Dan Lyons

CLEARED, BUT WILL THEY HOLD? /
It’s said that Swat valley will be cleared of visible Taliban
In several days;
REUTERS/31MAY
but will a mere 12,000 govt. troops
Be able (or willing) to keep Taliban
from sneaking Back in?

WON’T KNOW FOR 1 YR IF NEW AFGHAN STRATEGY WILL WORK/
Says US honcho./
UPI/30MAY
Gates admits that Congress will turn against unsuccessful Alfghan campaign
In 18 months.

NO MORE GI’S TO KOREA /
ABC/30MAY
NOT because N.Korea poses no threat,
But because GIs in Korea are hostages
Blocking any aggressive moves vs. N.Korea.

N,K. could slaugher GIs quickly.

CLIMATE CHANGE ALREADY KILLS 300,000 A YEAR /
MSNBC/30MAY
Many more later/ This illustrates the danger from reckless
Megatech advances./More technical advances have meant
More pollution damage so far—also, probably, in future./

For an argument explaining unexpected drawbacks
From technical progress,
See lamar.colostate.edu/~dlyons

SUNNI SAUDIS SNUB SHIA IRAQ/
Iraq is first Shia Arab state, naturally aligned
With Shia Iran.
REUTERS/30MAY

US would prudently side with 90% of Muslims worldwide
Who are Sunnis.

SHIA RULE IN IRAQ--POSSIBLE CIVIL WAR/
Maliki will move from consensus to ‘majority rule’.
(Shia outnumber sunni 3 to 1).
US Sunni allies may revert to alliance with insurgents.
LondonGuardian/30may

TALIBANI DESTROY AFGHAN SCHOOLS/
As agents of govt./especially girls'schools./
Schools are now built only
In cities, as rural areas have no security vs.tal.
GLOBE&MAIL/30MAY

US SURGE WILL SPIKE ALLIED CASUALTIES/
Says Brit honcho. Spike may be temporary.
LONDON TIMES/29MAY
But it will put the war back in US notice/

TALIBANI INFILTRATE REFUGEE CAMPS /
Fleeing from Pak. Army, they cut beards & hair
To blend in with refugees.
NEWS.YAHOO/29MAY

NO SIGN OF MORE CARE FOR CIVILIANS /
The slaughter by US airstrike in Farah
has enraged Afghans.
GLOBALPOST/28MAY

MEGA-CHAIN OF US BASES OVERSEAS/
Information clearinghouse/28may

We don’t need these bases; predator planes are controlled from US/
We bombed Afghanistan from Kansas./

Perhaps this chain of bases is to bribe foreign govts.
To support Pentagon policies.

US CAN’T SHIFT BLAME
FOR AFGHAN SLAUGHTER/
Afghan govt. says 140 killed, US says 30./
US says white phosporus was used by Taliban./
US is making strong efforts at propaganda,
But they’re convincing few Afghans./

Pent. Honcho says we can’t win by killing Afghan
Innocents. So far, that’s ignored by military
In Afgh./GLOBALPOST28MAY

US BIGGEST OBSTACLE TO AFGHAN CIVIL IMPROVEMENT,
Says UN honcho./
Alertnet.org/27may

CLEAR BUT NOT HOLD? The mere 15,000 Pak. Troops might clear some areas of Taliban—but can so few troops keep them out?
They can pose as civilians and creep back in.

As long as Pak. Govt. keeps practically all troops on India border,
Taliban can’t be permanently defeated.

GIs IN IRAQ, AFGH FOR 10 YEARS/
predicts army honcho./
“Any new troops sent to Afgh. will be there for a decade.”
TELEGRAPH/27MAY

TALIBAN-LIKE TREATMENT OF WOMEN IN AFGH/
People losing hope,says rights honcho.

At first, Western invaders promised
to raise women’s status.
GLOBE&MAIL/27MAY

PAK. REFUGEE PROBLEM/
2.4 million refugees (NEWS.YAHOO) need cash help
to find shelters./
If Govt. doesn’t provide help, insurgent groups will./

Army must quit killing civilians by airpower.
GLOBALPOST/27MAY

NEARLY 300 CASUALTIES FROM 1 PAK. BOMB/
In Lahore, not in cities on Afghan border.
LATIMES/27MAY

“..IN ANY WAR WORTH FIGHTING”-- WHAT ABOUT OTHER WARS?
Duwayne Wickham (in USATODAY,26may) praises the volunteers who enlisted in the military to fight in Iraq & Afghanistan. He calls for restoring the Draft, to spread the sacrifice more fairly.

