Almost 65 and retired. Raised by an East Coast liberal. I am also a child of the sixties.

A real slap in the face.

Posted Sunday, October 23, 2011, at 11:29 AM

I am amazed there isn't a blog about this yet, so I'll do it. If you aren't mad as all get out over this, I don't know what to say.

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Afghanistan would support Pakistan in case of military conflict between Pakistan and the United States,Afghan President Hamid Karzai said in an interview to a privatePakistani TV channel broadcast on Saturday.

The remarks were in sharp contrast to recent tension between the two neighbors over cross-border raids, and Afghan accusations that Pakistan was involved in killing the chief Afghan peace envoy, former Afghan president Burhanuddin Rabbani, by a suicide bomber on September 20.

"God forbid, If ever there is a war between Pakistan and America, Afghanistan will side with Pakistan," he said in the interview to Geo television.

"If Pakistan is attacked and if the people of Pakistan needs Afghanistan's help, Afghanistan will be there with you."

Such a situation is extremely unlikely, however. Despite months of tension and tough talk between Washington and Islamabad, the two allies appear to be working to ease tension.

In a two-day visit to Islamabad, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued stern warnings and asked for more cooperation in winding down the war in Afghanistan, but ruled out "boots on the ground" in North Waziristan, where Washington has been pushing Pakistan to tackle the Haqqani network.

The Haqqani are a group of militants Washington has blamed for a series of attacks in Afghanistan, using sanctuaries in the Pakistani tribal region along the Afghan border.

Pakistan is seen as a critical to the U.S. drive to end the conflict in Afghanistan.

Pressure on Islamabad has been mounting since U.S. special forces found and killed Osama bin Laden in May in a Pakistani garrison town, where he apparently had been living for years.

The secret bin Laden raid was the biggest blow to U.S.-Pakistan relations since Islamabad joined the U.S. "war on terror" after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.

Karzai said tensions between the United States and Pakistan did not have any impact in his country's attitude toward Pakistan.

The TV channel, Geo, did not say when the interview was conducted.

Afghans have long been suspicious of Pakistan's intentions in their country and question its promise to help bring peace. Karzai repeated that concern in his remarks.

"Please brother, stop using all methods that hurt us and that are now hurting you.

"Let's engage from a different platform, a platform in which the two brothers only progress toward a better future in peace and harmony," he said.

Following the death of Rabbani, Karzai said he would cease attempting to reach out to the Afghan Taliban and instead negotiate directly with Pakistan, saying its military and intelligence services could influence the militants to make peace.

This where OUR TAX DOLLARS AND SOLDIERS BLOOD WENT!!!!!

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True and true.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Sun, Oct 23, 2011, at 3:25 PM
It is impossible to reason with those who do not hesitate to kill their own people.

-- Posted by KH Gal on Sun, Oct 23, 2011, at 4:25 PM
I dont think anyone who is informed wanted us in afganistan.So i think both halfes of this government will want us gone.I dont want to finger point so lets leave it at that.

The lifes and the money spent on both those adventures are a travesty.We should just say enough and leave,there is nothing to gain by staying,nothing.MORE DEATHS WILL NOT JUSTIFY OR VALIDATE THE PREVIOUS ONES........my feelings.Either side of the aisle that thinks we ought to stay needs to suit up and do a tour.......latter

-- Posted by lamont on Sun, Oct 23, 2011, at 4:28 PM
LIKE it or not the Saudies are recognized ALLIES and there fore should be treated the same as any other.If we dont want to do that then we should shutdown all operations from saudie soil and call it a day.I DONT LIKE THE IDEA THAT WE SOLD THEM EQUIPMENT WITH A GREATER CAPABILITY THAN OUR OWN.THAT IS ABOUT THE MONEY.

AS TRAINING GOES we do it all the time.We have told the world a long time ago that WE are for sale.It SHOULD make all of us no matter which side you are on politcally MAD.That is not why I wore a uniform and im not real happy about it.I am not for isolationationalism....but we have carried some of our forgien policy a little to far for my liking, with no large returns........my thoughts only.

-- Posted by lamont on Sun, Oct 23, 2011, at 11:25 PM
Yes Mike. I got mine before I checked in this morning.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Mon, Oct 24, 2011, at 6:58 AM
OK ........HOW WILL THEY RUIN THE TOWN????....YOU HAVE OUR ATTENTION.....we are listening,go for it.

-- Posted by lamont on Mon, Oct 24, 2011, at 6:10 PM
Mike,

I live at Exit 90, no mosque please, I deal with that noise every day here, 5 times a day... don't need next to my house.

What is funny about the Afghan President's position is that deals are already in place for the Indian Army to move into Afghanistan after the US pullout in 2014. They currently have the embassies here, and any Indian worker here does not have to pay for work permits or visa's. He is playing every position on the field, to try and secure whatever furthers his personal interest.

-- Posted by Conservative on Tue, Oct 25, 2011, at 8:05 AM
I have to say, that I'm with Mike on this. I might equate it to someone saying to me "I'll be moving into your house on such and such date. Please be courteous and make sure I'm comfortable for the time that I'm there. Upgrade the place before I get there too, and here are my specs"

I have invited people into my house numerous times. But my invitation. And if we don't come to amiable terms, sorry, you can't come. If you show up without my consent, or at least civil courtesies, do NOT expect me to just bend over. Cuz I won't.

