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Hamid Karzai: U.S. Taxpayer-Funded Private Contractors Engaging In Terrorist, Mafia-Like Activity
Afghanistan's embattled president Hamid Karzai said on Sunday that U.S. taxpayers were indirectly funding "mafia-like groups" and terrorist activities with the American government's support of private contractors inside his country.
In a rare U.S. media appearance, Karzai continued to press for the
removal of the vast majority of U.S. private contractors by the end of
this year. He argued that their continued presence inside Afghanistan
was "an obstruction and impediment" to the country's growth, a massive
waste of money, and a catalyst for corruption among Afghan officials.
"The more we wait the more we lose," Karzai said during an appearance on ABC's "This Week." "Therefore we have decided as an Afghan government to bring an end to the presence of these security companies... who are not only causing corruption in this country but who are looting and stealing from the Afghan people.
"One of the reasons that I want them disbanded and removed by four months from now is exactly because their presence is preventing the growth and development of the Afghan security forces -- especially the police force -- because if 40, 50,000 people are given more salaries than the Afghan police, why would an Afghan ... man come to the police if he can get a job in a security firm, have a lot of leeway without any discipline? So naturally our security forces will find it difficult to grow. In order for our security forces to grow these groups must be disbanded."
Karzai's campaign against U.S. contractors is, undoubtedly, compelled by his own domestic political concerns. The killing of innocent Afghanistan civilians has not only deeply soured the country's view of America's mission, but damaged Karzai's standing as well.
U.S. officials have warned that Afghanistan's army and police are nowhere near close to being ready to fill the void left by private contractors. If anything, the corruption that Karzai ties to the contractor community could be exacerbated if the Afghan army (itself plagued with scandal) were to play a bigger role.
Recognizing the reluctance of U.S. officials to endorse his approach, Karzai openly acknowledged that he was using his ABC sit down to make a direct pitch to the American public.
"I'm appealing to the U.S. taxpayer," he said, "not to allow their hard earned money to be wasted on groups that are not only providing lots of inconvenience to the Afghan people but are actually, god knows, in contract with mafia-like groups and perhaps also funding militants, and insurgents and terrorists with those funds."
35 Comments so far
Show AllMafia is a reasonable choice of words when it comes to describing the "private contractors" who are nothing more than mercenary murders operating on an international stage.
But in truth, the mafia is a rather harmless organization when compared to the killing done by Obomber and Congress carried out by the Pentagon and the mutant private contractors.
Without a doubt, Amerika is cruel, unusual, and barbaric having more in common with the Nazis than the mafia.
Our fascist Congress and White House (now occupied by the ultimate Uncle Tom corporate oreo) are responsible for more murders (Iraq/Afghanistan war crimes and others) than any government presently on earth. They are the ultimate 21st century capitalist fascist regime directing Pentagon SS troopers and "private contractors" to kill whoever stands in the way of globalized corporate agendas. Etc.
And it is interesting that the American oil and gas Pipelineistan plans for Afghanistan (including the militarization of Central Asia) has long been a PNAC neocon plan. The neocons were once called "the crazies" in Washington.
But unfortunately, the neocon insanity has now become "normal".
gonzo: "unfortunately, the neocon insanity has now become "normal."
This unfortunate fact must be opposed in every way possible, at every turn. And we should be constantly reminded of it.
Obomber's refusal to look into the crimes of Bush/Cheney and prosecute was the first major roadblock he set to setting things right.
But the real problem at the heart of it all is the initial justification for the Amerikkkan rampage across the Middle East and South Asia.
All the premisses for the "War on Terror" must be debunked, starting with the murky events of 9/11.
You've identified the crux.
Karzai is right.
1. Private contractors are robbing the Afghan people.
2. Afghanistan's police, army, and government will never learn to stand on their own while their country is occupied.
3. Afghans will never trust Americans as long as they stand by corrupt governments and murder civilians.
And his appeal to the US taxpayer is well-received. It's disgusting that US taxpayers give so much money to the Pentagon in the first place, but to give our money to capitalist thugs, war profiteers, and insurgents. Too bad not a single us senator is concerned about this.
