19 February 2008
While most of the U.S.’s attention is on Iraq, killings are continuing to build up in Afghanistan. In the last few days over 135 people, mostly innocent civilians, were killed by Taliban suicide bombers. The first blast, in a district just north of the city of Kandahar was aimed at civilians. The death toll from that attack has risen to 100, among the dead were 36 local police officers. The second attack took place southeast of Kandahar, near the main border crossing to Pakistan, killed 36 and wounded 38 including several Canadian soldiers, part of the NATO security force.
Not too long ago there was talk about the Marine Corps taking over the fighting in Afghanistan and the Army only, operating in Iraq. The Pentagon shot down that idea and I wonder why. Could such a plan work? I believe that the figure of 12,000 Marines, our force in Iraq, was mentioned. That would be a drawdown in Iraq, something that we were promised after the “surge” supposedly was successful. I think that the reason against the plan was about logistics and air power. All the talk that I hear now from the commanders on the ground, is that they do not want to lose the gains that they have made. If they can’t maintain the gains, does that mean that we will be there forever to keep things from going back to the situation before the “surge”?
Now the Bush administration, without advice from Congress, is in the process of formulating a deal with the Iraqi government, to establish “long term” bases in Iraq. One good thing happening during the negotiation is that the Iraqis do not want immunity for military contractors who many see as lawless mercenaries. Too many bad incidents have soured them especially when Blackwater USA guards killed 17 civilians without provocation. How much more damage will the Bush administration do before they lose their status.
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