-- Posted by jessiemiller on Tue, Oct 25, 2011, at 8:21 AM
A 2 Part question nothing more. How many Military units (air Force, Army ) from other Country's have we trained here and have we ever had a town Hall meeting or a poll taken before they were trained here? Just a simple answer will do for me without the Rant :)

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Tue, Oct 25, 2011, at 9:17 AM
I guess no one knows the answer to my question :(

I was just thinking about how many and my question didn't have any thing to do with the Saudi's coming here........ I thought maybe someone knew the history of the base, but I guess no one knows.....

I've been here since 78 and I can't remember how many different ones were trained here from that time to present... And If anyone knows farther back I would be interested in knowing......

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Tue, Oct 25, 2011, at 10:16 AM
YOU DONT HAVE TO GO BACK MRS M ......CK OUT THE RELIGIONS OF THE SINGAPORE PEOPLE.....AND WE DIDNT HAVE A TOWN HALL TO BE ASKED PERMISSION.

And for information purposes IF OUR intelligence community had got there head out we would not have had a 9/11.They were told about the people training who didnt want to learn how to land.

You dont want the saudies HERE write your congresman,when are we going to set up the detention camps for muslims,the kkk,the black panthers,jews,christians,mormans etc and anybody else we dont like.SOLUTION....make america a religion and go from there,the rehetoric could keep them OUT OF HERE.WE are working on it real hard and after them who?????????

Come from the top,how about this might have come from the USE OF SAUDI BASES to prosecute both wars with iraq.BUT I am sure that doesnt come into consideration or count.THERE IS A BIGGER PICTURE HERE THAT WE REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE.WE ARE STILL IN THE MODE OF PAINT ALL WITH A BROAD BRUSH.

PERSONALLY I am at a point were I hope they dont come....they should not have to be persecuted to be and ALLY and I for one would not like to be embarrased by the actions of some Bigot in the name of my COUNTRY.I SAW THAT ALL OVER THE WORLD YEARS AGO.

-- Posted by lamont on Tue, Oct 25, 2011, at 2:27 PM
Idahowantwolves

What about the Singapore's they have been here at least a year and If I am remembering correctly wasn't the Royal Air Force and Australia Air Force or Army here too?(and here longer then 2 weeks.

We have never changed our Customs or Holidays for any one.

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Tue, Oct 25, 2011, at 5:15 PM
Well, since wolves brought the Saudi issue into this (god knows why), here's my thoughts.

1) The Saudi's are going to spend a boat load of money on improvements to the base that will remain after they are gone. This most likely will require local contractors and workers.

2) They are bringing their own support staff. I would assume this includes their own cooks and clergy. Where and when they worship is their own business. If they don't wish to have their children educated in American schools, they will bring their own teachers.

3) This is where some you may have to help me out with certain information. If there is a commissary on base, I'm not sure if they will have access to it, but if they do, they will have to pay in DOLLARS. If there are things they want or need and they aren't available at the commissary, they will have to leave base and shop either in town or in Boise, either way they will pay in DOLLARS.

4) If they choose to drive off base, they are subject to the same laws and requirements as the rest of us,the same as other squadrons that have trained here I'm sure.

4) My guess is that the Saudi's that are being stationed here are fairly well educated, and as such, they are well aware that they should not expect a warm welcome from the locals.

Now to answer the accusations before they are posted.

1) I do not advocate the selling of America to anyone including multi-national companies, but the reality, whether we like it or not, is that our defense industry depends on sales overseas to survive. Stop selling overseas and we kill an industry that supports many jobs HERE.

2) We as a nation are so dependent on foreign oil and foreign gasoline, that we have to walk a fine line with those who have what we need. Please don't start the whole thing as to who's fault it is, facts are facts, let's stick to those rather than the blame game. That gets us nowhere.

3) I'm not in favor of a world economy, that's what got us in this mess to start with.

4) I'm not pro-Muslim and I'm not anti-Muslim.

Lastly, I will close with this. For all of you who are old enough to remember the oil embargo of the 70's, just image the effect another embargo would have now. In the 70's we imported about 40% of our oil. Today it's about 60%. If you think our economy is bad now, if there is another embargo, you aint seen nuthun yet. As my Mother used to say,"Don't cut off your nose to spite your face."

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Tue, Oct 25, 2011, at 7:07 PM
Idahowantwolves I bet what the mayor was saying. they want to build a Mosque here........ Not do away with our customs

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Tue, Oct 25, 2011, at 7:10 PM
One last thing. All the regulars who comment here know how I feel about my blogs being hijacked and I have no problem with killing a blog if it doesn't get back on track. This blog is about getting slapped in the face by the Afgans. If someone wants to start a blog about the pros and cons of having the Saudis stationed here, have at it.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Tue, Oct 25, 2011, at 7:18 PM
Evening MsM

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Tue, Oct 25, 2011, at 7:19 PM
Sorry Roy I won't say anymore :(

-- Posted by MsMarylin on Tue, Oct 25, 2011, at 7:24 PM
MsM, I'm just trying to stop a re-occurrence of a certain person who doesn't comment here any longer. Besides arguing with certain people is no more productive than dealing with that other person.

-- Posted by royincaldwell on Tue, Oct 25, 2011, at 7:52 PM
KARZI and his government have never shown any allegiance to anything but themselves.We should have never set up any kind of longterm basing in that country.They dont want us there and they are for hire to the highest bidder,they go as the wind goes.They will survive no matter who is in power. The country is so splintered there will never be a valid central government.They see what they told us as in there best interest for there long term survival.WE should take a longterm look at pakistan.We need to get out of there too.BElieve it or not this is about ISRAEL and it's security,we dont want to leave them totally isaolated.So far we fill the power vacume but that will not be forever......my thoughts.

-- Posted by lamont on Wed, Oct 26, 2011, at 9:16 AM

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