Two major headlines today with regard to Afghanistan. The first one being that President hamid Karai is angry at the capture of the taliban number 2 Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Hamid you cannot have it both ways???
Capture of Taliban leader makes Karzai unhappy
Vancouver News.Net Monday 15th March, 2010
The Afghan leader, Hamid Karzai, is said to be very angry over the capture of the Taliban's number two official in Pakistan. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar was captured in Pakistan last month, with the arrest embarrassing President Karzai due to recent discussions he had been having with Baradar about a peace treaty. According to Afghan insiders, Karzai thought the capture, which had been assisted by US intelligence, could compromise ongoing talks at a three-day peace jirga next month. The detention of Baradar, only second in the Taliban to one-eyed Mullah Mohammed Omar, has raised the question of whether the US really wants peace discussions with leaders who harboured the terrorists involved in the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. Baradar was nabbed last month in the Pakistan port city of Karachi as part of a crackdown in which other Afghan Taliban figures were captured by the Pakistan army on the border between the two countries. Karzai had been embarking on possible reconciliation negotiations to end the eight-year war. It is known that Mullah Omar resisted the offer of talks and that Baradar had to stand up to fierce opposition within his ranks to negotiate with the Afghanistan government.
Second also concerning President Karzia and another law passed surreptitiously:
Afghanistan confirms blanket pardon for war crimes
KABUL (Reuters) - Afghanistan confirmed for the first time publicly on Tuesday that it had enacted into law a blanket pardon for war crimes and human rights abuse carried out before 2001.
Human rights groups have expressed dismay that the law appeared to have been enacted quietly, granting blanket immunity to members of all armed factions for acts committed during decades of war before the fall of the Taliban.
President Hamid Karzai had promised not to sign the National Stability and Reconciliation Law, when it was passed by parliament in 2007
This law is absolute disgrace. It's a slap in the face to all the Afghans who suffered for years and years of war crimes and warlordism, Adams told Reuters.
He called on the international community and the United States to apply pressure on Afghanistan to repeal the law.
The U.S. needs to decide whether they're with the victims or the perpetrators, and make their views known publicly, he said.
During Karzai's eight years in power, he has consistently included former commanders of armed factions in his government and inner circle, including many accused by the West of war crimes and other abuses.
Both of Karzai's two vice presidents are former leaders of armed groups whose factions squabbled for control of Kabul in the 1990s, when thousands of civilians were killed and hundreds of thousands fled their homes.
Supporters of the amnesty say prosecuting old allegations would risk restarting years of civil war. But critics say providing a blanket pardon for former warlords allows them to retain their grip over the economy and public life.
Is this what our men and women are trying to defend ? I think not Karzai should either get with the program or resign ( My Humble Opinion)
On a happier note St Patricks day and the Irish Troops stationed with ISAF. The last time I worked with the Irish was in Chams racetrack in Cairo the war of Yom Kippur in 1973.
Although a tiny country they contribute very professional troops to NATO and the United Nations. Happy St Patricks day one and all.From Canada's vets ! ! !
to the taliban beware of Leprechauns Especially on this day>
Please Support all of our NATO troops wherever they may be serving Have a safe happy St Patrick's day.
Nil Sine Labore
Robby
