The Kill Team and the Culture of Militarism

There is something deeply troubling about the lack of outrage shown when photos of those we’ve entrusted with great responsibility, certainly with much naivete and self-induced delusion, emerge as testament to their complete abuse of power and disregard for human life. There is something deeply troubling about these men, given great ideological responsibility, being able [...]

Civilians we don’t regret killing

This weekend, American rockets killed at least 10 civilians in Afghanistan. Since then, the government through General Stanley McChrystal has been expressing its remorse, apologizing for “this tragic loss of life.”

The CIA shouldn’t even be in Afghanistan

There is no doubt that the families of CIA operatives killed in Afghanistan have personal tragedies to attend to. However, is it a public tragedy? For it is no less the case that those hundreds and thousands of civilians–indeed even combatants–killed by Americans in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, and now all over the world, also have [...]

Occupation is the Mother of Invention

Going into the ninth year of a ridiculous military occupation in Afghanistan, one would think the United States would find a way to exit gracefully and admit that its experiment in puppet government implantation failed. One would think after electing a hope & change candidate that there would be some new and fresh thinking on how to bring some decency into American foreign policy. But now, President Obama tonight promised us much more of the same, with a faint, revocable “exit” plan

C.I.A. Groundhog Day

The New York Times published an insightful piece on the state of the War in Afghanistan on today’s front page. In short: Ahmed Wali Karzai, brother to Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been made an honorary member of the world’s most coveted and notorious V.I.P. list: the C.I.A. payroll! While the announcement may come as a shock to some, the fact that Mr. Karzai has been in bed with the C.I.A. for the past eight years is the undeniable reality of the struggling and troubled American-Afghan alliance.

Afghan girl will never get the message

Occupation forces in Afghanistan killed a young girl this week after a box of pamphlets dropped by the British Royal Air Force landed on her head, causing lethal injuries. According to al-Jazeera, “US and British forces regularly drop leaflets with information on election campaigns and military action in an area.” US and British forces regularly [...]

What Solidarity Color Does Afghan Election Fraud Get?

After the Iranian elections in which Mahmoud Ahmedinejad won pretty soundly, a green-tinted virtual grassroots campaign in the United States emerged to discredit the election as fraudulent.

Many rightfully expressed solidarity with Iran’s protesters and were horrified by the government’s ensuing repression, which included killing and jailing dissidents and arresting and deporting journalists.

Little did it matter to the righteous and angered Americans that their government three decades ago had allied with and bolstered a violent and brutal dictator, the Shah, and have declared Iran an enemy since then.

There was little consideration for the necessary timing of reapproachment between the two countries, perhaps requiring a delicate and nuanced outlook towards a country that does not insist on its democratic virtues as the primary basis of its identity. But, no, such concerns matter little at the chance to express anger and resentment over election fraud.

Afghan Elections as a Symbolic Battle

Afghan authorities have been pushing local media to black out the incidents of violence taking place in the lead up to the national elections. They asked foreign media not to report on anti-election attacks, as well. Media workers have not acquiesced, refusing government requests.

While I oppose media censorship, the failure of the Afghan government to regulate media represents its more general incapacity for governance.

Institution-building during war is impossible, which is why these elections seem more like a symbolic battle, rather than a true exercise in governance.

American Irrationality in Afghanistan

After more than 7.5 years in Afghanistan, the United States is as ever mired in a seemingly impossible war.

The country has only seen more violence, the political will of American allies is weak, and the Afghan government has failed to gain widespread legitimacy.

As disastrous as the outcome is, the government thinks staying the course makes sense. Read.

US Afghan Strike so Bloody, Karzai Begs for Mercy; Pakistan Joins the Act.

Actually, a better headline would be ‘Karzai plays leader, pretends to confront the United States.’ He was unhappy his master’s attacks have killed so many civilians. In one bombing spree this week, an estimated 147 civilians from two nearby villages lost their lives. Pakistan is following suit with civilian-terrorizing campaigns on its own territory. Karzai [...]