It's Sunday, My Day Off, But Here We Go

Dear Anonymous, Deb'h, Dodie and readers all,
First things first - Spain dismantled Italy 4-0 to win the European Soccer Cup. It was terrible to watch if you prefer the art of Italina soccer to the premeditated murder of the Spanish. But, they won, fair and aquare. As Casey Stengel (was it Stengel or Durrocher? or Berra?) would have said, wait till next year.
And Tiger Woods is tied on day 4 at the Congressional. Now, if a loose tree doesn't fall on him, he may win and be what the British are already hinting at, the man to beat at the British Open.
Okay, now on the current affairs.
I'm plodding my way through the decision - it's not brilliantly written, but I agree that the majority opinion started out to be a dissent. I have trouble believing that a Supreme Court Chief Justice would have used Obamacare or anything else to further non-related political or social goals, even if they are important and maybe vital. If that's the case, then we are in really dangerous territory, my friends.
I've been writing about Afghanistan and Iraq for two years, and I really felt like a voice in the wilderness. Here's my blog of 20 February 2011.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2011
Massoud, Karzai and the War in Afghanistan
Last November I wrote a blog about Afghanistan. I said then that with the announcement that France and America will be pulling out their troops between now and 2014, the political powers in Afghanistan will need to rethink their positions. President Karzai is already in negotiations with the Taliban and Al-Qaida. Anyone in his position would be doing the same thing.
It also seems that Karzai, a member of the tribal group ethnically linked to Iran that makes up 40% of the Afghan population, has also begun to seek a rapprochement with Iran. We already know, because he has said so, that Karzai accepts financial support from Iran.
It seems more and more likely that the international force now engaged in the country will finally withdraw without having accomplished its mission, that of ridding Afghanistan of the Taliban and Al-Qaida, and leaving the country free of civil war.
Frankly, the West ought to be getting out of Afghanistan. The British used up a large part of the 19th century trying unsuccessfully to “pacify” them. The Soviet invasion and occupation in the 1980s failed spectacularly and probably was a cause of the collapse of the Soviet Union. The American-led UN force has not done much better since it began its effort in 2002.
The truth is that Afghanistan is an ancient country made up of several tribal components which have more or less always waged bloody wars against each other when they were not united to defeat invaders.
The only real change any of the occupiers has made is to have installed Islam.
The Allies freed Afghanistan from the Taliban, but without Ahmad Shah Massoud, the Afghan muhajhideen guerrilla leader credited by the Wall Street Journal with winning the Cold War by his rout of the Soviet Union, nothing would have been accomplished. He was a guerrilla warfare genius, and a sunni Muslim who rallied his countrymen with his winning military tactics and his less fanatic interpretation of Islam. He was killed on the 9th of September, 2001 and his death is marked by a national holiday every year on that date.
It was Massoud who tried to warn the West that an imminent attack on America was in the making. It came just two days after his assassination. Massoud is called the Lion of Panjshir by his people, who also use the name Amir Sahib-e Shahdi, Our Beloved Martyred Commander, to describe him.
I mention Massoud because he represents the type of leader who can win in Afghanistan. All the military technology and fire power in the world will not win if it is not used by a new Massoud who understands Afghanistan and its culture. The West would be better served by finding someone to replace Massoud and giving him the job of forging a modern country in Afghanistan. Karzai is not the person.

Well, not much has changed except that America has made itself even more unwelcome in Afghanistan. And, while I'm at it, if Afghanistan and Pakistan were to form a union and fall into Iran's hands, it would be the best gift the West could receive -- after making sure Pakistan's nuclear capability was first taken out, if it has not already been "sold" to the Iranians.
As for the United States, we need to work like our lives depend on it to elect Mitt Romney - because they do. At least our lives as we know them now. Anyone who needs an explanation of that comment would not vote for Romney anyway, so let's rally the troops in the middle, on the right, and the old moderate-conservative Republicans and get the job done. The Silent Majority. The Tea Party. Call it what you want. But, they are the key and we must bring them into the GOP fold to beat Obama and his European-style socialist program for America.
More tomorrow, dear readers.
And just a thought for Muslims everywhere. Yesterday I helped two young sisters from Dubai, here on vacation, figure out how to wash their car at an automatic car wash I was using. They were well-spoken, polite, clearly happy to talk to an American. And the older sister has already had a US visa request turned down to study in America. The younger sister wants to begin a student exchange year in 2013, but she expects her visa request to be rejected, too. It's too bad that America is so afraid that it turns away the very Muslims who would be her friends, given the chance. Jump on it, Anonymous. But, remember my words. If we don't win Muslims over and keep the friends we have as a shield against the extremists, their terrorist fringe will overcome us finally.