Senator Lindsay Graham’s (R – SC) recent calls for the United States to formally establish permanent military bases in Afghanistan has provoked an official rejection by the Taliban, which says it proved the “colonialist motives of America” in the ongoing occupation.
Of course its no real mystery that the Taliban would reject the idea of permanent US military bases, even if as many believe the end of the war comes with a power-sharing agreement, but it appears to have presented a key rhetorical opportunity for the Taliban.
Polls have repeatedly shown the Afghan population getting more and more weary of the nearly decade long US occupation, and less willing to trust that the US and its NATO allies have some endgame strategy in mind. Permanent bases means permanent war for many, hardly a desirable situation.
Sen. Graham angrily responded to the Taliban rejection today, saying that the “enduring relationship” with Afghanistan was vital for the US and that the majority of Afghans don’t want a return to Taliban rule. This is true enough, but it doesn’t appear anything close to a majority is keen on the “enduring relationship” either.
and in this related FLASH US American reserve rejects Taliban presence anywhare except on the cover of the rolling stone
US bases in Asia only provoke hatred, not only within Afghanistan but also distrust and resentment amound countries such as India, China and Iran who think they are being spyed on and controlled. This is not the way to fight terrorism. Sovereign borders and independence of cultures must be respected at all times; no bases should be going up in other peoples' back yards.
Not only would the Taliban reject permanent occupation but any self-respecting people would. These American fools think that the rest of the world should feel grateful for being invaded, colonized and assassinated.
I wonder where those proposed bases are to be built? Maybe along the route of the backroom-brokered trans-Afghanistan pipeline? Gee, I knew government was trying to be transparent but this is a blatant colonialist move.
No wonder the Taliban oppose this- I would too if I were them, and I DO oppose it as an American, regardless of where the bases will actually be built. It's just bad business and will only end in the wasting of billions of dollars and Allah knows how many lives on both sides.