fyi > Issues Feb 3, 2008

Issues

Discussion and debate in Parliament, in the media, on blogs and wherever else such may be taking place in Canada is focused on where the detainees are and whether  the 1 000 additional troops in Kandahar Province and helicopters to lessen Canadian Forces land travel, which the Manley Report considers necessary for continuing the Mission, will be secured

"February 2nd's Sudbury Star editorial, "Canada must press for student's release" ends with this paragraph: "Canadian troops are not simply fighting for democracy - they are fighting for a democracy that respects human rights. Canada must vigorously press the case to free Kaambakhsh, else what are our troops really fighting for?"

A petition at http://www.independent.co.uk/petition is pressing the British government "to put all possible pressure on the Afghan government to prevent the execution of Sayed Pervez Kambaksh".  Should the UK Foreign Office respond and the Canadian and American Governments be put under similar pressure Afghan President Hamid Karzai may well be placed in a most difficult position: choosing between the will of his external and internal allies.
 
On February 2nd Canadian Maj.-Gen. Marc Lessard assumed command of N.A.T.O. FORCES in the Regional Command South. He is quoted as saying " 'The truth is there has been a 50 per cent increase in incidents,' " but that " ' In every occasion the Taliban were blocked, they didn't achieve any real success. So, what we are doing? We blocked in 2007. In 2008, we are going on the offensive' "

Positive words, words however spoken to a Canadian public in largest measure unaware of reports in media outside Canada.  What has taken place is the extension of insurgent control of countryside near Kabul; activities in progress cutting allied supply lines coming through Pakistan and concentrating forces for a spring offensive; the threat of United States forces taking actions that could widen the war and further destablizing Pakistan; and overt rather than covert attacks into the Federally Administered Tribal Areas .

Portions of "Pakistan, Cambodia ... it's all the same to U.S",  provide an introduction to the challenges of which our Parliamentarians are either unaware or choosing not to bring before Canadians.

Bolded articles refer to the other problems cited above are listed immediately after the following segment of a Toronto Sun column.  These are followed by articles from a wide range of Canadian and other sources.

Taken together the articles offer a comprehensive view far beyond what is currently emanating from Ottawa.

Pakistan, Cambodia ... it's all the same to U.S

U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan already are over stretched and barely able to defend their own vulnerable supply lines. Incursions into Pakistan will pit U.S. -- and perhaps Canadian -- forces against the same warlike Pashtun tribesmen they cannot defeat in Afghanistan.

Pakistan's army, which so far has been "rented" by billions in payments from Washington to fight the Taliban and its allies, is showing increased reluctance to wage war on its own people. The entry of U.S. troops into Pakistan could trigger a violent reaction from Pakistan's military.

This may include attacks on vital bases and convoys supplying U.S. forces and NATO in Afghanistan. Nationalist elements in the armed forces are complaining bitterly of becoming "sepoys", as the British Raj termed its native troops, in Washington's fight against violent anti-western groups. Pakistani Pashtun, who are prominent in the military and intelligence services, can be counted on to oppose any U.S. action against their fellow Pashtuns in FATA.

Once U.S. forces enter Pakistan, there will be no easy exit. The war-loving Pashtun will never stop fighting, either in Afghanistan or Pakistan.

Given Washington's growing entente with India, Pakistan's military will very likely view U.S. forces operating in their nation as foes, not friends.

Osama bin Laden has repeatedly stated his hope that the U.S. will get sucked into a ruinous, debilitating conflict in Pakistan.

Secretary Gates may be taking the first step.


Pakistan: US accused of violating borders in al-Qaeda killing
Rawalpindi, 1 Feb. (AKI) - By Syed Saleem Shahzad

Taliban take a hit, but the fight goes on
By Syed Saleem Shahzad

Why the Afghan Taleban feel confident
By David Loyn

Canadian takes command of 12,000 NATO troops

2009 pullout unrealistic, Hillier says
'If you're in Kandahar, you're going to be in combat'

Get tough on Taliban
Ignatieff urges international intensity

Tories accused of torture cover-up

Afghan reality emerges from fog of cheap politics: What now?

By not levelling with us, PM erodes case for Afghan mission

Dion is consistently unrealistic

Top soldier praises Kandahar governor

Kandahar governor denies torture allegations

Canada's new policy deprives an organization access to Afghan detainees

U.S. 'surge' could sweep Canada out of Afghanistan

Afghan picture confusing, U.S. Marines' chief says

Operations in South Waziristan halted for peace talks

Taliban attacks on allied troops soar by up to a third
The Observer, UK (02/03/2008)

Fall back, men, Afghanistan is a nasty war we can never win
The Sunday Times, UK (02/02/2008)

Afghan Prison Blues
Newsweek (02/02/2008)
 
AdvocacyGroup Launches Major Initiatives at Helm of U.S.Policy Reassessment towards Afghanistan
The Afghanistan Advocacy Group, Press Release (02/02/2008)
 
Afghan Journalist’s Death Sentence “Political"
IWPR (02/02/2008)
 
A Pair of Allies, Self-Destructing
The Washington Post (02/02/2008)
 
US fights to rescue Afghanistan mission
AFP (02/02/2008)
 
Afghan picture confusing, US Marines' chief says
Reuters (02/02/2008)
 
Ex-Taliban Commander Lectures Mullah Omar About Koran
RFE/RL (02/01/2008)
 
Senators challenge White House approach on Afghanistan
Christian Science Monitor (02/01/2008)
 
Afghan senate's blasphemy retreat
BBC (02/01/2008)
 
Journalism Is Not a Capital Crime
The Wall Street Journal (02/01/2008)
 
US Envoy: Iran Gained From US Invasions
The Associated Press (02/01/2008)
 
Protesters in Kabul Call for Release of Detained Afghan Journalist
VOA (02/01/2008)
 
Afghan Peace Only Possible With More Foreign Aid
Deutsche Welle (02/01/2008)
 
Is the U.S. Failing in Afghanistan?
Time.com (02/01/2008)
 
Germany rejects troop request for southern Afghanistan
AFP (02/01/2008)
 
Afghan protest: 'He just shared an article with friends. What's the problem?'
Belfast Telegraph (02/01/2008)
 
Three Independent Reports Conclude Efforts in Afghanistan are Failing and Call for Urgent Action
The Huffington Post (02/01/2008)
 
New bid to control Pakistan’s tribal belt
The Christian Science Monitor (02/01/2008)
 
Former Afghan minister worried mission not succeeding in public support
The Canadian Press (02/01/2008)
 
Taliban shifts tactics in Afghanistan
Los Angeles Times (02/01/2008)
 
Mission creep in Afghanistan
Asia Times (02/01/2008)
 
In the dark
The Economist (02/01/2008)
 
NATO winning battles, losing Afghanistan
Asia Times (02/01/2008)
 
Why the Afghan Taleban feel confident
BBC (02/01/2008)
 
US concerned international community may abandon Afghanistan
AFP (01/31/2008)
 
Afghan chief doubts more troops needed
AAP (01/31/2008)
 
Going to Afghanistan - why do I do it
The Frontline Club (01/31/2008)

Complete coverage of the Afghanistan mission
NATIONAL POST http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/afghanistan/index.html

GLOBE and MAIL http://www.theglobeandmail.com/afghanistan

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