The Washington Post has made a big story of a factual detail. Check it out here:
U.S. indirectly paying Afghan warlords as part of security contract
By Karen DeYoung
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/21/AR2010062104628.html
Why is this news item surprising? Afghanistan, in fact has seen several such in the past, especially around the Soviet occupation and post occupation scenario where frontier warlords were paid off to oversee equipment/supplies retraction.
From the Sub-continental point of view, it is a given. To say it roughly, the buck needs to be as big as the bang. You quietly accept these as collateral damage. At least lives are saved, situations are straightened out in quick time. Somewhere journalism has lost touch with reality. It has happened before – everywhere—and will happen again – everywhere. If I am a battling warlord, with starving minions to feed and clothe and protect, I will demand my pound of flesh. Every move of an occupying force, since times immemorial, has been paid off. The good news is that in most cases it is paid of the fat off the land occupied. The Brits did it for 200 years in India.
Basically, I see little reason for the US army to move out quickly from Afghanistan, especially with the huge mineral wealth unearthed (actually the Soviets did it before they fled). Those commodities WILL be dug up, if the US don’t do it, maybe a consortium of countries will. The Afghans can’t and Pakistan can’t either. .
So let us stop being hypocritical and call a spoon a spade. Lets understand the ground realities and work around obstacles. You don’t HAVE to blow everything up in your way on your way to truth and peace!
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