An assembly of tribal elders in Afghanistan has agreed to a long-term security deal with the U.S. but is imposing some conditions, including an end to night raid operations and a demand to hand over Afghan detainees in U.S. custody.
The traditional council of 2,000 elders, or loya jirga, was put together by Afghan President Hamid Karzai in an attempt to build political support for a security partnership with the U.S. that would keep American troops in Afghanistan for a decade past 2014.
Many argued that Karzai held the gathering precisely because the Afghan parliament and the people the members are supposed to represent, would never have agreed to such a deal.
Karzai’s former presidential challenger, Abdullah Abdullah, criticized the idea of Karzai hand-picking a group of people to speak for and somehow constitute the wishes of over 34 million Afghans. Many point to overwhelming Afghan opposition to such an agreement as exactly what Karzai is trying to avoid.
Many in the Afghan parliament are angry that they are being sidelined for a group of presumably pro-Karzai elders. ”The real representatives of the people are in parliament, said Nasrullah Sadiqizada Nili, a lawmaker from Day Kundi province. “We have been elected. The jirga delegates have only been selected by the administration.”
The Taliban attempted to disrupt the meetings, in one instance managing to launch two rockets at the structure housing the jirga outside Kabul.
Undoubtedly, Karzai’s eagerness to establish support for an ongoing U.S. military occupation stems from strong U.S. pressure to stay. Still, Washington regards the council as nonbinding, and it is not clear to what extent the Pentagon will abide by the coucil’s conditions. Previous pleading from leading Afghans has resulted in staunch dismissals.
AntiWar.Com realizes the opposition in Afghanistan actually likes and coddles the USA far MORE than Karzai does right?There seriously is a consensus for semi-permanent/permenant American bases in Afghanistan just not necessarily raids on private property that in Afghan's minds could very "easily" be done by local police or need be the ANA.The ENTIRE government over there runs on OUR foreign aid,we EVER and I mean EVER leave and the gravy train leaves too.
Hence we ain't leaving.
Welcome to the New South Korea.
Karzai knows that the day the Americans leave he is toast. Besides, if the Americans leave, the flow of US dollars into Karzai's private accounts will undoubtedly end also. As long as he continues to collect $$$$ he can continue to pay off those who would end his tenure (and most likely his life) if he wasn't paying them.
Karzai doesn't care about anything except his own well-being. I'll bet he already has an apartment off the Champs just waiting for his arrival.
They fear the wrath of their own countrymen and need foreign protecton that their own people cannot provide them.
When America leaves, the conveyor belt of American dollars stops. That's the bottom line. Without $ to pay of the Taliban and various assorted other players, Karzai and Co. have zero protection and are as good as dead. I agree with both previous posters entirely.
This is what democracy rooks spike.
What if the American and Afghanistan citizens don't want this? They never get heard? What's the point of voting?
But Leroy, there hasn't been a point to voting for decades. Maybe it makes you feel good but it doesn't really do anything to further the well-being of the people. The Archons will continue to do what they want regardless of what the voters want.
Karzai and his merry band of thieves would have us stay there forever, so he could suck us dry while protecting him. I had a conversation with a Rep from Senator Boozman's office in Arkansas and informed her that it would be nice to know who is pulling the levers from behind the curtain for us to stay in Afghanistan. Boozman and Coburn had went there in early October and their offices in DC were like the infamous three monkeys; no see, no hear, no speak. After my conversation with the rep I received the classic form letter, which consists of: Thank you for contacting–great honor to serve you- This is a serious problem (add any problem)–will keep your thoughts in mind as I vote. So we still don't know who is behind staying from our side. Staying will cost about $50-60 billion a year. What a bunch of damnable hypocrites, not the Afghans, we know why they want us to stay. That our Congress keeps whining about potential cuts of over $500 billion to the DOD over ten years and then wants to stay in Afghanistan is truly disgusting.
Answer … the people pocketing that $50 to $60 billion a year. They recycle enough of that back into campaign contributions to make sure that Congress keeps our money flowing their direction.
hand picked crony committees making all the real decisions?
looks like Afghanistan is on its way to being a strong democracy who is an ally in the war of terror.
Anyone want to try to put a figure on what this 'jirga' just cost the US taxpayer. Odds are almost every member had their hand out for some sort of payoff in order to vote for this. And Afghans are broke and live off US 'aid', so, its a pretty sure bet that it was good ole uncle same providing the cash for votes in this democracy chicago-style, ooops, excuse me, democracy afghan-style.
Your tax dollars at work. Bribing people to support a war that does absolutely nothing to benefit the Americans who pay the taxes for all of this.
And a pipeline from Iran to China has nothing to do with it, right?
ANA backs US presents