But the sacrificed lives in these 2 wars were wasted—the wars were unnecessary and pointless.
A huge majority of Americans now oppose our Iraq involvement,
And half oppose the Afghan war—including many lawmakers.
Secretary Gates has said the Pentagon has only 18 months left to succeed,
before Congress turns openly against the war.

Americans put up with such pointless wars because hardly any of us have to suffer
either personally or financially. If a new Draft entered into discussion,
support for our imperial misadventures would evaporate completely.

NOTHING WRONG WITH CAPITALISM, ONLY WITH CAPITALISTS.
Says A. deBorchgrave in UPI.COM FEATURES.

But capitalism has to be run by capitalists—who else, Martians?
Like saying, “Nothing wrong with Stalinism, only with Stalinists.”

DeBorchgrave paints a hopeless picture—seeing Obama reeling
From war troubles and economic troubles. He’s probably right that
Obama will be REALLY helpless after elections of 2010.

(deB says we’ll be entangled in Afghanistan for 5 or 10 more years.
Too bad Obama doesn’t figure he’ll be a one-term president anyway,
So he might as well pull out of both wars now.)

FEW US LINGUISTS / In entire State Dept., only 18 speak Pashto, the language of Pashtun people in Afgh & Pakistan./ /
30% of State functionaries worldwide can’t speak local language, even at basic level. /
Pent. Has trained 200 in Pashto, and 300 in the other main Afghan language./

State is training 50 more people in Afghan languages./

AID agency, handling billions of dollars, won’t say how many speak local languages./
USATODAY 26MAY
US should get out of the ‘empire’ business. Americans aren’t interested in foreign countries, and especially not in foreign languages./

Pent. Says it can’t fight with one arm (airstrikes) tied behind its back.
But it doesn’t discuss how it can fight with blindfold & earplugs.

US AIRSTRIKE KILLED 97 /
says HumanRightsCommission/
Mostly women & children/
Afgh. govt. said 140/ US said 30/
BBC/26may

2 PAK. PROTESTS OVER GOVT. ATTACK ON SWAT /
Many innocents killed.
ALJAZEERA/26MAY

2.3 million refugees/
thousands trapped in fighting zone.

2 MILLION PAK. REFUGEES RESENT GOVT./
for not foreseeing problem before Swat invasion,
and not helping them now.

Some pvt. Charities are helping—
Many allied with insurgents.

MSNBC/25MAY

WAVE OF PAK. BOMBINGS FEARED/
In retaliation for army attacks in Swat.
LONDON TIMES/25MAY

ANOTHER JIHADIST HAVEN/ Yemen./
GUARDIAN/25 MAY

With all the Quaeda havens available.,
What would US success in Afgh. mean
For US safety?

The Afghan war is pointless.

GIs PROTECT THEMSELVES, NOT AFGHAN CIVILIANS/
In one place at least. Pent. Realizes that Americans care only about
GI casualties, not about Taliban domination of area around
US fortress.
NEWS.YAHOO/25MAY

Situation won’t change with new influx of GIs.
Americans will not tolerate high GI casualties
In a war half of them (and many Dem legislators)
Oppose.

SUNNI ALLIES OF US PREPARE TO FIGHT SHIA GOVT OF IRAQ/
When GIs leave. / They feel betrayed by Americans,
Think govt is pawn of Shia Iran.
LATIMES/25MAY

Sunnis are outnumbered 3 or 4 to 1; Shia have many weapns
Donated by Americans./ They also have Iran as ally./
Slaughter of Sunnis is possible.

US is now trying to get ‘moderate Talibani’ to switch sides.
They’ll consider US betrayal of Sunni allies.

PAKISTANI PARANOIA: Many citizens think govt is controlled by US & India,
Reject legitimacy of elected govt.
Pak. Population is half as big as US pop.
UnitedPress Features

IRAN GAINS FROM US INVASION OF IRAQ /
Oil pipeline: Iraq oil to Iran refinery.
TELEGRAPH/24MAY

Iran & Saddam were mortal enemies.
So much for isolating Iran.

US LONG HAUL IN AFGH/
Predicts Pak. President.
CBS/23MAY
But he doesn’t consider
The impatience of Americans
To get out of a pointless war.

KURDS WIN OIL BATTLE WITH BAGHDAD/
GUARDIAN/23MAY

This will encourage Shia separatists in South
To demand equal defacto independence.

Perhaps 3-state partition (which Joe Biden and I have predicted for years)
lies ahead.

UNUSUAL MOVE OF TAL. FROM AFGH. TO PAK/
Says US general.
FOXNEWS/23MAY

Perhaps Taliban agrees
with US Experts that
Pakistan is more important than Afgh.

