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Rumsfeld Surveys Recovery in Afghanistan
Thursday, December 04, 2003
AP
MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld (search)
took a ride Thursday on Afghanistan's bumpy road to recovery, finding modest
signs of progress alongside grim reminders the country remains torn by violence
and crammed with weaponry.
Rival Afghan warlords, responsible for much of the violence, are disarming only
slowly, according to a British military commander, and there has been a Taliban
(search) resurgence two years after that group's rule ended. Suspected militants
ambushed a convoy of government census workers in the southwest on Thursday,
killing one and wounding others.
Rumsfeld, making his fourth trip to Afghanistan since the Taliban's fall, met
for the first time with northern Afghanistan's two major warlords, welcoming
them warmly. Afterward, he said he was satisfied they were moving toward
disarmament of their rival armies -- a step considered critical to extending the
central government's authority beyond Kabul, the capital.
"Each of them has initiated that process," Rumsfeld told reporters. "It's under
way and that is a very good thing. At what pace it will proceed I guess remains
to be seen, but we're pleased that they've agreed to do so."
Underscoring the country's fragile security, even in Kabul, a rocket exploded in
a field near the U.S. Embassy two hours after Rumsfeld met with President Hamid
Karzai (search) in another part of the city. No one was injured in the
explosion, blamed on Taliban fighters or their ally, renegade warlord Gulbuddin
Hekmatyar.
Attacks by pro-Taliban and pro-Al Qaeda militants have increased in southern and
eastern Afghanistan, forcing U.N. and relief agencies to cut back their work.
Here in the poor and desolate north, where the war tides first turned against
the Taliban in November 2001, Rumsfeld raced through a dusty haze in a caravan
of SUVs to a British Army compound, where he met with Abdul Rashid Dostum
(search) and Atta Mohammed (search), the two major northern Afghanistan
warlords.
Their collaboration with U.S. special forces after the American invasion in
October 2001 made it possible to dismantle the Taliban relatively quickly. But
the warlords are now seen in Washington and Kabul as an impediment to unifying
the country, which has yet to establish a national army or national police
force.
Col. Dickie Davis, the British commander of a "provincial reconstruction team"
that is attempting to use both civilian and military tools to improve security
and quell factional rivalries, told Rumsfeld that Dostum was "dragging his
feet."
So far, Dostum has given up the military units he trusts least, while
maintaining most of his heavy artillery and armor, Davis said.
Rumsfeld told Davis he could understand Dostum's reluctance to surrender the
foundation of his power.
"I don't think his position is unreasonable," Rumsfeld said.
At a joint news conference later in Kabul with Karzai, Rumsfeld said he had made
it clear to Dostum and Mohammed that the United States sees the disarmament and
disbanding of regional armies as "an important step for this country" if it is
to gain political stability and prosperity to avoid becoming a haven once again
for terrorist groups like Usama bin Laden's Al Qaeda.
"Their response was certainly positive and appropriate," the defense secretary
said.
During the warlords' meeting with Rumsfeld, Mohammed said he was proud to have
been the first to give up heavy weapons. A Rumsfeld aide who was in the closed
meeting quoted Dostum as acknowledging with a smile, "Our side is a little
slower, but we'll cooperate without any doubt."
The aide, who spoke on condition he not be identified, said Rumsfeld told the
warlords they must carry through with their pledges "for the good of the Afghan
people."
As he was driven through the rutted streets of Mazar-e-Sharif, Rumsfeld could
see open sewer trenches, ramshackle shops and abject poverty. Outside the city,
his caravan passed burned out carcasses of Soviet-era military vehicles, land
mine warnings and other reminders of the decades of war this country endured.
In Kabul, Rumsfeld met with Karzai at the presidential palace, which was ringed
with heavy U.S. security, including sharpshooters atop the building.
At an outdoor news conference, Karzai said he realized that "warlordism" remains
an obstacle to full sovereignty for Afghanistan, but he said it is "being
tackled aggressively."
Rumsfeld was scheduled to travel on Friday to Uzbekistan, which played an
important role as a base for U.S. forces during the Afghan war, as well as to
Georgia, the former Soviet republic that is in political turmoil.
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On Thu, 4 Dec 2003 20:08:59 -0700, "=> Vox Populi " <vox@popu.li>
wrote:
Rumsfeld Surveys Recovery in Afghanistan
Thursday, December 04, 2003
AP
MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld (search)
took a ride Thursday on Afghanistan's bumpy road to recovery, finding modest
signs of progress alongside grim reminders the country remains torn by violence
and crammed with weaponry.
vox vomits when he reads the recent poll that 85% of afghans support
the US liberation of their country. vox would have preferred these
people to live in slavery rather than be liberated by the US.
