Eideard

Afghan children wait for Bundeswahr target practice to end – to collect ammo casings
Photo from Daylife/Reuters Pictures

U.S. intelligence agencies conclude in a draft report that Afghanistan is in a downward spiral and they doubt whether the Kabul government can stem the Taliban’s rise. The classified report says corruption inside President Hamid Karzai’s government and an increase in attacks by militants operating from Pakistan have accelerated the breakdown in central authority in Afghanistan.

“Afghanistan is a difficult place. It has made progress since 2001. We have all talked about new circumstances that have arisen there and we are doing a review to look to see what more we can do,” Condoleeza Rice told reporters.

We are looking to see where some of the strengths are and how we need to support those strengths and also how we can help the Afghans where there are weaknesses,” Rice said.

The New York Times said the estimate, or NIE, is set to be finished after the November elections [No kidding] and will be the most comprehensive U.S. assessment in years on Afghanistan.

A senior official said last month estimates for many parts of the world were being updated for use by the next U.S. president, who will take office in January.

Hopefully, that next president will have a broader view of the world, an understanding of history, an appreciation of cultures beyond Ivy League failures and neocon ivory towers.

I speak with a bit more than native cynicism – over 50 years worth of watching bi-partisan greed and lies – when I say I hope for a qualitative change in American foreign policy.