US faces new challenge

[spindrifter]

after riots in Kabul puncture illusion of calm

Declan Walsh
Tuesday May 30, 2006
The Guardian

An early morning traffic accident in Kabul involving a US military vehicle rapidly degenerated yesterday into the worst upheaval in the Afghan capital since the fall of the Taliban, as angry protesters burned vehicles and buildings, ransacked shops and aid agencies and hurled rocks and invective at American soldiers.

<snip>

In a televised address last night Mr Karzai appealed to Afghans' painful memories of their destructive civil war in the 1990s in a call for people to "stand up" to the rioters. "These people are the enemies of Afghanistan," he said. "You should stand up against these agitators and not let them destroy our country again."

Yet the rioting reflected the simmering anger that many Afghans harbour at everything from the slow pace of reconstruction to the conspicuous wealth of foreigners in Kabul and the aggressive driving tactics of US soldiers and private security contractors in the capital.

The US says the tactics are necessary for security, but one protester, Gulam Ghaus, told the Associated Press: "Americans killed innocent people. We will not stop until foreigners leave this city. We are looking for foreigners to kill."

<snip>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/afghanistan/story/0,,1785599,00.html

The backstory is particularly informative: $12 billion in aid over four years, yet 53% are living on less than $1/day. Most have no clean water or electricity, and hunger is chronic for more than 7 MILLION PEOPLE. Starting from an extremely low base, there have been a number of achievements, including roads and more kids in school than ever. Even so, with civilians being killed and huge unrest in the south, things are not coming together yet.

[sweetheart]

1. the moral power to lead has been squandered

in war crimes and torture, expect a rebellion, expect one
in every single protectorate where you can't dominate their mindspace.

[cliss]

2. Well, I think I can guess who got that

$12 billion in "aid". hint = not the Afghans.

* * * * * *

I believe the Afghans have had enough. On some European online newspapers, they showed photos of men throwing rocks at a US Humvee. They were hurling huge boulders at the vehicle. You could tell it was scrambling to get out of there. It had windows broken, windshield smashed. They were probably lucky to get out with their lives intact.