Going doe-eyed after listening to U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was never the intent. And while I'm unable to put my finger on one specific comment or event including Egypt, Libya, human rights, Twitter, Facebook, Steve Jobs' contribution to social and technological democracy and or an all inclusive mix with Clinton somehow attached, I keep hearing ad nauseum how eloquent, smart and fitting she is in her current position. With international travel, ongoing "diplomacy" and a husband and former American president attempting to stay relevant, Mrs. Clinton appears to have a full plate. Or does she? As with any Thanksgiving meal, there's always room for "more." And there is. Afghanistan or more specifically, Hamid Karzai. A Pashtun, Karzai is the twelfth and current president of a country whose history is both intriguing and at times self-effacing, until invaded. While chapters have been written on Karzai's ascension, his current position and status remain suspect.
Today, no clearer picture of the Afghanistan plight is better understood without a historical lesson beginning with the seeming importance of Afghanistan to Russia and now, the United States. Sometimes termed Russia's Vietnam, questions remain as to whether the United States has acquired any lessons. And in regard to comments continuously emanating from Hamid Karzai, the sound and picture appears more cloudy. On October 22nd 2011, the flames were once again fanned when Karzai was quoted on GEO Television online stating, "If Pakistan is attacked and the people of Pakistan need Afghanistan's help, we will be there for Pakistan." To seal his presumed allegiance to a stalwart brotherhood of conspicuous puppetry, Karzai further stated, "We will never forget the hospitality of the Pakistani people"; an inference to choosing sides…regardless of current and previous American economic, financial and military support.
For some including a high ranking military official attempting to make Afghanistan safer and more viable, he and we…had heard enough. As reported by Tim Mak at Politico.com on November 3, 2011, Major General Peter Fuller, deputy commander of the American led NATO effort to train and equip Afghan security forces was one such person. Speaking to Politico in regard to a perceived assumption by "some" that the United States' government in general and the military specifically are perpetual gold plated mules for tribal real estate development and, while attempts are made to boost a fourth world country into the twenty-first century, Fuller noted with exasperation; "Why don’t you just poke me in the eye with a needle! You’ve got to be kidding me … I’m sorry, we just gave you (Afghanistan) $11.6 billion and now you’re telling me, ‘I don’t really care’?” Attempting to implore the consequences of economic stress, Fuller added in a meeting with Afghan brass; “I said, ‘You guys are isolated from reality.’ The reality is, the world economy is having some significant hiccups. The U.S. is in this [too],” Fuller told Politico. “If you’re in a very poor country like Afghanistan, you think that America has roads paved in gold, everybody lives in Hollywood. They don’t understand the sacrifices that America is making to provide for their security. And I think that’s part of my job to educate ’em.” Or perhaps, speak freely? And then it happened. Summarily and in the shadows of 'retired" four star Army general Stanley McChrystal, Fuller was fired for his interview and comments.
As noted in The New York Times and in regard to the interview, "General Fuller also described President Karzai as erratic and inarticulate." Unlike most in United States government who do not take financial responsibility seriously, Politico reported in the same article that "Fuller has put his money where his mouth is. His command had been allotted $12.8 billion for the as-yet-unapproved FY 2012 budget before he joined that NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan, but he and his team managed to trim $1.6 billion from that figure in August of this year." Assuming he (Fuller) "should" have held his fire regarding views towards Karzai, he "may", in the future, be looked upon as a contemplative steward of public fiduciary responsibility; but highly doubtful.
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) release regarding Fuller was succinct. And, according to ABC.news.com, Hillary Clinton proffered that Karzai's comments regarding support and allegiance were "taken out of context." Really?
Today, no clearer picture of the Afghanistan plight is better understood without a historical lesson beginning with the seeming importance of Afghanistan to Russia and now, the United States. Sometimes termed Russia's Vietnam, questions remain as to whether the United States has acquired any lessons. And in regard to comments continuously emanating from Hamid Karzai, the sound and picture appears more cloudy. On October 22nd 2011, the flames were once again fanned when Karzai was quoted on GEO Television online stating, "If Pakistan is attacked and the people of Pakistan need Afghanistan's help, we will be there for Pakistan." To seal his presumed allegiance to a stalwart brotherhood of conspicuous puppetry, Karzai further stated, "We will never forget the hospitality of the Pakistani people"; an inference to choosing sides…regardless of current and previous American economic, financial and military support.
For some including a high ranking military official attempting to make Afghanistan safer and more viable, he and we…had heard enough. As reported by Tim Mak at Politico.com on November 3, 2011, Major General Peter Fuller, deputy commander of the American led NATO effort to train and equip Afghan security forces was one such person. Speaking to Politico in regard to a perceived assumption by "some" that the United States' government in general and the military specifically are perpetual gold plated mules for tribal real estate development and, while attempts are made to boost a fourth world country into the twenty-first century, Fuller noted with exasperation; "Why don’t you just poke me in the eye with a needle! You’ve got to be kidding me … I’m sorry, we just gave you (Afghanistan) $11.6 billion and now you’re telling me, ‘I don’t really care’?” Attempting to implore the consequences of economic stress, Fuller added in a meeting with Afghan brass; “I said, ‘You guys are isolated from reality.’ The reality is, the world economy is having some significant hiccups. The U.S. is in this [too],” Fuller told Politico. “If you’re in a very poor country like Afghanistan, you think that America has roads paved in gold, everybody lives in Hollywood. They don’t understand the sacrifices that America is making to provide for their security. And I think that’s part of my job to educate ’em.” Or perhaps, speak freely? And then it happened. Summarily and in the shadows of 'retired" four star Army general Stanley McChrystal, Fuller was fired for his interview and comments.
As noted in The New York Times and in regard to the interview, "General Fuller also described President Karzai as erratic and inarticulate." Unlike most in United States government who do not take financial responsibility seriously, Politico reported in the same article that "Fuller has put his money where his mouth is. His command had been allotted $12.8 billion for the as-yet-unapproved FY 2012 budget before he joined that NATO Training Mission in Afghanistan, but he and his team managed to trim $1.6 billion from that figure in August of this year." Assuming he (Fuller) "should" have held his fire regarding views towards Karzai, he "may", in the future, be looked upon as a contemplative steward of public fiduciary responsibility; but highly doubtful.