---------------------------
to see who "wf3h" is, go to "qrz.com"
and enter 'wf3h' in the field
check my blog at:
http://www.bobview.blogspot.com/
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On Thu, 4 Dec 2003 20:08:59 -0700, "=> Vox Populi " <vox@popu.li>
wrote:
vox vomits when he reads the recent poll that 85% of afghans support
the US liberation of their country. vox would have preferred these
people to live in slavery rather than be liberated by the US.
Interesting comment about the 85%. How exactly was the poll taken, by
phone? What area's did the poll takers enter? You act like Afganistan,
still an on-going site of military opperations, is just a normal area that
people can go around taking polls. Karzai can't even count on his own
people to protect him.
"Captured Taliban fighters say the organisation is well-funded in its
Pakistani bolt-holes, with no shortage of arms or communications equipment.
The Islamists have progressed from hit-and-run raids on outlying US and
government units to bombings in the southern city of Kandahar. The deputy
governor of Zabul province admits that most of his province is now in
Taliban hands, as is neighbouring Oruzgan. Around half of Kandahar province
is also out of government control. Mullah Omar, the Taliban leader, is said
to want to cut off south-east Afghanistan from the rest of the country."
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=470201
---------------------------
to see who "wf3h" is, go to "qrz.com"
and enter 'wf3h' in the field
check my blog at:
http://www.bobview.blogspot.com/
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none of the above wrote:
Interesting comment about the 85%. How exactly was the poll taken, by
phone? What area's did the poll takers enter? You act like
Afganistan, still an on-going site of military opperations, is just a
normal area that people can go around taking polls. Karzai can't
even count on his own people to protect him.
Bob's just a lying #@($stain fascist, he claims to have a college degree,
yet he can barely form a cogent, gramatically correct sentence, only
marginally better than that idiot Bu$h he worships. He claims to have an
advanced degree in Chemistry, yet can't even use the
Shift key or proper
punctuation when typing. He habitually invents and fabricates "polls" claiming
distant countries actually "want to be attacked and invaded" by the U$$A.
He claims to support the illegal invasions, yet is too much of an arm-chair
coward
chickenhawk to actually go over and risk his life.
He's actually a beedy-eyed lipless ham radio geek ... which brings up an
interesting
observation - why is it that throughout history, the most virulent fascist
scumbags
on earth have the same physical facial traits? Narrow set, beady eyes,
thin/non-existent
lips, weak chin, etc. Take a look at the photos of Bob and Hitler, with the
exception
of the bottlebrush mustache, they could have been seperate at birth.
Now compare the facial characteristics of Hitler, McCarthy, Bu$h 1 & 2,
Ashcroft, Cheney, Rumsfeld etc ... between all of them you couldn't construct
a full pair of human lips. Perhaps science can identify this abberant gene, and
do
some prenatal scanning, offering discount abortions when pre-nascient fascism is
identified ....
"Captured Taliban fighters say the organisation is well-funded in its
Pakistani bolt-holes, with no shortage of arms or communications
equipment. The Islamists have progressed from hit-and-run raids on
outlying US and government units to bombings in the southern city of
Kandahar. The deputy governor of Zabul province admits that most of
his province is now in Taliban hands, as is neighbouring Oruzgan.
Around half of Kandahar province is also out of government control.
Mullah Omar, the Taliban leader, is said to want to cut off
south-east Afghanistan from the rest of the country."
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=470201
--
--
The sayings of George W. "We Know They're There" Bush:
"The vast majority of our imports come from outside the country."
"If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure."
"One word sums up probably the responsibility of any Governor, and that one
word is 'to be prepared'."
"I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the
future."
"The future will be better tomorrow." - Governor George W. Bush
"We're going to have the best educated American people in the world."
"I stand by all the misstatements that I've made."
"We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm
commitment to Europe. We are a part of Europe."
"Public speaking is very easy."
"A low voter turnout is an indication of fewer people going to the polls."
"We are ready for any unforeseen event that may or may not occur."
"For NASA, space is still a high priority."
"Quite frankly, teachers are the only profession that teach our children."
"It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. It's the impurities in
our air and water that are doing it."
"It's time for the human race to enter the solar system."
"If the terriers and bariffs are torn down, this economy will grow."
"I don't think we need to be subliminable about the differences between our
views on prescription drugs."
"Drug therapies are replacing a lot of medicines as we used to know it."
"I think we agree, the past is over."