There’s nothing we can do to stop Taliban in Pakistan.

TALIBAN FOIL PAK.ARMY/
They fade invisibly into population in Swat./
“Top Tal. Commanders are alive, just hiding out for now.”

Tal. Retaliate by big-city bombs in rest of Pakistan.

WASH POST/23 MAY

‘LITTLE FAITH THAT OBAMA’S AFGHAN PLAN WILL WORK”,
said one pol who supported Afghan bill.

50 Democrats voted against the bill,
demanding an explicit exit strategy.

Many more legislators privately opposed
Endless war.
GLOBALPOST/23MAY

Obama IS sending GIs into harm’s way
in an unnecessary, pointless war /
Even if we could defeat Taliban, US wouldn’t be any safer/
Qaeda has plenty of other havens around the world.—
Including Pakistan—which we can’t invade, because they have NUKES !

76 casualties from Pak. Bomb/
in Peshawar, bombed also a week ago.
BBC/22MAY

BRIT CIVIL PROJECTS FAIL IN AFGH /
Over half clearly will fail/ 1 in 4 will succeed.
LONDON TELEGRAPH/22MAY

20K NEW GIs IN AFGH. MAY PUSH TALIBAN FURTHER INTO PAKISTAN,
admits Pent. Honcho./ But
‘we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do.”
GUARDIAN/22MAY

US honchos admit that Pakistan (with nukes ! )is more important and dangerous
Than Afghanistan.

OBAMA CUTS OBVIOUS PENT. WASTE ! /

$300 THOUSANDS OF MILLIONS WASTED LAST YEAR.
News.yahoo/22MAY

TAL.TAKEOVER IN PAK, A REAL POSSIBILITY/
Says expert.
BBC/21MAY

“PEACE, AFTER US PULLOUT”
say Afghan insurgent leaders to negotiators.
NYTIMES/21MAY

ABOUT 150 BAGHDAD CASUALTIES THURSDAY
AFTER SCORES WEDNESDAY./
12 GI CASUALTIES
LATIMES/21MAY

NO TIME FOR LONG-TERM PAK. SOLUTIONS

Can army respond to Taliban control of many
Wide-apart areas?

Aghan solution and Indian friendliness would help,
But neither is possible in short run.

REUTERS, QUOTING NATL.REVIEW OF BOOKS/
20MAY

IRAQ AFTER US PULLOUT: WHO CARES?
Most Americans don’t care about Iraq chaos,
As long as GI casualties sink toward zero.

But we’re NOT pulling out all of our troops !
And the relatively few remaining
Will be MORE at risk when most GIs are gone.

We may need another Surge !

KNOW-HOW NEEDS KNOW-WHETHER /
Aristotle noted that in changing any going system,
there are far more ways To go wrong than to go right—so we can’t count on blind change going right By sheer luck.

“Oh, but our changes aren’t blind.” Often they ARE effectively blind—the agents of change don’t really care or inquire about harmful long-run side-effects.

For instance, we filled the air with toxic chemicals that persist for decades
Even after we quit pumping them out. E.g., carbon Tetrachloride.
USATODAY/20MAY

Know-how is incompetence without Know-whether.

To see full explanation of this phenomenon,
Read LAMAR.COLOSTATE.EDU/~DLYONS
Chapter two.

AFGHAN CORRUPTION MAKES CIVIL REFORM IMPOSSIBLE/
D.C. chatters about crucial need for govt. reform (national and local) and agricultural improvements—
but SYSTEMIC corruption makes all this impossible./

This makes success impossible. All admit that
mere military triumph Won’t help.
USATODAY/20MAY

WE CAN’T FIGHT With ONE HAND TIED
BEHIND BACK (BOMBING)
This is Pent. Mantra for Afgh.

But suppose one of our hands is harming US—
then we might do well to Tie it up.

(Bombing kills civilians, turns Afghans
against us.)

OBAMA’S 17K EXTRA GIs CAN’T WIN THIS WAR—/
So what is exit strategy? Asks expert Dreyfuss./

He admits that Pashtun might turn vs. Taliban—
IF we quit enraging Afghans by bombing,/
And IF we can recruit tribal leaders./

But will either of these happen?
MOTHER JONES/19MAY

2 MILLION PAK.REFUGEES
CD. DESTABILIZE PAKISTAN /
says diplomat./
US forced Pak govt. to attack Swat valley;/
if this turns catastrophic, Pak. Won’t heed next US demand
that they attack Taliban.
CBS/19MAY

PAK. CATASTROPHE NEAR/
Says German Aid agency.
Clean water shortage for refugees.
ALERTNET/19MAY

