Afghanistan Update ...

I wonder if Pooty-Pooh asked Bush how things were in Afghanistan, as they drove that silly little car around Moscow? I doubt it. But, I'll bet he's glad as hell it's not his problem any more.

I wonder too, why neither the White House Press corps, nor the US media in general, ask much about Afghanistan nowadays? I also wonder, why US politicians shy away.? And, I wonder why the majority of the US public seem to suffer Afghan-amnesia? I guarantee, it's still to the forefront of the minds' of the families of troops still over there.

But, that's me; I wonder about many things. It's one of the side-effects of my disabilities.

Maybe I should explain my disabilities. I was one of those people born with both a brain and a conscience.

Things gradually got worse as I got older. First, I got a half decent education. As the years went by, I began to travel -- quite extensively. I met and mixed with, all kinds of people. Foreigners, even. Some of them actually spoke a foreign language; some spoke several. Many had different cultures, aspirations, beliefs, religions, politics, values, standards and so on.

Wow! Spooky! Just like the movies, eh?

Can you believe some of them weren't even white? Yeah, really. Mindblowing, isn't it? A veritable multiplicity of skin pigmentation; brown, black, olive, yellow and all sorts of shades between. Many were poor and hungry, downtrodden and exploited, misinformed and manipulated, used and abused, and misled and lied to by their honourable leaders. [Isn't that unusual? ] Maybe, worst of all, most of them dared to be honest, decent, everyday ordinary/regular, working folk. Phew! Can you credit that, eh?

So far, no one's come up with cures for my ailments. Not for me the luxuries some others take for granted. Try as they may, the powers that be still haven't managed to 'get me into good shape'. I'm no nearer to becoming a sociopath or an ignoramus than I ever was. Amazing, isn't it? I mean, in this, the 21st century. You know, these high-tech, ultra-civilised, socially & medically enlightened times -- these times of so many 'freedoms.'

Anyhow, I'll risk being accused of having only 'self-inflicted' injuries, I'll come right out and confess. I'm compelled to continue learning. I'll admit it; I can't help it; it's become a habit; one I just can't kick. How else could I explain finding & speaking the truth so often? Let's face it -- I'm hooked?

But, back to business.

The war in Afghanistan is over; it has been for a long time. Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Blair and their ilk, told us all so -- so it must be right. Right? Yeah -- the Afghan war is over -- like slavery is over. Like the dark ages are. Like feudalism is. Like inequality is. Like fascism is. Like bigotry and persecution are. Right? ............... Huh!

Witness this piece from today's edition of a UK, national daily newspaper -- "The Independent." Read the excerpts I've copied & pasted, first -- then hit the link shown below, for the full article.

** In the first, a US unit and Afghan police were ambushed by fighters. Six American soldiers were injured including two who had their legs blown off.

Helicopter gunships and A-10 attack aircraft strafed the guerrillas. Then, after nightfall, a Spectre aircraft raked them with fire from chain guns. Two days later, the military announced 44 "enemy" had been killed including Chechen and Pakistani al-Qa'ida fighters.

Also in the south, in Kandahar province, an Afghan National Army patrol and their American trainer were ambushed by the Taliban. Ten were killed and an American soldier was wounded. In subsequent air attacks around 20 guerrillas were killed.

Surprised? You will be; probably shocked too. Perhaps you'll even be sickened. Here's a bit more:

** The US still has nearly 17,000 combat troops in the country, mostly in the south and east, and 5,000 British soldiers are expected to start taking over many of their operations at the end of this year.

For over three years the Taliban have fought a guerrilla war from bases on the Pakistan side of the border. Hundreds of fighters have died, mainly boys recruited in schools who are often slaughtered by heavily armed US forces.

The war, long overshadowed by Iraq, has resulted in the deaths of around 140 US troops, and it costs the US around $10bn (£5.3bn) a year.

Here's the link: http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=636840