REPORT: Afghanistan in Downward Spiral
10 October 2008 10:11 am by Taylor Marsh
BY TAYLOR MARSH
As if we didn’t know. But it’s obvious that when thinking about sending more troops into Afghanistan
we need to think in a larger frame.
U.S.
Study Is Said to Warn of Crisis in Afghanistan:A draft report by American intelligence agencies concludes that Afghanistan
is in a “downward spiral” and casts serious doubt on the ability
of the Afghan government to stem the rise in the Taliban’s influence
there, according to American officials familiar with the document.The classified report finds that the breakdown in central authority in Afghanistan
has been accelerated by rampant corruption within the government of President
Hamid Karzai and by an increase in violence by militants who have launched
increasingly sophisticated attacks from havens in Pakistan. …
Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski, who had a role in funding the Afghanistan’s Mujahadeen
in 1979, is very skeptical about the U.S. increasing our troop presence in Afghanistan.
A “surge” there could end up with another occupation mess, especially with the
hints of what the new Afghan N.I.E., which comes out after the election, will
reveal.
Some type of troop boost in Afghanistan is necessary, in my opinion, because
the Bush adminstration has not had the focus or sense to build the infrastructure
there so things have spiraled out of control. Their mission is another story.
The other sad fact is that in the current financial crisis, what we can do
now to build Afghanistan becomes questionable. Bush has made a mess of that country too now. That Pakistan is being pulled
apart at the same time is another frightening reality the current president is leaving the next.
