US HONCHO ‘NOT SURE’ WE CAN WIN AFGH.(When they say 'not sure of victory',
they mean 'probably defeat'.)
Karzai’s forces are corrupt; Taliban forces bribery-free.
US forces can clear areas, but not hold them.
Gates is not sure how many years, how many thousands of GIs
Will be necessary.
USNEWS&WORLD REPORT/30DEC

 
WHY TROOP-SHORTAGE IN WAR ZONES? Army has 570,000 active troops, but
Posts only 200k in war zones—and keeps sending back those who’ve already served.
And they talk of being overstretched.
What the hell?
CBSNEWS/30DEC

 
TAL.ATTACKS DOUBLE: Bombs & Kidnappings in ’08 are twice those in ’07.
NEWS.YAHOO/30DEC

 
TALIBAN CONTROL 80% OF SWAT VALLEY in North, near Kabul,
Far from usual militant regions.
SEATTLEPI/30DEC

Pak. has temporarily blocked US/NATO supplies going into Afgh.

 
POPE & IRAN PRES,.AGREE IN DENOUNCING GAYS
Two primitives agree; but Iranian says there are no gays
In Iran; Pope is more sensible in Not saying there are no gays
Among Catholic clergy.
LONDON TIMES/28DEC

 
TALIBAN ‘SHADOW GOVT’ SPREADS TOWARD KABUL:
WITH GOVERNORS AND COURT SYSTEMS.
SEATTLEPI/28DEC

 
1/3d of us weapons for Iraq unaccounted for
ASIAN TIMES/27DEC

Who cares?

 
IRAQI POLICE NOT QUITE READY to take over security in cities from GIs,
As is required next June by the pact.
REUTERS/27DEC

Also: most forces are Shia, could turn on Sunnis
(outnumbered 3 to 1).

 
US LOSING RELIGION say 2 in 3 Americans.
Small wonder when churches are in GOP pockets.
USATODAY/27DEC

 
BAD NEWS FOR ANTI-TALIBAN: Pak is moving thousands of troops away from the Afghan border to the Indian border. ‘Even a miniwar with India would be disastrous for Pakistan and for their necessary help vs. Taliban.
SEATTLEPI/27DEC

 
76 SHIA CASUALTIES FROM ONE BOMB.
GOOGLE NEWS/27DEC

Terrorists see to it that Shia will not make up with Sunni.

 
GOVT. WARNS OF HEIGHTENED DANGER OF TERRORIST ATTACKS
ON OUR HOMELAND
SeattlePI/26dec

But they still shovel tons of money to useless Pentagon,
Not for Homeland Defense.

 
THOUSANDS OF PAK.TROOPS MOVED AWAY FROM AFGHAN BORDER
--AWAY FROM FIGHTING TALIBAN--
(TO INDIAN BORDER).
Guardian/26dec

 
Long-term troubles for 300,000 brain-injured vets.
Seizures, aggression and dementia threaten even those vets with MILD injuries.
LATIMES/25dec
This is part of the price of our two goofy wars.

 
TALIBAN ATTACK TRUCKS RETURNING EMPTY FROM AFGH through Pakistan.
These are less guarded than loaded vehicles entering Afghanistan.
NYTIMES/25DEC

 
OBAMA FLOODED WITH BUSHIE AFGHAN ADVICE:
One general advocates airstrikes, but not more ground war !
(a prescription for further enraging ordinary Afghans.)

Gates: “We don’t want too many GIs in Afgh.
That would make it look like an occupation, not a cooperation with Afghans.”
(It already looks like an occupation—a failing occupation—
just like the Soviet failure.)
LATIMES/24DEC

 
US-ALLIED TRIBES IN AFGH?
Despairing of Karzai’s central army & police, US is going to recruit tribesmen to
Help fight Taliban. Worry is about Pashtun tyranny, civil war. An observer says
That US is not using the real power in each tribe.
Taliban control 82% of one district.
REUTERS/24dec

 
PARTIES SPLIT UP: The main Sunni bloc in Parliament has split, and the main Shia party will split. The Sunni speaker of the House has resigned.
REUTERS24dec

 
‘ISRAEL CAN’T DEFEAT IRAN, OR WIPE OUT ITS NUKE RESOURCES.’
Says Israeli honco. After an attack, Iran would launch many missiles
At Israeli AND AMERICAN facilities.
For instance, at GIs in next-door Iraq !

