Barack Obama's plan to visit Iraq and Afghanistan is probably good politics (although we'll see when he actually goes.) But he better hurry to Afghanistan -- unless he wants to make good early on that promise to meet with our enemies, since they may be running the country soon:
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Hundreds of Taliban fighters have swarmed into a strategically important district just outside Kandahar, the biggest city in southern Afghanistan, apparently in a push for control just days after 400 Taliban members escaped in a spectacular breakout from the Kandahar prison, officials said.
By Tuesday, a tribal elder from the area reported, Taliban fighters had taken control of 18 villages, dug trenches and laid mines. The elder did not wish to be identified by name for fear of jeopardizing the safety of family members in the Arghandab area. It was unclear whether any of the prison escapees were among the fighters.
Recently, more U.S. and allied troops have been dying in Afghanistan than in Iraq. That's great that Iraq casualties have fallen, not such good news on the other front. If Bush is as worried about his legacy as he seems to be, he needs to make sure one of the few potential success stories of the last seven years doesn't have an unhappy ending.
Hundreds? Did you say hundreds of Taliban!!? We're being overrun! Fall back! Fall back! I think I'll put my money with our military. Will, you'd do well reporting the weather, where every snowflake is a blizzard.— jmc
If you truly put your money with our military, you wouldn't be whining about a possible tax increase. What do you think funds the returning wounded, etc. from a only "hundreds" of Taliban? Maybe you should put away the pom poms for today.— RG- Let's not overreact.. while there are new problems in Afghanistan, the Taliban is not in a position to re-establish control over the government.— Politburo
"Hundreds? Did you say hundreds of Taliban!!?"..........Speaking of snowflakes turning into blizzards, it only took 19 hijackers to start this war. Maybe we do need more weathermen reporting the news.- Politburo, I think that's what the Russians thought too.
- Ok, soldiers killed and wounded in Afghanistan - but apparently it's insignificant to jmc - because it was only "hundreds" of Taliban that took over the district near Kandihar, along with 18 villages. Wow.— Talking point sleuth
- I'm shocked to find out that the entire scope of 9/11 was 19 people. I thought we were up against a huge multinational terrorist organization.— jmc
- You'd probably be even more shocked to learn that none of those 19 are from or were trained in Iraq, where we have twice the number of troops than Afghanistan.— RG
- This is what happens when you don't finish the job. Why did we leave Afganistan to invade Iraq? Oh yes! It was because of the weapons of mass destruction that were going to cause mushroom clouds over US cities. Wait.. you say there were no WMDs in Iraq? Really? Wish someone would explain this to me then. There must have been some reason.....— James TL
- .....McCain for president for more of the same idiocy.— James TL
- I don't think this compares to the Soviet invasion.— Politburo
- "Wish someone would explain this to me then. There must have been some reason...." That's easy James. Simply read the "Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq". You know...the bill that was passed overwhelmingly in Congress with the support of Hillary, Edwards, Kerry, Biden, Cleland, Feinstein, Dodd, Daschle, Rockefeller, Schumer, Torricelli, et al. That is the bill that details the actual reasons that we went to Iraq. Reasons, in addition to wmd, such as the fact that Iraq was shooting at our pilots in the no-fly zone, firing on many thousands of occasions on United States and Coalition Armed Forces engaged in enforcing the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, flagrant and consistent violations of the the cease-fire from the UN sanctioned first Gulf War, violating resolutions of the United Nations Security Council by continuing to engage in brutal repression of its civilian population thereby threatening international peace and security in the region, refusing to release, repatriate, or account for non-Iraqi citizens wrongfully detained by Iraq, including an American serviceman, failing to return property wrongfully seized by Iraq from Kuwait, Iraq's willingness to continue to aid and harbor international terrorist organizations, the fact that United Nations Security Council Resolution 678 authorizes the use of all necessary means to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 660, etc. Only the kool-aid drinkers think that we went to Iraq solely due to WMD....you're better than that, aren't you James.— legatus
- Legatus, I must have missed the great debate in Congress and at the UN over whether we should invade Iraq for taking a few pot shots at coalition forces, repressing its people, et cetera. Maybe Bush should have quoted the entire bill when he addressed the nation on the eve of the invasion, instead of simply saying this: "Our nation enters this conflict reluctantly -- yet, our purpose is sure. The people of the United States and our friends and allies will not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the peace with weapons of mass murder. We will meet that threat now, with our Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines, so that we do not have to meet it later with armies of fire fighters and police and doctors on the streets of our cities."
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Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.
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