Afghanistan, in Today's News 02.11.10

Afghanistan. The soon-to-occur, much heralded US military offensive in the Marjah district of Afghanistan is receiving lots of media coverage. The Wall Street Journal today has a 27-inch article on page A17.

The gist of the offensive seems to be to establish a US foothold in the area and move the district into the central government's sphere of authority. The problem is that the local population wants nothing to do with it. As the district governor says, "People here are on the side of the insurgency and have no trust in the government. Insurgents are in their villages 24 hours." [Quoted in the WSJ.] 

To get a flavor of the atmosphere, read what Lt. Col Reik Anderson, a battalion commander, has to say. "Villagers were just livid with me. Because so much lethality was going on, they said that the kids are crying, the women are scared" whenever helicopters appear. [Quoted in the WSJ.]

The people in these villages have lived a certain way for hundreds of years. To say the least, their ways are settled. Now the US comes along and intends to set up a whole different way of life with western-oriented hospitals and schools, etc. It is natural that the villagers would be distrustful of this change, especially when it is not understood, and especially when it is imposed by military force.

Can the US prevail? Well, the American forces have dubbed Pashmul, a cluster of villages west of Kandahar city as "the heart of darkness." That kind of lack of respect for a culture that has existed longer than the US is easily spotted by the villagers. Their resistance cannot be broken simply because they have no use for a country and culture that lords it over them and insists that the villagers' way of life is no good.

Anyone who has lived through the Vietnam war will recognize the US verbiage and tactics being used here. The Vietnamese didn't appreciate it too much, and neither will the Afghans. 

Afghanistan, in Today's News 02.09.10

Afghanistan. Afghan President Karzai strikes one as the type who will say anything, regardless of the truthfulness, to please those who have authority over him. Everyone probably knows this type from work. He or she is the one, when questioned by their responsibility, who will quickly think up some seemingly rational answer that has no basis in reality, just to get rid of the questioner.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Karzai is now bringing up the idea of a draft in Afghanistan. The WSJ, of course, gives this idea credence. But, come on. This is a country where the central government is isolated and controls only the capital, Kabul, and maybe a few other locations. This is a country that just arrested a colonel for (WSJ) "helping to store, distribute and install explosives around Mahmud-Raqi, the capital of Kapisa province." The WSJ further reports that the colonel was involved in bribery and corruption involving road projects in the province, and that others in the Kapisa government were suspected of the same.

Karzai thinks he can have a draft in such a situation!

But it is all a ruse. Karzai is just trying to say the right things. He said that with a draft within five years the Afghan forces would be sufficient to guarantee that the country's security would "no longer [be] a burden of the shoulders of the international community."

And so, that means the international community can withdraw in five years, right? Wrong. (WSJ) "Still, he said foreign troop would be needed to help battle hard-core militants because the 'war on terrorism...is an issue separate from this security arrangement in Afghanistan.'"

No wonder Karzai is President with such an ability to speak out of both sides of his mouth. On the one hand, he seeks to please the United States by appearing to be doing something (the draft proposal) to secure the country. But, on the other hand, the US and others will have to stay because the issue of the war on terrorism is international. Bottom line: you guys in the US will have to carry the burden of the war.

What a guy!!

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Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the top US general in Afghanistan, (WSJ) "told reporters that the success of a coming offensive in the Taliban-infested south hinges on whether troops and civilian aid workers can quickly get schools, hospitals and public services running." 

Aside from being a convenient CYA statement, his remarks are a bit peculiar. Does he mean that the existing schools, hospitals and public services will be knocked out in the coming offensive? Local inhabitants are always receptive to having their native institutions shut down. (Sarcasm.) 

If McChystal means what he says, the coming offensive will drive the population right into the arms of the Taliban, if they aren't there already.

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The Wall Street Journal has a 23-inch article with a huge picture today praising the efforts of the US and Afghanistan to enlist veteran officers of the anti-Soviet battles of the 1980's. This is an interesting action because the rest of the officers of the Afghan army are the very ones who fought the anti-Soviet insurgents!

