Afghanistan | Not the Success US Claims

EXTRACTS  |  SUMMARY Afghanistan 2015, Jan. - US military handover efffected REMAINING abt 12,000-13,500 foreign troops incl 9,800 U.S. soldiers throughout Afghanistan under post-2014 NATO-led mission 'Operation Resolute Support' NATO new role activities defined: Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) / military cooperation treaty sovereignty and independence constitute little more than a facade Afghanistan remains a country under occupation [political analyst, Yemen] "Afghanistan is no closer to controlling its institutions than Washington is to defeating terror." "inherited a disbanded mercenary army which the state cannot possibly maintain on its own." "NATO has locked Kabul into a financial trap to better assert control and defend its interests in the region." Afghanistan = pawn in The Great Game see (other): http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/33619/david-fromkin/the-great-game-in-asia "war in Afghanistan is to the benefit of foreigners" former Pres Karzai Afghan: strong resentment toward Western powers Afghans ... have come to understand USA as yet another imperialistic power [prior powers: British & Russian] civilian casualties in targeted attacks justified by US as: collateral damage USA footprint of neo-imperial power operates unchallenged March 2012 - US Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales found guilty of killing 16 Afghan civilians rampage No US handover to Afghan authorities “One prime prerogative of all empires is that it is subject to no laws or accountability other than its own, even when it comes to crimes committed on other nations’ soil and against its people,” Greenwald wrote. “One prime prerogative of all empires is that it is subject to no laws or accountability other than its own, even when it comes to crimes committed on other nations’ soil and against its people,” Greenwald wrote. Washington plays Big Brother to impoverished Afghanistan Afghanistan has hand in own demise by developing codependency Afghanistan severely diminished — empty shell no institutional substance very limited economic resources abject poverty plagued by hunger home to billions of dollars  untapped natural resources >> energy + precious minerals economy continues to rely heavily on foreign aid "United States and its allies have instead thrown billions of dollars at the military, prioritizing the development of a mercenary army via private U.S. contractors rather than bank on Afghans to rebuild their state" Afghanistan cannot pay troops’ salaries without help does not own its army foreign powers pay the bills security has deteriorated Afghanistan cannot even feed itself hunger is rampant / yet it is expected to provide for upkeep of mercenary army Despite military handover vulnerable to outside control due to financial destitution corruption, nepotism and political wrangling = issues vicious circle of political dependency belief that solutions lie outside of own borders Afghanistan toss up: Taliban or neo-colonial servitude Afghanistan must revive economy / provide sustainable source of income SOURCE The War Is Over, But Afghanistan Remains Shackled By Neo-Imperialism http://www.mintpressnews.com/war-afghanistan-remains-shackled-neo-imperialism/200553/ ---------------------- ꕤ  ---------------------- COMMENT Mercenaries and other US federal contractors always come out on top.   I'm assuming they're US mercenaries.  *** Greenwald arguing against the US refusal to hand over the soldier (that probably lost the plot), isn't something I'd support.  I wouldn't hand over anybody, for even worse treatment than they'd get in the US.  Imagine the barbaric treatment he'd be subjected to if the Americans handed him over. That was a good article. Resources is probably why the West is there ... that, and whatever the strategic rewards of 'The Great Game' offers ... (I've forgotten ... might have to brush up again on that). *** Checking again they're talking 'inherited' and 'disbanded mercenary army,' that's Afghan militants / mercenaries; but they're also talking:"development of a mercenary army via private US contractors" So they're paying US contractors to train and supervise a mercenary army? US mercenaries win/win. ꕤ