LOCATION UNKNOWN OF ALL PAK. NUKES /
They are adding to their nuclear arsenal.
LONDON TELEGRAPH/19MAY

CANADA OUT OF AFGHAN COMBAT BY 2011 /
Says PM. But they can still contribute aid to Afgh.
GLOBE&MAIL/19MAY

STOP BOMBING CIVILIANS, /
Karzai tells Americans.
He visits survivors of many dead/
NEWS.YAHOO/19MAY

‘NO GREATER THREAT TO US THAN HUGE PAK. WITH NUKES TAKEN OVER BY JIHADISTS”/
says VP Biden./

Former ambass.to India calls for alliance between India & US To contain Pak. Insurgents. /
This strategy also might not work./
Such talk may enrage Pakistan further./

EPOCHTIMES.COM/19MAY

ISLAMISTS MAY GRAB SOMALI GOVT./
WASH POST/18MAY

If we win in Afgh (not likely!), AlQaeda type movements
May find haven in Somalia, & elsewhere.

What’s the point of our Afghan obsession?

We invaded Somalia once & got thrown out.

US SUNNI ALLIES QUIT OR TURN TO INSURGENTS /
SHIA GOVT. MISTREATS THEM./
US MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PULL OUT…/
WHAT WOULD THAT DO TO AFGHAN EFFORT?/
LONDON TIMES/3MAY

PAK. NOW MORE DANGEROUS THAN AFGH.
PAK.DEEP SUSPICIONS OF US/
For many reasons /
Pak. Journalists think 9/11 was by US &Israel !
A. Borchgrave in UNITED FEATURES

‘Will Pak. Army stay in areas cleared of Taliban?”
worries Pent. Honcho. In the past they haven’t.

All-party conference hopes to enlist all factions
Vs. Taliban.
CNN/18MAY

TAMIL DEFEAT SHOWS WE CAN WIN OVER INSURGENTS?
Hardly. 1) It took Sri Lanka 26 yrs to beat Tamil. Does anyone think
That Americans will tolerate 26 yrs of war in Afghanistan?
2) The fight was between 2 distinct ethnic groups; but the Taliban
are Pashtun, like many Afghans. Karzai has referred to them as ‘brothers’.
3)SriLanka battle was over homeland. We have no similar stake in Afghanistan.

4)We do in Pakistan, but the same nukes that
make Pak. Vital are nukes that prohibit us from invading.

WORST FLIGHT (FROM SWAT) SINCE RUWANDA MASSACRE/
Says UN honcho./ 1,500,000 refugees.
MSNBC/18MAY

Who will Pakistanis blame most? Taliban or US?

CIVILIAN DEATHS HURT US CAUSE/
Says Pent.honcho. We must be very careful.
Yet he says drone attacks will continue.
CBS/18MAY
That means that indiscriminate attacks
On civilians will continue.

“INDIA IS WORST ENEMY OF PAK”
say most Pak. Intellectuals and pols.
And they rebuke Obama as being
Pro-Indian.

They see Afghanistan govt. as allied
With India, so they welcome Taliban
Interference with that govt.
METRANSPARENT/18MAY

TOO FEW GIs TO STOP TALIBAN FROM PAKISTAN /
One outpost fought them off, then pulled out.
In another outpost, 3 GIs killed.
REUTERS/17MAY

ROAD TO AFGH DEFEAT LIES IN PAK/
Canadian columnist headlines ‘ROAD TO VICTORY’,
But column predicts defeat, because powerful
Pak institutions side with Taliban.
GLOBE&MAIL/17MAY

LARGEST PAK.CITY FLOODED WITH TALIBAN,FLEEING AIRSTRIKES /
Karachi is on main road supplying NATO forces.
Hundreds or thousands of Taliban have entered Karachi.
SEATTLEPI/17MAY

MEN SHIFT AGAINST ABORTION /
With THEIR jobs especially threatened, many men would want
Women to go back home.
Another poll showed majority still pro-choice.
SEATTLEPI/17MAY

MEASURES THAT MIGHT WORK—IF THEY SUCCEED /
Secure population, help them help themselves, make them believe Their future is in their hands.
LATIMES/17MAY

Outcome is doubtful.

US COULD BE IN AFGH. 6 MORE YEARS, ACHIEVING NOTHING/
Says former Reagan honcho./
It’s hard to know what Obama hopes to do in Afgh./
PRESSTV/16MAY

PAK ATTACKS ON TAL. WILL BACKFIRE /
Causing chaos which helps insurgents.

Only a few thousand Pak. Soldiers are being used,
Vs. million men on Indian front.