Somehow the US thinks this will work. After all, the US brought them together them together for a "senior Afghan National Army command course," taught by the US and the French. Now surely everyone knows that the wisdom of the Americans and the French can overcome years of these officers trying to kill each other and overcome centuries of tribal conflict between Pastuns and Tajiks. (Sarcasm.)

The US is in a dream world that will never settle or win this war.

Toyota, in Today's News 02.05.10

Toyota. Toyota's recall of 4.5 million vehicles because of sudden acceleration problems is like a dream come true for the leaders of General Motors, Ford and Chrysler. They are thinking something like, 'at long last, comes an opportunity to pay Toyota back for taking away the American auto manufacturers' preeminence.' 

And so, GM and the others are pulling out all the stops to influence Washington to initiate all manner of investigations against Toyota. As a result, congressional investigators expanded their view of Toyota to include the new Prius hybrid. And lo and behold, Toyota announced a recall of 270,000 of the Prius.

The House Oversight Committee plans a hearing on Toyota's recalls which will focus on whether Toyota failed to properly deal with safety complaints.

Today's Wall Street Journal, page B5, "One Democratic lawmaker who will lead a congressional grilling of Toyota, Rep. Bart Stupak of Michigan [read 'of the American auto industry'], predicts the Toyota hearing could surpass the Ford/Firestone uproar of a decade ago -- largely, he said, because Toyota appears to have dodged questions about problems with its accelerators for years." Gee, now where could he have gotten the idea to make the hearing a whiz-bang event?

Yep, there must be high-fives up and down the corridors in GM's and Ford's headquarters. But, it is dubious that all this manufactured concern will convince the American public that GM's vehicles are better quality than Toyota or other foreign brands.

The task before GM, especially, is to put together a vehicle that the American public will want. GM can't solve there declining sales by better promotion or by government-appointed new management or by jumping on Toyota. GM can only increase its sales by putting out a car that speaks for itself about good quality.

Bank of America, in Today's News 02.05.10

Bank of America. The cryptocracy neither forgives nor forgets. They have been trying to "get" Ken Lewis, the former CEO of BoA, from the beginning of the financial crisis brought about by the cryptocracy. Why they are after him is unknown, but there is something about Lewis that the cryptocracy hates. 

Yesterday, Andrew Cuomo, the New York Attorney General, filed a civil complaint against Lewis for duping investors by failing to disclose mounting losses at Merrill Lynch and Co. before BoA tookover Merrill.

This action is the latest of many efforts to go after Lewis, including a congressional hearing. Lewis fought off most of the attacks, but the constant pressure finally forced him to resign.

One would think the cryptocracy would then forget and get on with other business. But, no, as the cryptocracy might say, 'vindictiveness R us.'  

Lewis, who is no angel, might now regret having resigned, because as a private citizen he is more vulnerable. He is probably wishing he had the BoA legal department in his corner now.

Afghanistan, in Today's News 02.05.10

Afghanistan. General Stanley McChrystal, the head of US and allied forces in Afghanistan, is undoubtedly a good man and an honorable soldier. But he gets himself in trouble when he enters into the world of politics, and especially when he tries to make nice to the Obama administration.

In a moment of candor a few months ago McChrystal described the situation in Afghanistan as "serious and deteriorating." This assessment caused Obama no end of dismay and trouble. The Obama team let McChrystal know that he had better change his mind and say so.

Yesterday, McChrystal held a small media conference where, according to the Wall Street Journal, he said "he no longer believes the battlefield situation there [in Afghanistan] is deteriorating." How does he back up this assertion? "I'm not prepared to draw it on a map; I'm not prepared to give you numbers. But I'm prepared to tell you what I see. And what I feel gives me that sense." [!!!!]

This is really pitiable. First note that he only says the battlefield situation is not deteriorating. No mention is made of the Afghan government which is corrupt, completely isolated, and hanging by an American-supported thread. Also note that in a war like Afghanistan there is no such thing as a "battlefield."

Next, McChrystal's statement that things are not deteriorating comes a week or so after the Afghan government postponed elections because they feared what the results might show. Also, the capital, Kabul, was rocked about two weeks ago by an day-long Taliban attack on the center of the city. Other attacks have occurred recently that are notable by the obvious Taliban stratagem of attacking where the US isn't.

