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Omaha Steve

(99,659 posts) Mon Mar 25, 2013, 08:05 AM Mar 2013

Kerry arrives in Afghanistan on unannounced visit

Source: AP-Excite

By MATTHEW LEE

KABUL (AP) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has flown into Afghanistan on an unannounced visit to see President Hamid Karzai amid concerns the Afghan president may be jeopardizing progress in the war against extremism with anti-American rhetoric.

Kerry arrived in the Afghan capital on Monday for a 24-hour visit and was to meet Karzai, civic leaders and others to discuss continued U.S. assistance to the country. His visit coincides with the handover of a major detention center to Afghan officials.

It also comes as Karzai has infuriated U.S. officials by accusing Washington of colluding with Taliban insurgents to keep Afghanistan weak even as the Obama administration presses ahead with plans to hand off security responsibility to Afghan forces and end NATO's combat mission by the end of next year.

Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130325/DA5830383.html

8 replies

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Kerry arrives in Afghanistan on unannounced visit (Original Post) Omaha Steve Mar 2013 OP

We should hear about a large explosion, a few blocks from where he is staying, soon daleo Mar 2013 #1

Let's hope not - it didn't happen in Iraq - not to mention I doubt he is "staying" anywhere karynnj Mar 2013 #2

See Response 6, Below DallasNE Mar 2013 #8

Love that first paragraph: bemildred Mar 2013 #3

Karzai sez, don't forget those suitcases full of money, John. TwilightGardener Mar 2013 #4

Karazi Will Not Be President At The End Of 2015 DallasNE Mar 2013 #5

Yawn DallasNE Mar 2013 #6

Intended As A Response To Response 2, Above n/t DallasNE Mar 2013 #7

daleo

(21,317 posts)

1. We should hear about a large explosion, a few blocks from where he is staying, soon

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 09:19 AM

Mar 2013

That seems to be par for the course for these visits.

karynnj

(59,504 posts)

2. Let's hope not - it didn't happen in Iraq - not to mention I doubt he is "staying" anywhere

Reply to daleo (Reply #1)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 11:31 AM

Mar 2013

It IS why both visits still need to be "unannounced". Iraq is not the glorious democracy that the Bush/Cheney people promised - and Afghanistan is a mess as well.

Here is an article on the chaos of Iraq - http://swampland.time.com/2013/03/25/john-kerry-drops-into-iraqi-tumult-ten-years-after-invasion/

DallasNE

(7,403 posts)

8. See Response 6, Below

Reply to karynnj (Reply #2)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 01:09 PM

Mar 2013

As it relates to your link. My bad.

bemildred

(90,061 posts)

3. Love that first paragraph:

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 11:36 AM

Mar 2013

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has flown into Afghanistan on an unannounced visit to see President Hamid Karzai amid concerns the Afghan president may be jeopardizing progress in the war against extremism with anti-American rhetoric.

"the war against extremism" is what it is now.

TwilightGardener

(46,416 posts)

4. Karzai sez, don't forget those suitcases full of money, John.

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 11:40 AM

Mar 2013

I think all we have left with Karzai is carrots.

DallasNE

(7,403 posts)

5. Karazi Will Not Be President At The End Of 2015

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 12:46 PM

Mar 2013

And it won't matter whether he suspends elections or not as his days are numbered. He is the modern day Prince Norodom Sihanouk and the fate of Afghanistan will be the fate Cambodia suffered for decades.

DallasNE

(7,403 posts)

6. Yawn

Reply to Omaha Steve (Original post)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 01:02 PM

Mar 2013

The Sunni/Shia divide was both predictable and predicted prior to the invasion. Beyond no WMD, this was the strongest argument for not going to war in Iraq. What we learned is the danger of not listening to the voices of reason. Sadly, human nature probably means that the lesson was not learned to the degree necessary to prevent a repeat of a future major debacle. After all, how long did the lesson of Vietnam last? Keep in mind that the Generals in Iraq were the Captains in Vietnam so memories are very short.

DallasNE

(7,403 posts)

7. Intended As A Response To Response 2, Above n/t

Reply to DallasNE (Reply #6)

Mon Mar 25, 2013, 01:05 PM

Mar 2013

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