Taliban leaders operate openly in Pakistan.

Pak. Military wants to destabilize hostile neighbors
Like Afgh.

ZAKARIAH on CNN/16MAY

US COMPETES WITH TAL. PROPAGANDA
ABC/16MAY

But Afghans will usually believe fellow Afghans
(Taliban) before they’ll believe infidel invaders.

OBAMA WANTS TO STOP KILLING INNOCENTS ?
CBS/16MAY
How badly does he want this?
He’d have to cut back on airstrikes (necessarily indiscriminate)
But he just sent 100 more copters to Afgh.

50 DEM LEGISLATORS VOTE AGAINST WAR FUNDING /
LONDON TIMES/16 MAY

Many Americans would rebel against a 2d bugout—
But meny others rebel against ‘endless’ Afghan war.

WILL 100 NEW COPTERS CHANGE AFGHAN GAME?
GLOBE & MAIL/16MAY
Wash. Honchos talk repeatedly of need for NONmilitary
Moves, but in fact rely on more of the same—
Airstrikes that kill innocent civilians,
Turn populations of Afgh & Pakistan against us.

DOZENS OF PAK. CASUALTIES/
From US attacks, PAK. Govt. attacks, and Taliban attacks/
NEWS.YAHOO/16MAY

50% more Taliban bombs as more GIs arrive /
LATIMES/16MAY
New GIs will serve as more targets./
Americans’ support for this war is already weak.
When GI casualties rise, it will weaken further.

PAK POLICE UNDERFUNDED, OVERWHELMED /
Their pay is half of what Taliban pays their recruits.
Their families are threatened by Taliban kidnappers.
USATODAY/16MAY

AFGH GOING DOWN THE TUBE /says NEWSWEEK article./
At best, the new strategy can slow down Taliban
for a few months,
While we reform Afghan govt. and aid policies.

Gates figures he has only 18 months to succeed,
Before Congress turns against the war.

NEW TRADE WAR? / Protectionist ‘Buy American !’ provisions of stimulus bill
May prefigure worldwide trade war.
MSNBC/15MAY

US imports far more than it exports.
Trade war may help US economy.

“WIN MILITARILY, LOSE PUBLICLY?” /
Pak. Honcho worries about hundreds of thousands
Of refugees from Swat fighting.
GLOBE&MAIL/15MAY

ALARMING NUMBER OF PAKISTANIS SEE US
AS GREATER THREAT THAN TALIBAN / SAYS Sen.Kerry /
THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS (an Arab paper)/14may

GOVT. OPPONENTS RUN BETTER REFUGEE CAMP /
Better than huge govt. camp. Contrast might turn refugees
Against govt.
LATIMES/14MAY

YOU CAN’T KILL/CAPTURE WAY OUT OF STRONG INSURGENCY
Says Petraeus. Afgh. may be Obama’s Vietnam.
GLOBAL POST/14MAY

CONGRESSIONAL DEMS MIGHT TURN AGAINST AFGHAN WAR /
If casualties rise and no prospect of victory soon…
NYTIMES/14MAY

SCENARIOS FOR PAKISTAN /
1) they might (improbably) take over large parts of
non-Pashtun Pak./
2) Army might take over again./
3) Army might defeat Taliban (but they can fade into background,
Infiltrate refugees, and come back again./
4) Another leader than Zardari (more popular)
might take over./
REUTERS/14MAY

FEWER DEPLOYABLE TROOPS /
The recent ‘soldier running amok’ illustrates the number of GIs
Injured physically or mentally from repeated deployments.
Pent. Planned a longer downtime for combat troops,
But this might not be possible.
USATODAY/14MAY

If Israel attacks Iran in any way, Iran’s leaders plan ‘disproportionate retaliation’On America as well as Israel, any place in the world--
e.g., on US troops in Iraq and US ships nearby.
TIME MAGAZINE

UNMANNED PREDATOR IS ‘NEW AIR FORCE’/ controlled from thousands of miles away/
This will remove glamour from air force personnel, just as US destruction of
Enemy fighters took glamour away from fighter pilots.

Air force academy is graduating 1000 ‘airmen’ who will now be
Groundmen.
CBSNEWS/13MAY

“Don’t exaggerate terrorism, invade countries, and turn natives against us” says expert./ He worries that obsession with Afghanistan will lead us to neglect continuing problems in Iraq.
LONDON TIMES.ONLINE/13MAY

“AMERICA OUT TO DESTROY PAKISTAN”
SAYS PAK JOURNALIST.. Others say that warnings
Of danger from Pakistan are just to distract Americans
From their failure in Afghanistan.
20% OF Pakistanis Believe US was behind attack on Indian hotel.
It is said that Obama is actually Jewish.
NYTIMES/13MAY

“MORE GIs MEAN MORE TARGETS” say Taliban.
Their attacks stepped up now that winter’s over.
XINHUANET.COM/13MAY

IF DRONES KILL ONE PAKISTANI,
THEY RECRUIT 3 MORE FOR TALIBAN /

Said a Pak. Colonel.

