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[Guardian Unlimited, U.K.]

 

 

Kommersant, Russia

Russians Shouldn't Be Happy About America's Afghan Misfortune

 

"It would be worthwhile acknowledging that for virtually the first time in history, the West has decided to do the dirty work for us. … Perhaps if it weren’t for NATO and the U.S. with their wild project in Afghanistan, it would be us having to take on the pacification of this volatile country."

 

By Sergey Markedonov

 

Translated By Igor Medvedev

 

October 19, 2009

 

Russia - Kommersant - Original Article (Russian)

In contemplating the situation in Afghanistan, it's hard to escape the feeling of a geopolitical trap. In the eight years of NATO activity (in fact, a largely U.S.-British operation) in this country, none of the key issues on the Afghan agenda has been resolved. Moreover, in every respect there has been a clearly negative dynamic. Taliban terrorist activity has not declined. Drug trafficking, despite all the measures that have been taken, is measured by numbers with lots of zeros. In Afghanistan today, the practice of making "local agreements" is being actively practiced in areas where the weak and ephemeral central government has no influence. In turn, local leaders swear their "loyalty" to an Afghan government with painfully little legitimacy, and which is perceived by Afghanistan's multi-ethnic majority as a foreign entity with strong ties to the West.

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

Thus the initial plan to "democratize Afghanistan" has failed, along with the plan to "stabilize" the region. The notion expressed a few years ago by American political scientist Frederick Starr - of a "Great Central Asia" with a magnetic democratic Afghanistan at its heart, today looks like an unscientific fantasy. But should we be happy over the misfortune of our "sworn friend" the U.S. - particularly against the background of the current reset of bilateral relations?

 

However far away it may now seem, Afghanistan's impact on Russia's political situation remains high. First, there is the drug trade. Second, Afghanistan shares a border with three Central Asian countries that are members of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Given the danger of a "transfer of Afghan fire" onto the territory of post-Soviet Central Asia - as occurred in 1991-1992 in Tajikistan - one cannot exclude the emergence of a powerful Islamist front near Russia's border.  

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

'PAKISTAN AND THE TALIBAN'

[Hoje Macau, Macau]

 

Another thing we could do is leave Afghanistan to the mercy of fate; but this will not do. As was said, the Afghanistan conflict has already impinged on Russia along the Tajik-Afghan border. The Collective Security Treaty signed in Tashkent in 1992 was largely a reaction to this "export of Afghanistan." Let us ask ourselves a non-rhetorical question: in case of a total failure on the part of the Americans and British, could the Collective Security Treaty really shield us against a new Afghan "export"? Meanwhile, it would be worthwhile acknowledging that for virtually the first time in history - the West has decided to do the dirty work for us.

 

In the past, Russia and the Soviet Union went out their way to see the "Miracle of the Marne" in East Prussia a [First World War battle fought between in September 1914] - and then in East Europe [WWII], it had to "minimize" the failure in the Ardennes [The author seems to refer to Russian pressure on the Eastern Front, which aided the allies in the Battle of the Bulge]. Today, the West is ready to share our security concerns in Central Asia. And who knows? Perhaps if it weren’t for NATO and the U.S. with their wild project in Afghanistan, it would be us having to take on the pacification of this volatile country.  

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:    

Times of India, India: In Afghanistan, the Need to 'Soldier On'  

Guardian Unlimited, U.K.: Fraud Probe Slashes Karzai Vote; Stage Set for Runoff  

The Nation, Pakistan: 'America Goes Too Far'  

The Frontier Post, Pakistan: America Reveals Dark Side of the Human Intellect

The Australian, Australia: Before 9-11, Docs Show Split in al-Qaeda Over Attack on U.S.  

Asia Times, Hong Kong: China Maps End to the Afghanistan War

The Telegraph, U.K.: Obama Reported 'Furious' at McChrystal Speech  

Gazeta, Russia: U.S. and Russia Share Responsibility for 'Afghan Anthill'

The Frontier Post, Pakistan: Americans Will Pay Dearly For 'Flirting' with Afghan War

The Frontier Post, Pakistan: This Time, the Americans Have Gone Too Far!  

The Frontier Post, Pakistan: It's Obama's Afghanistan Now

Der Spiegel, Germany: Editorial Roundup: U.S. 'Schadenfreude' Over Afghan Air Strike

Der Spiegel, Germany: Germany Pledges Full Probe as Pressure Mounts

 

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US October 19, 10:49pm]

 

 







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