[THS] Critical Reaction: The Empire Strikes Back in Kabul?

[Peter Webster]

http://www.chris-floyd.com/

Critical Reaction: The Empire Strikes Back in Kabul?

Written by Chris Floyd
Sunday, 27 April 2008


On Friday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai gave an interview to Carlotta Gall
of the New York Times, in which he blasted American and British conduct of
the war in his country. Karzai said the Anglo-American powers should stop
their incessant killing of civilians and quit conducting their "War on Terror"
against Afghan villagers. Perhaps most remarkably, he called on the
Western forces to stop targeting Taliban members and suspected
sympathizers. The interview represented the harshest criticism he has ever
levelled against the Western powers.

The very next day, in an amazing coincidence, Karzai was the target of a
spectacular assassination attempt, on national television, with mortar fire
and bullets raking a review stand at a military parade in the center of
Kabul. One man was killed, several were wounded -- but Karzai escaped
unhurt, as did the American ambassador, the New York Times reports.

A purported Taliban spokesman later claimed credit for the attack, saying it
was carried out to demonstrate that the Karzai regime could not provide
security anywhere in Afghanistan -- even while surrounded by the military
in the center of nation's capital.

We can only hope that this remarkable -- not to say incredible --
coincidence of events teaches the ungrateful Karzai some valuable lessons:
He should not try to protect his people. He should not negotiate with the
Taliban. He should never question the wise and benevolent policies of his
imperial patrons. And above all, he should keep in mind one ever-salient
fact:

Puppets are always expendable.