And the other question: what can we be doing now to stop the next disaster?

Because somewhere, right now, the seeds of the wars of 2011 and 2020 and 2050 are being sown. We can't get a do-over in Afghanistan (or Iraq). But now is the time to deal with the ones that have yet to occur.

Thanks for the compliment. I don't believe that "anything good" can come out of Afghanistan. ICOS's idea about buying the poppies is, to me, just harm reduction.

We can help Afghanistan, but only incrementally, and honestly, I put "helping Afghanistan" pretty low on the list. There are many failed states, there are many countries that hate America, and to a lesser extent the West. The argument that "we" are there to "help" is entirely specious anyway. Even the recent decision not prioritize the poppy eradication is probably a function of the desire to free up troops for war fighting, not any concern for the farmers who will be beggared when their sole means of support is burned.

Ondelette means well. I do believe that, but I will never agree with him that there is much we can do in that region, certainly not now, when our own countries have so many problems of their own. Where is the global war on climate change? Where is the global war on poverty?

As Chris said, what is the goal in Afghanistan? What does "victory" even look like? Pleasantville USA? I think not. The real goals are hidden and not discussed by our shadowy masters. But it is pretty clear that the goals are, as always, global hegemony for America, or at least it's elites.

Nothing good can ever come of war.

But I notice you were silent about yesterday's bombing. 13 school children blown up in cold blood. Not even the excuse of being at 30,000 feet. Looking right at them and pushing the button.

Is this the incident you are referring to? Sounds like an accidental explosion to me. Certainly don't see anyone "looking right at them" in this report.

AFGHANISTAN: Truck bomb kills at least 13 kids

A truck filled with explosives that police believe may have been destined for Kabul blew up on a highway Thursday, killing 25 people -- more than half of them children walking to school.

The blast occurred about 7 a.m. as police were trying to clear a traffic jam on a highway in Logar province after the truck, which was loaded with timber, had overturned the night before. Suddenly, explosives hidden beneath the timber detonated, killing 21 civilians and four policemen, Interior Ministry spokesman Zemerai Bashary said.

At least 13 of the dead were children on their way to school, provincial official Kamaluddin Zadran said.

http://www.freep.com/article/20090710/NEWS07/907100334/Truck-bomb-kills-at-least-13-kids-in-Afghanistan

It wasn't a suicide bombing. It was detonated by remote detonator on the scene. Like I said, cold blooded killing. All the dead were Afghans, none were military. Most were children. But that doesn't count. No matter who kills in the world, and how they do it, and how many war crimes they commit, it's all due to the Americans. Living in London in a fact-free zone.

But it's bernbart who deserves to take shit for being wrong.

in case you missed it do read this fine piece first posted by Chris Sinnard:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/matthew_parris/article6632876.ece

'It's amazing how much crap bernbart takes when her facts are wrong, given how some of those criticizing her can go on for pages with a tenuous, at best, connection to the truth."

Thanks. And I admit when I am wrong.

I was just going to be a voyeur today, but wanted to jump in for a second and thank you for articulating on the truth on poppies in Afghanistan. YOu are one of the few rational bloggers in here.

Mostly this blog is where the far right and far left merge to agree on fantastic conspiracy theories. And I mean 'fantastic' in it's original meaning.

i wouldn't have gone quite that far but what about inviting this omar dude next time to Michael Jacksons memorial and teach him about "Idols'!

Hmm. Are you suggesting that we make Michael Jackson a World Heritage Site?

I have read that nearly 70% of the world's poppiest music came from Michael Jackson, 96% of whom was under Taliban control at the time.

Perhaps he should be blown up, to teach them a lesson.

It wasn't a suicide bombing. It was detonated by remote detonator on the scene. Like I said, cold blooded killing. All the dead were Afghans, none were military. Most were children.

Don't make assertions you back that up.

But that doesn't count. No matter who kills in the world, and how they do it, and how many war crimes they commit, it's all due to the Americans. Living in London in a fact-free zone.

Pure Likudist style self indulgent self pity. Once again where is the evidence that Osama had anything to do with 9/11 that led to this war?

Mostly this blog is where the far right and far left merge to agree on fantastic conspiracy theories. And I mean 'fantastic' in it's original meaning.

Yeah, you never mind any of that shit. I'm still waiting for any comments from you on the FBI thinking those videos you so stupidly trusted were fakes.

After police arrived to clear the road, militants apparently decided to blow up the truck where it overturned, Khan said, adding that authorities believe the explosives were mingled with timber in the back of the truck and that they were remotely detonated. (my bold)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/07/09/terror/main5145873.shtml

I remember being in Palestine when the Taliban blew up the buddhas. ...the Taliban had been abusing and oppressing the population of Afghanistan for years while the world had been mostly silent. But blowing up the buddhas, yeah, that was TOO MUCH!

You shouldn't trust your memory like that. You might go around in awkward, spontaneous recollection. Pretty soon you'll be one of those people saying, "Hey, you know, I remember the world before nine eleven changed everything.. and you know, it's about the same now as what I remember. What changed, exactly, that now obliges us to put up will all this crap?"

Or you'll remember that the recent finding by the US Department of Euphemistic Bulldada that yet again every explosive their auditors tried to smuggle past federal security failed to be caught is simply a recapitulation of a similar finding from several years ago. You might even start concluding that our national security apparatus is nothing more than a sham, put on as a show to palliate the nation's paranoid ignorance, and that what feeble threat international terrorism once posed to the United States is now more or less entirely dried up.

Thinking like that will make you positively unAmerican in no time. So ixnay on the emorymay. Capisce?