Suicide attack kills 23 in Afghanistan

Friday 18th April, 03:09 PM JST

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

12 Comments

GrouchyGaijin at 09:17 PM JST - 18th April

And the Mayor of Kabul, Hamid Karzai is upset because his napkin wasn't folded properly at breakfast this morning. You just can't get good help these days!
rjd_jr at 01:25 AM JST - 19th April

Looks like the surge is working there too. Good job George!
rajakumar at 04:57 AM JST - 19th April

Afghan woes and sufferings surging. Mr Carter should have talks with afghan mullahs/talibans after palestine hamas talks.
Nessie at 09:36 AM JST - 19th April

Looks like the splurge is working.
Loki520 at 09:51 AM JST - 19th April

Oh...here we go... Because everything didn't change overnight... cold turkey... one day is death and destruction and the next day everyone is eating rainbows and pooping butterfly's... because none of that happened...

The surge is a failure?

Yet another way for the "left" to try and change the reality of the war. The surge IS working, the movement forward is undeniable. The gains made are easily lost, that is for sure, but there have been significant security gains with the IA and IP taking over more and more, quite successfully for the most part. Yet, let there be a suicide bomber that kills 30 people and the loony left acts like NOTHING has ever happened and the entire thing must be a failure.

And these are the same people that will scream and yell at gaijin's about how the Japanese culture is "different", you'll have to adapt, it's not like your home, etc, etc, etc... You want a different culture? Go to the Middle East where their culture includes killing each other for centuries, even over percieved slights, much less real ones, and you think it's gonna be rainbows/butterfly's overnight?
Loki520 at 11:47 AM JST - 19th April

Not mention, but I will.... this story is about Afghanistan and the surge, success or failure, rests in Iraq. Great way for the left to try and tie a particular event in one location to the outcome of a policy in an entirely separate place.
rjd_jr at 11:56 AM JST - 19th April

Actually Loki, the two are related. You see, the "surge" in Iraq means less troops for Afghanistan, which has seen a "surge" of itself in the rise of terrorist activities and resurgence of the taliban. One failed policy in one arena equals a failing policy in another. There are only so many resources available. So, in fact, the "surge" is working in Afghanistan, unfortunately it's a "surge" from the bad guys.
Loki520 at 08:06 PM JST - 19th April

Tthe increase of troops in Iraq (due to the surge) has not had a negative effect on operations in Afgahnistan. There are issues, OTHER THAN THE SURGE, which are causing an uptick in the amount of terrorist activity.

But, I'm sure that no matter what happens or how it turns out, certain people will always find a way to place blame at the feet of GWB, Petraus or the surge.
Zaphod at 05:26 PM JST - 21st April

Loki,

what exactly is "working" about either the "surge" or the Afghanistan operation?

If you mean that Western countries can play unpaid police force for Middle Eastern regimes, then sure, they can, as long as the US and European tax payers pay for that.... but is that what call "working"?
Loki520 at 05:34 PM JST - 21st April

What is "working" is that the IP and IA are taking a larger, more successful, role in the security of their own country. They are assuming more and more responsiblity and performing operations with limited, sometimes very limited, assistance from US troops. This is not something that was happening prior to the surge.

If Iraq, and the situation within, is to truly achieve "victory", the government will need to step up and provide for itself. And they will be unable to do so without adequate security and police forces in place, capable of doing what they have to.

It is time for the diplomats to step up. Both in, and out of, Iraq.
Zaphod at 06:09 PM JST - 21st April

What is "working" is that the IP and IA are taking a larger, more successful, role in the security of their own country.

Define "larger, more successfull". Is there any point in time in sight where the Western troops could leave, and a democratic government would stay in power, in either Iraq or in Afghanistan? Of course, there is not.

So, your definition of "working" continues to be a sitution where Western countries play police force and military for Middle Eastern regimes who can not sustain themselves... open-ended, paid for by Western tax-payers.

This is success? Not in my book.
Loki520 at 04:52 PM JST - 22nd April

The only thing that is in your "Book" is an apparent willingness to read into others statements. It's like your debating with yourself instead of with another person. You certainly aren't TRYING to read what I'm saying. Rather, your providing counter-arguments to your own posts that allow you to continue your rant.

To paraphrase:

You: Long-term, open ended paid for by Westerners, no end in sight. Me: Success by having increased IP and IA activity, security finally being provided by their own citizens, a prerequisite to the formation of an actual functioning government. Improvements BECAUSE of surge. You: Long-term, open ended paid for by Westerners, no end in sight.

I define working in my 4/21, 5:34 post. And then you redefine MY definition as long-term, open ended paid for by Westerners, no end in sight.

You can redefine my posts all you want. Go right ahead. It doesn't change the basic obvious FACT that the IP and IA are providing MORE of their own security than they have in the past few years. It also doesn't change the FACT that a strong, stable, and capable IP and IA will be necessary for any established government to stand up, function and provide for it's people. They can NOT sustain themselves in the past because they could not provide thier own security. They are starting to do that. Which part of this do you not understand?

And before we get started, At this moment, I don't give a fart about GWB, WHY we are there, or who lied to whom. WE ARE THERE for whatever reason. We can't simply pull out because it turns out that someone MIGHT have lied, etc.. WE ARE THERE. We must follow thru, or the situation will turn worse than it is and will have easily foreseeable negative consequences for the entire region, and probably the entire world. Get your collective heads out of the "worry about us only" mindset and realize that everything we do, BOTH negative (and there has been a lot) and positive (again, a lot) will effect you, your kids, so forth and so on.