Afghani-gone

In yesterday's hearing, Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Biden asked Ambassador Ryan Crocker if al Qaeda in Iraq or al Qaeda on the Afghanistan/Pakistan border was more of a threat. Crocker's response? al Qaeda in Afghanistan/Pakistan. Even Ohio Rethug Senator Voinovich noted that al Qaeda must be celebrating that they are helping to bankrupt the U.S., as Dumbya foolishly pursues the endless occupation of a country that wasn't an al Qaeda stronghold to begin with.

So, since we were attacked by al Qaeda operating out of Afghanistan on 9/11, and not by anyone operating out of Iraq, why hasn't the Afghanistan/Pakistan region been our major front in the war in these past 5 years? In fact, al Qaeda forces were only in Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein, drawn there in their zeal to fight Americans. Perhaps Dumbya's Freudian need to one-up his father by toppling Hussein, along with the promise of cheap oil, might be a good place to begin with the answer.

The Crocker Is Half Empty

In his testimony, Ambassador Ryan Crocker is doing his best to put a positive face on the political and sectarian mess that represents Iraq and specifically, Baghdad. That's his job. But it's deceptive not to note that the neighborhoods of Baghdad have been "cleansed" according to religious sect. Where once Sunni and Shia lived in mixed communities, they have moved to homogenous neighborhoods. Many have simply fled Iraq altogether, resulting in the migration of over 1.1 million civilians. Added to their misery is the failure of their government to provide basic services - - from electricity, to trash removal, to health services. This NY Times article sums up the disparity between reality and Crocker's testimony crock.