Discussing the US ultimatum to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement by the end of the month, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said he will only do so if the US agrees to end all air strikes against civilian targets, as well as raids on the homes of Afghans. He also slammed the US for making threats over his lack of signature.
Recent drone strikes with considerable civilian death tolls have brought Karzai’s demands for limits on the occupation forces beyond 2014 into deeper focus, as the US continues to reiterate its demands for an immediate signature without any further limits.
US Special Envoy James Dobbins insists that the lack of Karzai’s signature is “raising anxiety,” and hurting the Afghani currency. That doesn’t seem to be true, as the Afghani is trading more or less flat since July.
Speaking of things that weren’t true, Dobbins conceded that the ultimatum, under which the US would supposedly withdraw if Karzai didn’t sign by the end of December, isn’t even being seriously considered now, and that the US is “nowhere near” any decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, with or without Karzai’s permission.
"the US is “nowhere near” any decision to withdraw from Afghanistan, with or without Karzai’s permission."
Whoever could have predicted this?
Why in heaven would anybody, anywhere believe anything the US Government said about anything? Why?
The US propaganda system is second to none. The Nazis literally admired and copied from it.
If he wanted them out, he'd insist on Afghan criminal jurisdiction over US and NATO operatives in-country. …or has he?
If he wanted them out, he'd insist on Afghan criminal jurisdiction over US and NATO operatives in-country. …or has he?
The US has no plans to exit Afghanistan, the Pentagon just budgeted $80 billion for continuing operations there. Afghanistan still holds more than $1 trillion in unexploited resources, not to mention the huge profits being made from the opium trade. The international bankers have no intention of letting go of Afghanistan until they have sucked it dry. Private sector profits at public expense. It's the American way.
Karzai's sudden concern for the welfare of the Afghanis is underwhelming…must mean he's transferred a sufficient "retirement" fund to his accounts in der Schweiz. As soon as his term is up in April, I'll wager he will take up residence a long way from the poverty and depravity of Kabul.
What more proof do we need that the US is maintaining its operations around the world in pursuit of a global empire? "With or without" the occupied nation's approval? How much more un-American can we get?
If all the forces in Afghanistan joined the insurgency, the US would leave tomorrow.