliation.
Bonny ; I look at my beautiful country being prostituted by Ottawa's reform/alliance brainwashing war room . I appologized to Mr. Athur Kent who has more parts than most including myself . I honour and admire such a brave man .
Invading Iran is unbelievable but inevidable . My childern are the right age to get caught up in this mess . No excuse but the reason for my mean spirited outburst .
I understand. We're all frustrated Keith. These are frightening times that we live in. I have a son-in-law who will be off fighting somewhere, sooner than later. We don't know when or where, but we know he'll be going.
I don't know how the government or National Defense got it right, but I am glad that some Afghan Police and Law Enforcement Officers are getting paid their Just Pay on time.
The news release wasn't too specific on details, like how long it would continue or to how many Police or why!!
James
the afghan people have sufferd alot in the past years and its time that every country needs to get their act together and try to actually save the counrty and rebuilt it, i recently visited the counrty and it was a shocker i hear stories that the americans have done this or they have saved the afghan people its all gabage all they have done is kill more civilians its really sad to hear that such a huge country like america cant even restore a country like afghanistan.and the sad part is so many soliders are dieing and for what for nothing this bloody war will never end until everyone gets togther and puts an end to it.