Mission Accomplished: Polio returns to Afghan capital after 13 years

[unhappycamper]

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/02/11/polio-returns-to-afghan-capital-after-13-years/



Polio returns to Afghan capital after 13 years
By Agence France-Presse
Tuesday, February 11, 2014 10:42 EST

Afghanistan has launched an emergency polio vaccination campaign in Kabul after a girl contracted the disease, the city’s first case since the Taliban were ousted in 2001.

The three-year-old from a nomadic family living on the northeastern edge of the city was diagnosed after being admitted to hospital in neighbouring Pakistan, a spokesman for the Afghan public health ministry said Tuesday.

The spokesman, Kaneshka Baktash Turkistani told AFP it was not clear whether the girl had contracted the virus in Kabul or Pakistan.

The highly contagious polio virus remains endemic in both countries, but Kabul city has not had a reported case since the Taliban regime was ousted by a US-led invasion more than a decade ago.

[MADem]

1. Mission accomplished? What mission, and accomplished by whom?

She may have picked it up in Pakistan. If I were betting, that's where I'd put my money.


...Kabul city has not had a reported case since the Taliban regime was ousted by a US-led invasion more than a decade ago.

Due to massive internationally-backed efforts the number of cases has dropped significantly in Afghanistan in recent years, with most reported from the insurgency-hit south.

Despite targeting health workers associated with the government, Taliban insurgents have allowed polio vaccination teams to visit their areas in recent years, a move that authorities say has helped to contain the disease.

This contrasts sharply with the situation in Pakistan, where militants have branded polio campaigns as cover for espionage and routinely attack vaccination teams.

[unhappycamper]

2. I have no clue what our 'mission' is in Afghanistan.

Spend money? Mission accomplished.

Help Afghans? Not so much.

Kill Afghans? Mission accomplished.

Stop heroin production? Not so much.

Wear out our very expensive military equipment? Mission accomplished.

Take care of our veterans when the come home? Kinda, maybe.

Put the $2 billion dollar a week occupation costs on the National Credit Card? Mission accomplished.



Like I said, I have no clue what our 'mission' is/was in Afghanistan.

In some respects, Afghanistan is a lot like the Cold War; the US 'won' the Cold War because we spent the Russians into the ground. $2 billion dollar a week occupation costs for 13 years adds up to some serious bucks: 2 x 52 x 13 = $1,352,000,000,000; mostly on the National Credit Card.

And don't forget we have another generation of damaged veterans that need VA care due to their service.

[MADem]

3. Well, that's very separate from the fact that a child contracted polio.

I'm just not clear on how "mission accomplished" has anything to do with "Kid contracts polio, but it might have happened in Pakistan."

You're not suggesting it's Obama's fault that the kid got polio? The outreach in that regard--which is more prevalent in Afghanistan than it is in Pakistan, as noted in the article--comes from international health agencies.

I just don't understand the headline, particularly as there is no "mission accomplished" at the link.

[unhappycamper]

4. Agh! My fault.

I put the "Mission Accomplished' in to the headline.

I'm coming off a case of the flu; Mea Cupla.

[MADem]

5. Feel better....the flu is a doozy this year. nt

[bemildred]

6. Well, at least we crushed the Taliban.