Pak. Govt. faces hostile Afghans, cultivates Taliban as counter./
Abc/12may

PAKISTAN EXPANDING ITS NUKE-POWER /
2 HUGE NEW PLUTONIUM FACTORIES /
THE ONLY COUNTRY EXPANDING ITS NUKES. /
Msnbc/12may
USING US MONEY?

WATER FOR CONTRACTORS, NOT FOR IRAQ GIs /
GIs desperate, steal plentiful water from contractors
CBS/12may

PENTAGON CARES FOR ITS SOLDIERS JUST AS
POULTRY CORPORATIONS CARE FOR THEIR CHICKENS.

WE’LL NEED BETTER INTELLIGENCE /
After US pullout from Iraq, says Pelosi../
Latimes/12may

We need better intelligence all over the world.
We’ll never have that as long as our spies
And liaisons can’t understand native languages !

MIXED PAK. POLL RESULTS /
Terrorism not as important as economy. /
Zardari very unpopular.
But support for alliance with US is up,
Almost to 50%.
NYTIMES/12MAY

“ONLY SOLUTION IS FOR NATO TO LEAVE PAKISTAN”/
HEAVY WEAPONS ATTACK ON SWAT BY PAK. ARMY WILL LEAD TO TAL ATTACKS ELSEWHERE—ANDARMY MAY NOT HOLD SWAT FOR GOOD.
So says British expert.
REUTERS/12MAY

This is the 1st time a credible expert has suggested getting out.

TALIBAN ATTACKS ANOTHER CITY /
In Khost, they fought pitched battles with GIs,
And took hostages.
CNN/12May

US HAS COMMITTED REGULAR & WIDESPREAD USE OF WHITE PHOSPHORUS in Afgh./

Says former Pentagon honcho.
RAW STORY

WILL ISLAMISTS GRAB PAKISTAN AS THEY GRABBED IRAN?/
2 MILLION GRADUATES OF ISLAMIST ‘SCHOOLS’./
POOR ARE RISING AGAINST RICH BACKERS OF ELECTED LEADER./
UNITED PRESS FEATURES/11MAY

Ialamist Iran is developing Nukes--
Pakistan already has them !

US AFGHAN COMMANDER DUMPED /
Not even ‘kicked upstairs’
This shows Obama’s disapproval.
ABCNEWS/11MAY

PAK. REFUGEE FLOOD A BAD SIGN /
Leaders in both Pakistan & Afghanistan
Are quite unpopular.
CBSNEWS/11MAY

QAEDA FLOCKS TO PAKISTAN /
“Foreign jihadists smell blood” after Tal expansion.
They have recruited in Arab world/
They plan spectacular attacks.
MSNBC/11MAY

AFGHAN UPRISINGS PREDICTED VS. US/
Over airstrikes. Karzai repeats condemnation,
Even after US says they will continue.
Afghan parliament denounced airstrikes,
Then adjourned in protest.
REUTERS/11MAY

HUNDREDS OF KABUL STUDENTS PROTEST
VS. US /
LONDON TELEGRAPH/11MAY

US DENIES USE OF WHITE PHOSPORUS
IN FARAH ATTACK /
MDs say it WAS used in the attack, by Tal. Or US.
US has admitted it uses horrific stuff in Afghanistan.
LONDON TELEGRAPH/ 11MAY

PAK. MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRY /
Says Brit honcho.
GUARDIAN/11MAY

TALIBAN CONTROL 40% OF AFGH /
Says NYTIMES/11MAY

US WILL CONTINUE AIRSTRIKES /
In spite of villagers’ rage and rebuke by Karzai./
“We can’t fight with one arm tied behind our back.”
SEATTLE PI /11MAY

Truth is, army wants to avoid extra GI casualties
That would enrage folks at home;/
So they’ll fight with airstrikes,
Which are counterproductive.

US BLAMES TAL. FOR WHITE PHOSPORUS /
They admit we have used it in Afghanistan. /
It’s not clear whether they’re sayig ALL casualties
Were Taliban-caused, or if they’re simply saying,
You’re Another.
GOOGLE.COM/11 MAY

CHINA CANCELS US ‘CREDIT CARD’/
Cuts purchase of US investments, bonds.
NEWS.YAHOO/10MAY

This could be disastrous.
All the more reason to cut prodigal Pent. Budget.

