Secretary
of State Clinton, Afghan President Hamid Karzai
[left] and Pakistani President Asif
Ali Zadari, before trilateral
talks at the State Department, May 6. The men visited to
meet the secretary and President Obama to try and plot a
way out of a crisis that has much of the world alarmed.
Die Zeit, Germany
Karzai-Zardari Visit Fallout: U.S. is 'Stumped' By War
"In
essence, Washington is stumped, despite its new plan. Neither do we know
whether Karzai and Zardari
can be trusted - nor do we know whether the two will ever trust one another. … and it became clear that they don't agree with the American
definition of terrorism. … One couldn’t help feel that America might just be careening
into a new war - one beyond the borders of Afghanistan."
By Martin Klingst
,
Translated By Ulf
Behncke
May 8, 2009
Germany - Die Zeit - Original Article (German)
Washington: Everything
seemed to run like clockwork in the first hundred days of the Obama Administration.
America's economy is slowly regaining some of its strength, houses are selling
again, Chrysler and General Motors are likely to be making cars in the years to
come - and Americans are looking toward the future with renewed confidence.
Moreover: the conservative opposition is particularly pre-occupied with itself,
and a Republican senator [Spector] has just switched
sides. The gods favored Barack Obama.
Then came days 106 and 107 -
and with them the arrival in Washington of Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and Asif
Ali Zardari of Pakistan. The problems are earthshaking.
Meetings large and small were held virtually non-stop. Both heads of state
arrived with a large retinue, ministers of every sector from defense to
agriculture - as all are supposed to be harnessed to contribute to the new
peace strategy.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
On Wednesday, President Obama
and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton smiled for the media and spoke of a breakthrough.
But neither could betray that there were no breakthroughs to speak of. While
dining on yellow tomato gazpacho with Vice President Joe Biden, bad news from
Pakistan spoiled appetites and the good mood. The Taliban were advancing, it
was reported, taking hold of strategic positions and allegedly - closing in on
a nuclear plant.
In essence, Washington is stumped,
despite its new plan. Neither do we know whether Karzai and Zardari can be
trusted - nor do we know whether the two will ever trust one another. Remarks
by the guests that yes - they live in the same region and share problems, yet basically
they would have precious little to do with one another, at least at senior government
levels, were received with head shaking.
Clinton wants this altered
quickly and dreams of joint border controls, new trade routes and joint water
use. But when and if this might occur in the midst of an ever-growing battle,
even she doesn't know. "We need patience, a lot of patience," she
said. But, according to surveys, most Americans want out of Afghanistan as
quickly as possible.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
As Obama said he
would make security and victory over the terrorists his priority, the Afghani
and Pakistani nodded obediently [video here]. Yet at the same time, it became clear that
they don't agree with the American definition of terrorism. Opposition to al-Qaeda
is unanimous, but there is a parting of ways when it comes to the Taliban. Are
the Taliban really al-Qaeda allies who plant bombs, or are they simply insurgents,
wanting to make policy in their own country - people you can’t subjugate, but
who must somehow be involved?
SEE ALSO ON THIS:
The Frontier Post, Pakistan:
Pakistanis 'Don't Give a Damn' What Americans Think
The Frontier Post, Pakistan:
'Pakistan in a Trance, Doing America's Dance'
The Nation, Pakistan:
'No Nuclear Surrender'
The Nation, Pakistan:
To Reduce Militancy, the U.S. Must Pressure India
Le Quotidien d'Oran, Algeria:
U.S. Inflicts 'Simply Massive' Collateral Damage on Afghans
As Safir, Lebanon:
Obama and bin Laden Confront 'Day of Reckoning'
Asia Times, Hong Kong:
Al-Qaeda Seizes on Taliban's Problem
Asia Times, Hong Kong:
Thanks to U.S.,
Taliban Have a New Target
Asia Times, Hong Kong:
Karzai Gets the 'Last
Laugh' on White House
The Telegraph, India:
Obama 'Deliberately Dramatizes' al-Qaeda Threat for Domestic Political Reasons
Pakistan's President Zardari isn't at all happy about the increase of U.S.
troops in Afghanistan. Off the record, one of his advisers said that this would
play into the hands of the Taliban. This may bring a more peaceful Afghanistan,
at least temporarily. But nuclear power Pakistan may
well disintegrate and descend into chaos. “What would have been achieved by
that?” he asked.
As Obama and his two guests
stepped into the Grand Foyer at the White House to announce the alleged
breakthrough, one couldn’t help feel that America might just be careening into a
new war - one beyond the borders of Afghanistan.
CLICK HERE FOR GERMAN VERSION
[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US May 11, 4:25pm]