Cbs news/23DEC

 
COURT BLOCKS ‘RT.TOLIFE’MEDDLING:
An Italian woman has been in a coma for 17 yrs.
Govt. warns clinics not to help remove her feeding-tube,
As her father wishes.
An EU court told meddlers not to meddle.
UnitedPress/23DEC

 
HOMOSEXUALITY AS BAD AS FOREST DESTRUCTION,says Pope.
This loon must think a huge proportion of humanity wants homosexual activity,
Enough to end the human race.

I used to think the Catholic Church did more good that harm in the world;
No more. Now I rejoice at every nutty statement from the hierarchy,
As shrinking the number of people who heed them.

 
KARZAI CALLS US ALLIES ‘THUGS’
We’re backing warlords (having given up—after 7yrs!—on his central govt.)
He says these ‘thugs’ attack ordinary Afghans, with no controls.
This is no way to win over Afghans to the US crusade.
LATIMES/23DEC

 
CANADA OPPOSES ARMING AFGHAN TRIBES
They could end up fighting each other, not the Taliban.
Canadians favor continuing to arm central army.
But this isn’t really working:
”I don’t know what solution is”
Says Canadian honcho.
GLOBE&MAIL/22DEC.

 
TENS OF THOUSANDS OF COMBAT GIs WILL REMAIN IN IRAQ CITIES
Even after the June deadline set by the US/Iraq pact.
They will just be relabeled ‘advisers’.
NYT22DEC

Question is, will the coming Iraqi referendum approve of this trick?

 
WEAPONS CUTS: We can’t solve econ. Crisis while we continue to shovel almost a trillion a year to bloated Pentagon (which is useless against terrorist attacks on our Homeland.)
NYTIMES 21Dec on p. wk9, offers a long list of proposed weapons
that could be cut—except for the power of war-industry lobbies.

 
US ANGERED AFGHANS
By extrajudicial killings,
Says Karzai.
(in interview with Chi.Tribune)

 
HUNDREDS OF US VEHICLES DESTROYED
In attacks by Pakistan & Afghan militants.
CBS NEWS/21dec

 
BASRANS WANTS DE FACTO INDEPENDENCE
Like Kurdistans. Petition is now circulating to authorize
Referendum demanding autonomy.
Area has 60% of Iraq oil; other Shia and Sunni regions have little.
Cnn.com/18dec

Biden is the only US pol who sees that Iraq partition
Is inevitable and desirable.

 
GIs will have responsibility without power after 2009, acc. To Iraq/US pact.
They must stay on base until asked by govt.
But they will be still blamed for all troubles.
If Sunni war with Shia, which side will US back?
NEWSWEEK/18DEC

 
TAL. ARE IN MOST AFGHAN REGIONS
Permanent presence in 72% of Afgh,
Says Brazilian think-tank.
CBS NEWS/18DEC

 
PAKISTANIS PROTEST US SUPPLY LINES THRU PAK.
10,000 march against use of Pak. land to convey supplies
to allied forces in Afgh.
SeattlePI/18dec

 
GENERALS VS. OBAMA ON PULLOUT TIME
The 2 top generals want more time than the 16 months Obama has promised.
Now he has to back down or contradict ‘magic’ Petraeus.
NYTIMES/18DEC

 
BRITS POUT OVER US BASRA TAKEOVER
They pacified the region and began reconstruction; now US will get credit for
Reconstruction.
‘This is one place we’ll stay on’. Says US honcho.
LONDON TIMES/18DEC

 
ALTERNATE AFGH. SUPPLY ROUTE ATTACKED
The route from Peshawar, Pak, has been often attacked. Now a fuel tanker was attacked
Using an alternate route.LONDON TELEGRAPH/18DEC

