The West and Karzai on Different Pages

Hamid Karzai and his foreign backers appear headed in opposite directions.

al-Qaeda’s Terrorist Recruitment in the West: Active and Professionally-Organized

Both the al-Qaeda and the Taliban are feeding on the current dissatisfaction with the war in Afghanistan. It seems that people are more dismayed about what is going on with the war than the fact that Hamid Karzai rigged the elections in his favor. The terror groups have developed ‘sophisticated foreign-recruiting networks’ resulting in an increasing number of Westerners joining al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Latest proof of this development is the discovery that ‘some 30 German citizens have travel

Obama’s Afghanistan Vaudeville

John Kerry was the toast of the spoon-fed media last week for his ostensible “achievement” in cajoling Hamid Karzai into accepting a runoff election in Afghanistan. Where was Richard Holbrooke, the sophisticates who indulge in Beltway kremlinology asked, as if his absence from this supposed “breakthrough” moment was telling. The reality, of course, is that Kerry’s insistence on standing behind Karzai, as if twisting the visibly uncomfortable U.S.-installed president’s arm as he announced a humil

Helmand, Afghanistan is a Sideshow - Or Not

An interesting report from the WSJ (h/t Spencer Ackerman ): “How many people do you bring in before the Afghans say, ‘You’re acting like the Russians’?” said one senior military official, referring to the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s. “That’s the big debate going on in the headquarters right now.” Afghan President Hamid Karzai has said publicly during his campaign for the approaching Aug. 20 elections that he wants to negotiate new agreements giving the Afghan government

President Hamid Karzai Wants New ROE for US Troops

Karzai: Afghans want rules for troops changed KABUL AP President Hamid Karzai said Monday he wants new rules governing the conduct of U.S.-led forces in Afghanistan and would be willing to talk with Taliban leaders who publicly renounce violence and endorse peace. But Karzai, acknowledging shaky relations with his international partners in the war on terror, told The Associated Press in an interview that he was not prepared at this time to discuss the key Taliban demand - a tim