And so, McChrystal is correct in one sense. The situation is not deteriorating. It would collapse of its own power were it not for the American military presence.

Also, it is a commentary on the state of the American civilization when a general is pressured to make a statement that is patently untrue just to make sure the President looks good. 

The Obama strategy seems to be to squeeze the Taliban so they will agree to negotiate a settlement. Thus Obama is appreciative to McChrystal for saying the US is doing well. 

The truth, however, is that the Obama-squeeze-tactic won't work. He has no power to bring pressure on the Taliban, because the Taliban is always a step or two ahead of him. They strike where they know they can win. And they know that time is on their side. As time marches on, the US military spending continues to get out of hand, the left wing of Obama's political party puts increasing pressure on him, and the American public becomes more and more war-weary.

And so, Obama finds himself in an increasingly untenable position. And a fawning statement by McChrystal will not change things.

Stock Market Decline, in Today's News 02.05.10

Stock Market Decline. Wall Street Journal page C1: "Dow [Industrial Average] Sinks to 3-month Low Near 10000."

It is always a mistake to see the stock market ups and downs as primarily a function of supply and demand, natural causes, etc.

The Rothschilds and others in the cryptocracy don't make their money through speculation in the market. They have always believed in making money through manipulation and usury. To them the stock market is merely a tool to influence the course of human events. 

The cryptocracy has manipulated the stock market from the beginning of the stock market age. The media covers it up and the volume of trade on the market would seem to preclude manipulation, but the truth is these families in the cryptocracy are extremely powerful, strong enough to influence the market to do what they want it to do.

So, it pays to look at the present politico-economic situation from the point of view of the cryptocracy.

The current drop in the stock market just happens to coincide with several setbacks for the cryptocracy. First was the dramatic disillusionment in their man in the White House, as shown in the Massachusetts election. Next, was the utter crash and burn of the health reform. This reform was a central goal of the cryptocracy and one of the purposes for precipitating the general economic crisis. And then, there is the cryptocracy's much desired reform of financial regulation putting more power in the Federal Reserve. This reform is stuck in congressional quick-sand, and is going absolutely nowhere. Even worse, their nominee to head the Fed, just barely squeaked through his election in congress.

All this means only one thing to the cryptocracy: it is time to deepen the economic crisis in the hopes of creating an atmosphere where their cherished reforms can be pushed through. This is the cryptocracy's primary mode of operation: create a crisis so that in the resulting emergency, they can obtain what they want from the government. 

Will it work? It is dubious that the health care reform can be resurrected in the short term. But their real aim is probably to get the Fed (which they own) empowered to regulate the entire economy. Obama himself is also making a valiant effort to regain his stature. He even went to a prayer-meeting, of all things!

In the meantime, the entire population suffers. Every person now knows of someone or family that is in a crisis because of the economy and the machinations of the cryptocracy.

And not a word from the leaders of Catholicism. It's almost as if they don't live in the real world of today.

Afghanistan, in Today's News 02.02.10

Afghanistan. Today's Wall Street Journal has a report on the 'allied' plans to secure Kandahar in the spring of this year. The plans come complete with three concentric rings: a ring of stability, a ring of security, and a ring of deep fight. The allied coalition plans to stabilize this spring the stability ring, which includes Kandahar and major satellite towns.

One wonders if they have stopped studying history at the military academies. There is nothing new is these plans. They have all been tried before, many times, as far back as Algeria. These type of plans have failed each time.

Why have they failed? Because it is all paper, dreamed up schemes, that have nothing to do with the real life in the war situation. It is epitomized by a statement by Canadian Brig. General Daniel Menard, the commander of the Task Force Kandahar, "They [the Taliban] will not fight us when and where they want. We will fight them when and where we want, and that is a huge change."

This is just dreaming. Already in the last two weeks the Taliban has struck in their own fashion where they wanted, almost toppling the Kabul regime. In the meantime the 'allies' were concentrating in a whole different area of the country.

In other words, the Taliban is fighting when and where it wants.

All this 'allied' activity comes down to busy work, designed to look like something meaningful is being done. All the while the Taliban is building its real support throughout the country.

Well, at least the next few months should be entertaining.