 
70% back Obama pullout date
2 in 3 say Iraq war wasn’t worth it.
MSNBC/16DEC

 
GATES VS. GENERAL ON US PULLBACK IN IRAQ
General said GIs must stay on in cities after June (date
Specified in pact)./CBS/16DEC

 
US CRITICIZES BRITS IN AFGH
‘They have been defeated in their region.”
Brits respond that they have fought more than
Other US allies.
LONDON TIMES/15DEC

 
BRITS MAY REFUSE MORE TROOPS TO AFGH
Obama will pressure them to send more (after they bug out
Of Iraq), but Brit honchos say their troops are overstretched
In world./LONDON TIMES/15DEC

 
MIDEAST ARABS ECSTATIC OVER SHOE-THROWING
Iraqi shows extreme contempt and called Bush a Dog (another
Sign of contempt). Incident hailed all over Mideast.
NEWS.YAHOO/15DEC

 
DRIVERS WON’T CARRY NATO SUPPLIES across Pakistan and into Afgh,
Because the danger from Taliban attacks is too great.
75% of NATO supplies come thru Pakistan. They are exploring different routes,
but they don’t have them so far.
BBC/15DEC

 
AT BEST, A STALEMATE, says US general in Afgh.
Afgh is at a tipping point.
LONDON MIRROR/14DEC

 
NO NEED FOR 150K TROOPS IN AFGH,
Says Gates. Soviets were driven out with
120k troops—because they lacked people’s support.
CNN/12DEC
But US also has weakening support among Afghans.

 
AFGHANS LESS SUPPORTIVE OF ALLIES
Civilian casualties, arrogance of troops threatens
Support, says UN honcho/
LONDON TELEGRAPH/12DEC

 
BRIT SUPPORT FOR AFGHAN PROJECT IS SLIPPING
Say Brit honchos/GUARDIAN/12DEC

 
GIs TO STAY IN IRAQ CITIES AFTER PACT DEADLINE
Interpretation: Only the COMBAT forces have to leave,
Not backup forces.
News.yahoo/12dec

 
GIs IN IRAQ FOR 10 YRS?
So says govt. honcho.
This should strenghthen pact-opposition
Vote in coming referendum.
SEATTLEPI/13DEC

 
ANOTHER ATTACK ON US SUPPLIES IN PAK
5th in recent weeks.
CNN/12DEC

 
REFORM OF PENT. SPENDING?
Super-expensive weapons may be cut.
Latimes/12dec

 
US IN AFGH FOR YRS,UNTIL WE WIN OVER AFGHANS,
Says Gates. Bloody likely.
WashPost/12dec

 
CANADIANS IN AFGH: THE LONGER THE BETTER
Says Gates. But why should the Canadian public tolerate
This endless, winless war.
GLOBE&MAIL/11DEC

 
AIMLESS AFGHAN WAR/
Afgh has never had a strong central govt.
But they’ve united to drive out foreign invaders,
From Alexander the Great to Soviets.
YAHOO/11DEC

 
1 bomb, 165 Iraq casualties/
REUTERS/11DEC

 
SUCCESSFUL ATTACKS ON US SUPPLIES WILL INSPIRE ‘BAD GUYS’
Says retired Pentagon honcho
NEWS YAHOO/10DEC

 
NO HURRIED BRITS TO AFGH,AFTER IRAQ BUGOUT
REUTERS/10DEC

 
$ FOR PENT. TOYS, BUT NOT FOR HOME DEFENSE
Warning that econ.crisis might cut budget for defense
Against pandemics, bioterror.
USATODAY/10DEC

 
HUNDREDS OF GIs DIED NEEDLESSLY because Pentagon lagged in providing
More blast-proof vehicles—despite knowing before the war that they would be needed.
USATODAY/9DEC

pentagon cares fpr troops as KFC cares for chickens

 
REFERENDUM POSSIBLE IN BASRA (WITH PORT EXPORTING MOST OIL, WITH MOST OIL) TO GAIN AUTONOMY (like Kurdistan).
PARTITION inevitable in Iraq. Can you image Shia govt governing Sunni areas
Effectively? VP-elect Biden is the only Congressman talking about partition.

