Afghan Surrender to Taliban
Well then, the two resolutely honest, incorruptible Afghans who stuck it out in the notoriously corrupt government of the inept-and-corrupt-in-equal-measure Hamid Karzai are no longer in government. Their inability to accept the president's vigorous attempts to placate the Taliban and bring them into a partnership in shared governance has brought them to this pass.The two individuals most respected and trusted for the quality of their character and values are no longer there in their prominent positions of power, to irritate the president of Afghanistan. Just as Hamid Karzai's main opponent, Abdullah Abdullah (whose votes likely surpassed that of Karzai's) in the twisted election that returned him to power was not invited to attend the tribal peace jirga, opponents of President Hamid Karzai's agenda languish in obscurity.
Amrullah Saleh, formerly chief of National Directorate for Security objected to NATO and Western-backed support of Hamid Karzai's overtures to the Taliban. Just as did all of the country's female parliamentarians. And, even though Western allies looked askance at the very prospect of welcoming the Taliban into joint governance, given the recent history of the country, they acceded.
"Negotiating with suicide bombers will disgrace this country", according to Amrullah Saleh. It isn't the 'disgrace' that is a worry in particular, it is the very real prospect of a return to fanatical Islamism which Afghans suffered under previously, with the Taliban-led government that held the people in thrall to their version of rigid Sharia. And with it the return of the welcome mat for al-Qaeda, and a violent resurgence reaching beyond the area.
"My conscience made me resign. When the moment came and I saw that there was a strain in that relationship (between himself and Karzai), the morality of my profession pushed me to resign." The removal also of Hanif Atmar, head of the Interior Ministry, on the pretense that they both failed to ensure that security was not breached during the loya jirga which came under Taliban attack, is transparent enough in its intent.
That officials in Pakistan welcome President Karzai's ongoing attempts to bring a rapprochement about between his government and the Taliban should be reason enough for loyal Afghans to be concerned about the future well-being of their country.
Labels: Political Realities, Traditions, Troublespots, World News
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, June 09, 2010
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