US DOES USE WHITE PHOSPORUS,
HONCHO ADMITS /
‘To illuminate the sky’ /
msnbc/10may

WEANING AFGHANS FROM OPIUM POPPIES?
It’s been tried—and failed—before.
CBS/10MAY

No other crop can bring so much $ to farmers.

WHITE PHOSPORUS FROM US TROOPS?
“VERY UNLIKELY” SAYS US

They suggesst it was fired by Taliban—
but admit they used it in Iraq.
(3d source finally tells bombshell story.)
REUTERS/10MAY

US DOES USE WHITE PHOSPORUS IN AFGH,
general admits..
They also used it in battle in Fallujah, Iraq.
It burns its way thru live human bodies.
Finally, a source other than ABC tells this story.
NEWS.YAHOO/10MAY

AMERICA CAUSED TALIBAN PROBLEM,
Say most Pakistanis. US funded Taliban against
Soviet.. Now they have forced Pak. Govt.
Into foolish war vs. Taliban, /using planes
& heavy artillery, not aiding refugees—
enraging natives.
LATIMES/10MAY

US SHIFTS BLAME TO TALIBAN /
147 civilians killed in aistrike;
US claims that some were killed by Taliban.
How many? Who will believe US story?
USATODAY/10MAY

TALIBAN CONTROL AFGHAN ROADS/
So says PATRICK COBERN, a distinguished authority,
In his online periodical COUNTERPUNCH/6MAY

BUSH EXPERT WARNS OF PAK. COLLAPSE WITHIN 2 OR 3 MONTHS.
(Indian paper)

ONLY ABC DISCUSSES US WHITE PHOSPORUS
IN AFGH /
Discussed two days in a row /

AFGHANISTAN SPINNNG OUT OF CONTROL /
Says US honcho.

AL JAZEERA/

TAL.HAVE WON EVERY FIGHT SO FAR
W/PAK. ARMY/
Under pressure from Americans, govt. has now endorsed
Anti-tal. Fight in Swat./ Fewer than 15k troops now engaged/
But there is no campaign in more important border areas, /

Amrica is now focusing on Pakistan, not Afghanistan.

US, KARZAI GOVT. BLAME TALIBAN
FOR 147 DEATHS/
Govt. is not trusted any more than Americans.
NEWS.YAHOO/9MAY

PAK. REFUGEE MASSES MAY BE NEGLECTED /
Govt. says it will respond, but past promises haven’t been implemented.
It is said that neglected refugees may turn to Taliban
As lesser evil.

Pak. Govt did NOT promise more troops for anti-Tal. Effort.
LATIMES/9MAY

US TROOPS TO STAY IN IRAQ CITIES /
Says General—even tho Iraqi govt says
They must leave on deadline.
NYTIMES/9MAY

KARZAI AGAIN DENOUNCES AIRSTRIKES/
As counter-productive, enraging Afghans/
Nytimes/9may

US USES WHITE PHOSPORUS IN AFGH !! /
General admits this monstrous tactic. /
ABC/8MAY

WHO WILL BE BELIEVED?
US general says estimate of 147 killed in 1 night
Is ‘grossly over-exaggerated’,
But locals say that figure is accurate.
MSNBC/8MAY

As long as we keep bombing,
Natives will not believe US estimates
Of collateral damage.

TALIBAN STOPPING EXODUS FROM SWAT ?
Pak.general says so.
CBS8MAY

One million escaped./.unsuccessful Tal. effort?

COLLATERAL DAMAGE COULD DECIDE LOYALTY OF REFUGEES FROM SWAT REGION
REUTERS/8MAY

KEY THRUST WILL BE MILITARY/
In spite of talk of emphasis on civilian effort./
In Afgh, 11,000 civilian casualties./
In Pak., 1 million civilian refugees—
only 14 Tal leaders killed by bombs./
Taliban support is high in Pak. Pashtun areas.
GUARDIAN/8MAY

REFUGEES COULD TURN AWAY FROM TAL OR AWAY FROM GOVT.
Unless army quickly wipes out Taliban/
and govt. provides food & services
And effective rule of law—refugees may turn to Taliban as lesser evil.
NEWS.YAHOO/8MAY

AFGH MUST DO’—BUT ‘CAN DO’?

Senior planners will have 5 yr. Terms.
LATIMES/8MAY

Will US populace accept ‘endless’ Afghan war?
Esp. after casualties rise?

