Article

2008-10-09 Afghanistan

US intelligence: Afghanistan in 'downward spiral' under Hamid Karzai's government

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Posted by tipper 2008-10-09 12:26|| || Front Page|| [3 views ] Top

#1 In other news... water is wet.

seriously, how can it be otherwise if the opium trade is allowed to flourish unhindered?

Posted by Abu do you love 2008-10-09 12:39|| 2008-10-09 12:39|| Front Page Top

#2 A country this big geographically probably needs at least a couple of hundred thousand regular troops to hold it together, never mind defend it from invaders. Afghanistan's problem is that it doesn't have the revenues to pay for those troops.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2008-10-09 12:50|| http://timurileng.blogspot.com]">[http://timurileng.blogspot.com] 2008-10-09 12:50|| Front Page Top

#3 Being told what to do IS a lot easier than self-determination. I don't really see how that feckless lack of individualism can be fought, with or without guns. If people would rather be owned by a warlord, what can we do?
I'll be interested to see what Patreus has to say about the situation when he gives his first briefing.

Posted by bigjim-ky 2008-10-09 13:17|| 2008-10-09 13:17|| Front Page Top

#4 I'll be interested to see what Patreus has to say about the situation when he gives his first briefing.

Wall Pakistan and Afghanistan in and let them kill themselves.

Posted by DarthVader 2008-10-09 14:22|| 2008-10-09 14:22|| Front Page Top

#5 I don't understand. If the report is still over a month from being completed, how can there be conclusons to leak? Is this possibly going to turn out to be as deeply misleading as the leaks about the NIE about Iran?

Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife 2008-10-09 16:01|| 2008-10-09 16:01|| Front Page Top

#6 TW, it's probably the same "folks" doing the leaking this time so the reliability is suspect. Of course this IS the New York Slimes in the midst of the election!

Posted by Lionel Jiger8451 2008-10-09 16:10|| 2008-10-09 16:10|| Front Page Top

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