Even Afghan Leader Karzai Longs For “Golden Age” of US Relations Like During Bush Years
Posted by Jim Hoft on Wednesday, December 29, 2010, 8:23 AM
It’s not just the American people who are sick of the Obama-Pelosi regime.
Afghan leader Harmid Karzai wrote in 2009 that he longed for the “golden age” of US-Afghan relations like during the Bush years.
(Politics Daily)
The Huffington Post reported:
Longing for the early years of the Bush administration, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been consumed by anti-U.S. conspiracy theories, convinced American officials are now working against him, according to a diplomatic cable from the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.
The cable was sent in July 2009, which would become the deadliest month for foreign troops since the 2001 invasion. The surge in casualties resulted from an offensive to oust the Taliban in opium-rich Helmand Province, as well as the increasing power of roadside bombs. On July 7, when Amb. Karl Eikenberry met with Karzai, the Afghan president was looking backward rather than forward, wistfully longing for the early days of the Bush administration, which he referred to as a “golden age.”
“Karzai then returned to a familiar theme, his wish for Afghan-U.S. relations to recover the spirit of 2002-04 — a period Karzai sees as a ‘golden age’ in the relationship,” wrote Eikenberry in a July 16 cable obtained by WikiLeaks and published by The New York Times. “He would like for U.S. forces to again be able to drive their humvees through villages, greeted warmly by villagers who would shout, ‘Good morning, Sergeant Thompson.’ Karzai claimed, as he has many times, that his concern over the erosion of public trust in the U.S. was a driving factor in his increasingly strident criticism regarding civilian casualties, night raids and detentions.”
Eikenberry took issue with Karzai’s characterization of that period being a “golden age” — and reminded him that he should be looking forward to the future rather than back to the past. Even in 2002-2004, Eikenberry told Karzai, it was clear that “trouble was brewing as the focus on security and reconstruction drifted and declined due to lack of resources and a comprehensive strategy.”
Barack Obama has been accused of having no strategy, no benchmarks and no end point when it comes to Afghanistan.
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Published February 22, 2012 at 4:19 pm - 32 Comments
Missy8s commented:
Let’s face it, a cheese sandwich could do a better job as president than Chairman O.
Kenny Solomon commented:
“Barack Obama has been accused of having no strategy, no benchmarks and no end point when it comes to Afghanistan.”
Obama Strategy: Do not seek nor listen to any and all military competence, as they simply don’t understand that ‘hope and change’ is actual policy, not just a campaign slogan.
Obama Benchmarks: The number of bows made to Muslim and other foreign officials per day, month, quarter and year.
Obama End Point: When his bosses in Saudi Arabia and China tell him to pull out.
jainphx commented:
A stopped clock is right twice a day! Obama—- well not so much.
srhoades commented:
“Eikenberry took issue with Karzai’s characterization of that period being a ‘golden age’”
Of course he did, Eikenberry took over as Commander of the Combined Forces in ’05. His tenure marked the beginning of the end of goodwill and friendship between the Afghans and US service men because he was such an incompetent buffoon.
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Skinner commented:
Funny how the anti-war loons are not covered anymore…
Personally, I think we need to get the hell out of Afghanistan.
I’m sure it will be front page again when a Republican is in the WH.
.
bg commented:
++
Karzai Thanks Bush, American People for Support
[“We have a long journey ahead of us, but what we have traveled so far has given us greater hope for a better future, for a better life,” he said. “The Afghans are still suffering, but there are millions of Afghans who are enjoying a better and more secure life, who can send their children to school and who can work in their fields. And thank you very much for that."]
OBAMA, I HOPE TO CHANGE THEIR TUNE..
could have sworn Obama gave this speech..
In an interview with The Washington Post, Karzai said that he wanted American troops off the roads and out of Afghan homes and that the long-term presence of so many foreign soldiers would only worsen the war. His comments placed him at odds with U.S. commander Gen. David H. Petraeus, who has made capture-and-kill missions a central component of his counterinsurgency strategy, and who claims the 30,000 new troops have made substantial progress in beating back the insurgency.
“The time has come to reduce military operations,” Karzai said. “The time
has come to reduce the presence of, you know, boots in Afghanistan . . .
to reduce the intrusiveness into the daily Afghan life.”]
YES I CAN, AND I BLAME BUSH!!
just an aside, think maybe the DEM DADT repeal might have been the
straw that broke the camels back so to speak?? ah yes.. hypocrites
are definitely becoming the major species on planet Earth..
==
aprilnovember811 commented:
Longing for the early years of the Bush administration, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has been consumed by anti-U.S. conspiracy theories, convinced American officials are now working against him, according to a diplomatic cable from the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan.
Tell him not to feel bad, American officials are working against America too. Actually the American officials are the Weather Underground.
John commented:
> Barack Obama has been accused of having no strategy, no benchmarks and no end point when it
> comes to Afghanistan
What was Bush’s strategy in Afghanistan? Could you clarify/enlighten? Thanks.
I’m also having a hard time remember the president who got us involved there in the first place. Perhaps you could jog my memory…
Rich commented:
Seems like an honest opinion. We initially drove out the Taliban and AQ to a certain point and then diverted attention and resources to Iraq. So yes there was a golden age for a few months. Afghanistan fell into so much dis-repair because of neglect that fixing it now is more problematic than if we did it right the first time. It is a possibility that Afghanistan was lost 4-7 years ago and, like Vietnam, We are just trying to find a way out.
Ironic that a generation trying to deal with the loss of Vietnam would create two more Vietnams with nearly the same outcomes.
Chisum commented:
Unfortunately BO will not acknowledge this.
The War in Afghanistan Is Part of the Larger Struggle Against Global Terrorism
http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/boot/385233
Henry Hawkins commented:
OK, somebody with the requisite skills needs to photoshop one of those George W. Bush “Miss Me Yet?” billboards sittting in the middle of Kabul or the Afghan desert.
bg commented:
++
Rich #10
oh BS, you have BDS..
the ONLY thing Afghanistan fell into is the hands of
Obama, the #1 terrorist sympathizer on the planet..
ever since BHO was crowned the second coming of Jesus (not to mention
Caliphate of all Muslims), terrorist attacks have not only been on the rise,
but even with the Obama’s “surge” in A-stan, we’ve lost more troops..
==
regularguy commented:
Maybe I’m wrong, but I think the Obama administration is leaking and magnifying disparaging reports about Karzai to paint him as poorly as possible, thereby gathering support from both the left and the right to pull the plug on Afghanistan. I’ve never been too hopeful about Afghanistan, given the degree of abject ruin the entire culture is in. It’s one thing to rebuild Europe after WW2, it’s quite another a culture barely evolved from the dark ages. The whole surge, on an insane timeline, has been half-assed, despite the miraculous dedication of our military, and by Obama’s design. But I think it’s been a lost cause for some time, and I also think the Obama administration is paving the way psychologically for us to cut and run. I see another Cambodia for any Afghan who has sided with us, and our prestige to take another major hit because of the perfidy of those who “lead” our efforts–namely, Obama. Just like after Vietnam, you’ll NEVER see any liberal take responsibility for the ensuing bloodbath. Meanwhile, the islamic 800 pound gorilla in the room will forever be ignored.
Badger commented:
Karzai is a corrupt bastard. The moment the US is out of A-stan, he’ll make deals with the Talibs to keep his comfy chair.