"I hope we get to the bottom of the answer. It's what I'm interested to
know."
DEATH AND TAXES: "Mr. Vice-President, in all due respect, it is - I'm not
sure 80 per cent of the people get the death tax. I know this: 100 per cent
will get it if I'm the president."
"The fact that he relies on facts - says things that are not factual - are
going to undermine his campaign."
"If I'm the President, we're going to have Emergency-Room care, we're going
to have gag orders."
"I was raised in the West. The west of Texas. It's pretty close to
California. In more ways than Washington, D.C. is close to California."
"The senator has got to understand if he's going to have --- he can't have
it both ways. He can't take the high horse and then claim the low road."
"I know how hard it is for you to put food on your family."
"We had a good Cabinet meeting, talked about a lot of issues. Secretary of
State and Defense brought us up to date about our desires to spread freedom
and peace around the world."-Washington, D.C., Aug. 1, 2003 (Thanks to Tanny
Bear.)
Bush Says - "Actually, I -- this may sound a little West Texan to you, but I
like it. When I'm talking about -- when I'm talking about myself, and when
he's talking about myself, all of us are talking about me."
--Hardball, MSNBC, May 31, 2000
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none of the above wrote:
Bob's just a lying #@($stain fascist, he claims to have a college degree,
yet he can barely form a cogent, gramatically correct sentence, only
marginally better than that idiot Bu$h he worships. He claims to have an
advanced degree in Chemistry, yet can't even use the
Shift key or proper
punctuation when typing.
Which has so much to do with chemistry.
He habitually invents and fabricates "polls" claiming
distant countries actually "want to be attacked and invaded" by the U$$A.
He claims to support the illegal invasions, yet is too much of an
arm-chair
coward
chickenhawk to actually go over and risk his life.
Scound like someone you know? (hint look in the mirror)
He's actually a beedy-eyed lipless ham radio geek ... which brings up an
interesting
observation - why is it that throughout history, the most virulent fascist
scumbags
on earth have the same physical facial traits? Narrow set, beady eyes,
thin/non-existent
lips, weak chin, etc. Take a look at the photos of Bob and Hitler, with
the
exception
of the bottlebrush mustache, they could have been seperate at birth.
Now compare the facial characteristics of Hitler, McCarthy, Bu$h 1 & 2,
Ashcroft, Cheney, Rumsfeld etc ... between all of them you couldn't
construct
a full pair of human lips. Perhaps science can identify this abberant
gene, and
do
some prenatal scanning, offering discount abortions when pre-nascient
fascism is
identified ....
If it had only be available when your momma met that dog.....
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On Fri, 5 Dec 2003 10:25:02 -0700, "=> Vox Populi " <vox@popu.li>
wrote:
none of the above wrote:
vox vomits when he reads the recent poll that 85% of afghans support
the US liberation of their country. vox would have preferred these
people to live in slavery rather than be liberated by the US.
Bob's just a lying #@($stain fascist
notice how vox doesnt DISPUTE the poll. he just assumes, naturally
enough, that, since he's white, his opinion is vastly superior to that
of an afghan.
, he claims to have a college degree,
yet he can barely form a cogent, gramatically correct sentence, only
marginally better than that idiot Bu$h he worships. He claims to have an
advanced degree in Chemistry, yet can't even use the
Shift key or proper
punctuation when typing.
vox is intellectually impaired, so doesnt realize that, according to
'netequitte', commenting on an opponent's spelling mistakes or grammar
is obviously a ploy to distract from the argument at hand, and is
proof that one has conceded the argument.
IOW vox is a loser. no surprise.
He habitually invents and fabricates "polls" claiming
distant countries actually "want to be attacked and invaded" by the U$$A.
really? vox is so stupid he doesnt keep up with the news, so is the
ONLY one here who hasnt read that poll?
oh. i keep forgetting. the poll is irrelevant. vox is a sweet,
sensitive white guy, and those nasty, sweaty, ragheads NEED his
support...
He claims to support the illegal invasions, yet is too much of an arm-chair
coward
chickenhawk to actually go over and risk his life.
ROFLMAO!! how do you know WHAT i'm doing in that regard??!!
He's actually a beedy-eyed lipless ham radio geek ... which brings up an
interesting
observation - why is it that throughout history, the most virulent fascist
scumbags
on earth have the same physical facial traits
this is rich! rather than address the ISSUE, vox spends a tremendous
amount of bandwidth obsessing about my physical characteristics...
vox, you little devil you! i never realize you had a fetish for fat
middle aged guys!
