As Karzai arrives, White House stresses upbeat partnership line

[laststeamtrain]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

As Karzai arrives, White House stresses upbeat partnership line
By Steven Thomma, McClatchy Newspapers 44 mins ago

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration worked Monday to patch up its strained relations with Afghan President Hamid Karzai as he arrived in Washington , issuing carefully worded statements that he's the United States' partner in war, despite recent disputes.

Karzai's visit, which will culminate with meetings Wednesday at the White House , comes as President Barack Obama continues to send more troops to Afghanistan while he faces growing public skepticism about the war.

Even as Karzai arrived, a new report from a friendly Democratic research center criticized the administration as lacking a coherent war plan.

"Nearly nine years into the war, we lack clear answers to two fundamental questions: How does this war end? What is the desired sustainable end state in Afghanistan ?" said the report from Brian Katulis , a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress , a research center heavy with former Clinton administration officials.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20100510/wl_mcclatchy/3500642

[AllentownJake]

1. Is this the guy that said he was thinking about joining the Taliban a month ago nt.

[elias49]

4. You betcha! nt

[saigon68]

11. The Puppet

[SusanaMontana41]

2. Given the animosity between Obama and Karzai,

the hed would have been just as accurate by lopping off a few words: "As Karzai arrives, White House stresses."

[Robb]

7. Meh.

I'd still rather be Obama than Karzai, at this meeting or anywhere else on the planet. :D

[SusanaMontana41]

12. Me too.

B-)

[maxsolomon]

3. i could give a crap if obama pisses him off further

he's been mollycoddled for 6 years under the cheney administration. if he feels all butthurt and starts negotiating to join the taliban, we can GTFO sooner.

[Jefferson23]

5. Three Former Top CIA Agents Say War In Afghanistan Making World More Dangerous (VIDEO)

This from back in 09-23-09, what has changed?


In a powerful new documentary, "Security" from the Rethink Afghanistan project, three former high-ranking CIA agents explain why the war in Afghanistan is making the world more dangerous, rather than safer, for Americans.

Robert Baer, former CIA field operative in the Middle East and the author of "See No Evil," says: "The notion that we are are in Afghanistan to make our country safer is complete bullshit."

And Graham Fuller, former CIA station chief in Kabul, emphasizes: "Both wars have made the world much more dangerous for Americans and for any American presence overseas."

Watch the video:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/23/three-former-top-cia-agen_n_266721.html

[Robb]

6. What's changed?

Baer's got a third book deal since, I believe. ;)

[Jefferson23]

8. Meaning his and the other opinions expressed in the video

are incorrect?

[Robb]

9. Opinions are neither correct nor incorrect.

They are opinions, and Baer is entitled to his, as are you, as am I.

[Jefferson23]

10. Opinions can be substantiated, or not. If you believe he has not

accomplished that to any degree of merit, please state why or why not.