ARABIAN BUSINESS/9DEC

 
VULNERABLE SUPPLY LINES ARE ALLIED ‘ACHILLES HEEL’
Some supplies are flown in, but this aggravates ‘plane shortage’.
NATO is rushing negotiations for supply routes through countries
Other than Pakistan, thru which 70% of NATO supplies now pass.
GUARDIAN/9DEC
Attacks on supply lines are great Taliban propaganda.

 
DOUBLE THE GIs IN AFGH FOR 4-5 MORE YEARS
Says top general there.
USATODAY/8DEC
If Obama is one-term president, a different anti-war
Candidate will show up.

 
TALIBAN CLOSE NOOSE AROUND KABUL: They have permanent presence in 72% of country, control 3 of 4 roads into Kabul. Only 38% of Afghans say things are ‘better’.
LONDON TELEGRAPH/8DEC

 
DECLARE VICTORY & BUG OUT/ A Brit observer says Allied leaders in Afgh.
Agree there is almost no chance of US being attacked again from Afgh.
But preventing such attacks is sole legit.reason for our war there.
GLOBE & MAIL/8DEC

The only reason we plan to fight on for years and years is
So Obama can keep his campaign pledge.

 
200 US VEHICLES BURNED IN 2 DAYS/2D ATTACK ON PAK. SUPPLY ROUTE.
OTHER ROUTES PROBLEMATIC./GUARDIAN/8DEC

 
NEW GIs TO KABUL AREA/worries about security of capital.
Nytimes/7dec

 
TALIBAN BURN 160 US TRUCKS in Pakistan.
Vulnerable supply line to Afgh.
Google/7DEC

 
FOREIGN-BORN LINGUISTS SOUGHT:
Despairing of providing American linguists for their wars,
Pent. Is recruiting foreign linguists (as well as medical personnel).
MSNBC/6DEC

Trouble is maybe foreign linguists are not loyal to US.

 
REFERENDUM REJECTION WILL ANNUL PACT
Says an Iraq honcho. Referendum scheduled for next year.
REUTERS/6DEC

It’s hard to see how Obama can renege on his repeated pledge
To pull out of cities by next July, and out of Iraq by 2010.

 
IN ALMOST EVERY DIMENSION, TALIBAN ARE STRONGER
Says GLOBE & MAIL/6DEC

Soviets did more reconstruction than allies have done,
And had 140,000 troops—yet they got driven out.

 
ISRAEL MAY ATTACK IRAN ALONE (without explicit US help);
But then Iran may retaliate also against US.
JERUSALEM POST/5DEC

Absurd for us to let a small ally drag us into a big war.

 
Afghan slaughter: at least 67 casualties from one bomb.
BOSTON.COM/5DEC
SOMETIMES A WOUND IS WORSE THAN DEATH.

 
Afghan slaughter: at least 67 casualties from one bomb.
BOSTON.COM/5DEC

 
TAL. ATTACK INTEL HQ/
Also other attacks in Afgh.
LONDON TELEGRAPH/4DEC

 
One hundred Iraq casualties, including at least 2 Americans.
Latimes/4dec

 
300,000 veteran brain injuries: long-term problems even from mild injuries.
LATIMES/4DEC

 
‘POPE’SISTANI QUESTIONS PACT, says it doesn’t guaranteee Iraq sovereignty,
but says he’ll accept referendum verdict—which means govt. can’t back down from promise of referendum.
Washpost/4dec

 
ODD: media neglect of naming of Home Defense secretary:
India tragedy shows that home defense is more important than foreign wars.

 
DOZENS OF IRAQ CASUALTIES
WASH POST/2DEC

 
AFGHAN WAR A HARDER WAR
For many reasons, it will be a very long war.
NYTIMES/2DEC

 
12 US supply trucks hit in Pakistan/
Pak. Says if India moves troops to their border, it will pull out troops
from Afghan border to move them to India border.
SEATTLEPI/1DEC

 
300 Iraqis killed in Nov (dozens yesterday).
BBC/1Dec