INADEQUATE IRAQ FORCES /
Army & police forces.grossly inadequate
to down insurgents./
US will leave on schedule anyway.
NYTIMES/8MAY

QUESTIONABLE SUCCESS, DISASTROUS FAILURE
Says expert re: Pakistan.
UNITED PRESS/

MORE GIs to AFGH.WD.LOOK LIKE OCCUPYING FORCE/
Would guarantee our defeat/ says GATES/
Solution: more Afghan troops—/
Quqnoos.com /

but how long will it take
To increase & train these troops?

JUST 2 WKS TO SAVE PAK. GOVT/
Says Petraeus/
Nobody knows what Taliban intend:
To take over govt. or just to carve out
A piece of Pakistan.
LONDON TELEGRAPH/1MAY

HOW IS PAK. SECURITY LINKED TO US?
Obama & staff say the connection is crucial—
But even if we put down the Taliban—
Which we can’t do—there are plenty of other
Terrorist havens around the world./

Now if Tal. Gets hold of Pak. Nukes,
We’re in real trouble /—but there’s nothing
We can do to prevent this.

So we should pull out of Afghanistan,
And Iraq,/ and put all that money into
Home Defense—/e.g., inspecting the thousands
Of huge containers that enter our ports each day.

REAL POSSIBILITY OF A PAK. JIHADIST STATE/
Says US honcho./ Worst nightmare for US./
We must give Pak. Govt. millions
WITHOUT CONDITIONS.

MSNBC/7MAY

TERRORISTS MIGHT GET TO PAK. NUKES /
Some in nuke establishment are friendly with terrorists.
CBS/7MAY

TALIBAN EXPLOITS TV PICTURES OF GIs PLANNING TO CHRISTIANIZE MUSLIMS /
Switching religions is a capital crime in Afghanistan.
REUTERS/7MAY

WORST CRISIS SINCE CUBAN MISSILES
/ says US honcho./ “So far, Pak. Govt.
has not seen that biggest terrorist threat is to them.”
NEWS.YAHOO/7MAY

HUNDREDS OF BAGHDAD CASUALTIES
IN 2 WEEKS /
5 GI casualties from men dressed in army uniforms—
possible infiltrators from insurgents.
LATIMES/7MAY

HUNDREDS SHOUT ‘DEATH TO AMERICANS’/
Protesting bombs which killed up to 130 Afghans,
Mostly innocents.

NYTIMES/7MAY

DEMENTED PENTAGON: /
They piled up so many thousands of tons of lethal gases that, /
Even spending billions, they can’t destroy them Before 2021.
USATODAY/6MAY

The Soviet piled up even more thousands of tons.

OBAMA PROBABLY HELPLESS VS. PAK. PROBLEMS
Many Pakistanis don’t recognize elected govt.
UNITED PRESS FEATURES/6MAY

63 IRAQI CASUALTIES /
from 2 bombs/ Are Quaeda recovering?
MSNBC/7MAY

IRAQ DEMANDS GIs OUT OF CITIES ON SCHEDULE /
US general said Iraqis would want GIs to stay on in e.g., Mosul
CBS/7MAY

US SUNNI ALLIES MAY REJOIN INSURGENTS/
Shia govt has not paid them; also leaders have been
Killed or arrested.
REUTERS/7MAY

PAK. SCHOOLS TRAIN 40,000 YOUNG TERRORISTS A YEAR.
LONDON TELEGRAPH/7MAY

TALIBAN SEIZE MAIN SWAT CITY /
Truce is dead, Pak. Troops invade Swat.
LONDON TIMES/7MAY

GIS CONVERTING AFGHANS—DUMB!
TV pictures show them planning conversions,
(forbidden by Their generals.)
This gets known by Afghans in general,
Generates rage vs. US.
GUARDIAN/7MAY

ORDINARY PAKISTANIS CRITICIZE AMERICA /
For bombing Pakistan, for supporting corrupt President,
For neglecting the poor, for being willing to back
Military takeover.; for lumping Pak. With primitive Afgh.
LATIMES/7 MAY

DID AMERICA DESTROY IRAQ TO SAVE IT?
Plans to pull out are complicated
a) by Shia govt’s cold-shoulder to Sunnis recruited by US;
b) Sunnis may fear destruction by Sunnis after US pullout
(Shis outnumber Sunnis 3 to 1—4 to 1 with help of Kurds—
and Shia have all the arms donated by US.
c) Drop in price of oil leaves govt. budget in shambles.

LITTLE CONFIDENCE FROM PAK. PROMISES /
Pak. President talks to Congress & President.
But until they move troops from Indian border
To terrorist territory……..
NYTIMES/6MAY