? Narrow set, beady eyes,
thin/non-existent
lips, weak chin, etc. Take a look at the photos of Bob and Hitler, with the
exception
of the bottlebrush mustache, they could have been seperate at birth.
hey, vox...that word is 'separate', not 'seperate'...and it should
have been PAST TENSE!
HAHAHAHAHA!!! hoist on your own petard....
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On Fri, 05 Dec 2003 18:32:54 GMT, "Jay T. Beatty"
<Jaybeatty@earthlinik.net> wrote:
"=> Vox Populi " <vox@popu.li> wrote in message
some prenatal scanning, offering discount abortions when pre-nascient
fascism is
If it had only be available when your momma met that dog.....
ouch...OUCH!!! funny as hell...
---------------------------
to see who "wf3h" is, go to "qrz.com"
and enter 'wf3h' in the field
check my blog at:
http://www.bobview.blogspot.com/
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On Fri, 5 Dec 2003 10:25:02 -0700, "=> Vox Populi " <vox@popu.li>
wrote:
notice how vox doesnt DISPUTE the poll. he just assumes, naturally
enough, that, since he's white, his opinion is vastly superior to that
of an afghan.
No, but I attempted to. How do you dispute as vauge a statement as, "the
recent poll that 85% of afghans support the US liberation of their country."
By whom? When? Where?
I suppose I could refer to the poll that shows that 95% of people who quote
unidentified polls are liars.
, he claims to have a college degree,
vox is intellectually impaired, so doesnt realize that, according to
'netequitte', commenting on an opponent's spelling mistakes or grammar
is obviously a ploy to distract from the argument at hand, and is
proof that one has conceded the argument.
IOW vox is a loser. no surprise.
He habitually invents and fabricates "polls" claiming
really? vox is so stupid he doesnt keep up with the news, so is the
ONLY one here who hasnt read that poll?
oh. i keep forgetting. the poll is irrelevant. vox is a sweet,
sensitive white guy, and those nasty, sweaty, ragheads NEED his
support...
ROFLMAO!! how do you know WHAT i'm doing in that regard??!!
this is rich! rather than address the ISSUE, vox spends a tremendous
amount of bandwidth obsessing about my physical characteristics...
vox, you little devil you! i never realize you had a fetish for fat
middle aged guys!
? Narrow set, beady eyes,
hey, vox...that word is 'separate', not 'seperate'...and it should
have been PAST TENSE!
HAHAHAHAHA!!! hoist on your own petard....
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On Sat, 06 Dec 2003 01:53:28 GMT, "none of the above"
<repear@houston.rr.com> wrote:
No, but I attempted to. How do you dispute as vauge a statement as, "the
recent poll that 85% of afghans support the US liberation of their country."
By whom? When? Where?
you dont read the news? you dont follow afghan events? that poll was
all the rage here on the group a few weeks ago.
oh. you didnt see it. you dont know what it meant.
go. learn. read. do your homework, child.
---------------------------
to see who "wf3h" is, go to "qrz.com"
and enter 'wf3h' in the field
check my blog at:
http://www.bobview.blogspot.com/
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On Sat, 06 Dec 2003 01:53:28 GMT, "none of the above"
<repear@houston.rr.com> wrote:
No, but I attempted to. How do you dispute as vauge a statement as, "the
recent poll that 85% of afghans support the US liberation of their country."
By whom? When? Where?
by the way, idiot. it took me 2 seconds to dig up the poll. ever hear
of the 'internet'?
http://www.oneworld.net/article/view/73182/1
WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov 19 (OneWorld) -- Afghan citizens crave security and disarmament of armed groups in their country above all else, according to an unprecedented survey carried out between April and June by Afghan and international relief and human rights groups.
Entitled "Speaking Out: Afghan Opinions on Rights and Responsibilities," the survey results released today also found significant regional differences in public opinion among the 1,479 Afghans who participated. The survey was carried out in two northern provinces, two central provinces, two predominantly Pashtun provinces, and two western provinces.
Despite the emphasis on security, 83 percent of respondents said they felt more secure now than three years ago under Taliban rule
When the poll was taken, 94 percent agreed that it was easier for their children to go to school now than it was three years ago. Similarly, access to health was also seen by a large majority as having improved, although in Gardez significantly fewer felt this way.
The Human Rights and Advocacy Consortium, a group of 12 Afghan and international NGOs, including CARE, Mercy Corps, Oxfam, and Save the Children with financing from the US Institute for Peace.
see. it's so easy even YOU can do it!
---------------------------
to see who "wf3h" is, go to "qrz.com"
and enter 'wf3h' in the field
check my blog at:
http://www.bobview.blogspot.com/
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