A New Era in U.S.-Afghan Relations, Take 4
[Guest post by DRJ]
General David Petraeus is doing what President Obama promised to do — talking to allies like Afghan President Hamid Karzai:
“A phone call from Gen. David Petraeus helped persuade President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan to approve a plan to lure Taliban fighters back into society, the New York Times reports.”
President Obama’s public criticism of Karzai failed to convince him to accept the U.S. position. Petraeus is obviously not the nuanced leader Obama is.
I bet the “advanced, intellectual and nuanced” negotiation technique Petraeus used was talking with Karzai like he’s an adult and didn’t use one dang moment of pompous lecture.
Vivian Louise (643333) — 7/2/2010 @ 2:07 pmThese are guys who had a one in four chance that they would not reach age five. The rest of their lives is no less chancy. They’re not going to respect a spoiled brat like Obama.
nk (db4a41) — 7/2/2010 @ 2:21 pmThis is playing out the Anbar Strategy; and, since it seems that almost everyone in Afghanistan can be bought (well, at least rented), it just might work.
AD - RtR/OS! (688ffe) — 7/2/2010 @ 2:50 pmAnybody who thinks that Afganistan can become another Iraq, or Germany, or Japan, or America …
These are a free people.
nk (db4a41) — 7/3/2010 @ 8:42 amThe White House has voiced support for such an approach, called reintegration, as long as militants disavow violence and accept the Afghan constitution.
It also is very sensible and wise to assume that once racism, bigotry and discrimination are greatly decreased and ongoing socio-political do-gooderism is greatly increased, such as what we’ve all witnessed since the 1960s, the health and prosperity of inner-city America will rocket to the top. Cities like Detroit will flourish!
Yep, uh-huh.
Mark (411533) — 7/3/2010 @ 9:14 am