Big problem with his appeal to the US taxpayers is that it's only that small group of taxpayers who's voices are raised against the government using "THEIR" tax dollars for social programs that are heard. They're also the only ones heard on anything having to do with the money going into the military, because that's where they want it all to go. Guess Mr. Karzai doesn't understand the workings of the US very well, poor guy. Aside from storming the treasury, there's little we can do to aid him.
"Mafia-like Acti"? Does the truncated headline here refer to "activity" or what? Too much trouble adding the "vity"?
Maybe it's a new slang term, like "aggro" for "aggravation".
I was suitably impressed in high school when a friend who always seemed to pick up on cutting-edge colloquialisms began saying things like, "Dude keeps asking me when he's getting his Mothers album back, and I told him 'Back off, I don't need the aggro!'"
He picked it up from the British Invasion, no doubt. This seems like a electronic/mechanical typo, though.
Ah ardent!, once again you have stolen my line:
What's that Karzai (duly elected leader of the Independent Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) just said? He expects them out in four months? So I guess that's that. Unless maybe he mis-spoke. Unless the string that was supposed to be attached to his arm got accidentally confused with the one that moves his mouth.
Oh wait a minute, here comes the "clarification." He's not demanding, he's appealing. Well that's more like it. What does Hamid want? He wants the contractors out. Hamid is so funny. Should we throw him a kibble or just put him back in the drawer?
Clever, funny and undeniably true. Very good, Ardent.
We cynics have long argued that modern capitalist government is simply Organized Crime with a façade of legitimacy.
Now that their own oxen are being ruthlessly gored, even Made Men like Karzai are going public with this truism!
Actually, the fact that the American war crimes supporting global corporate agendas are being funded by the U.S. taxpayer is a truth that should be repeated over and over again by everyone concerned at every opportunity.
Most Americans have not connected the dots and still believe that the illegal invasions and occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq are about "national security" and other lies spun by Washington and the corporate media.
If many millions more Americans understood that they, during economic hard times, are being forced to pay for wars to further corporate global schemes, public opinion pressure just might alter Washington's diabolical plans.
If nothing else, the cost of the American corporate wars crimes is being funded with debt on top of other debt. And the last time I checked, foreign investors were not purchasing as much American debt as they once did.
And what can Washington do, print more funny money like the Nazis did in the late stages of their downfall ?
Time will tell, but I think the 40 million Pashtuns of Afghanistan and Pakistan are in this for the long haul. Their amazing resistance could go on forever.
Hamid Karzai, ex-Union Oil Company of California (Unocal) employee and now Amerikkkan Puppet, what are you saying, really?
That we should feel sorry for you, that you put yourself into this mess?
Please note that I am not in the least questioning your characterization of the mercenaries and their effect upon your country. I am merely dumbfounded that you would issue these complaints at this stage of the game. Because they are merely complaints, since you are basically powerless.
Furthermore, don't you know that we the taxpayers are about as powerless as you are, that our government does not listen to us, but is merely content to rob us blind?
Looks like you are in a double bind.
Watch your back, Hamid Karzai!
One of the slogans of the American Revolution was, "No taxation without representation!"
I'm in my 70's and have paid taxes for most of my life. I haven't been represented for years.
Lincoln said, "...that government of the people, by the People, for the people shall not perish from the earth."
Well, sorry Abe, but it has perished, to be replaced by government of the people, by the Oligarchy, for the Oligarchy.
I was looking for the headstone where the Constitution and Bill of Rights had been buried so I could lay a wreath. Unfortunately, it lies in an unmarked grave.
This is one of your most poignant posts. Nicely done.
It was buried by Linclon himself, he waqs first to put the country ahead of the people. It's been Republican mantra ever since. The union means more than what it was supposed to protect, pretty stupid but true!
Kevin Daley, FWIW I am gradually coming around to this point of view.
I still regard Abraham Lincoln as an exceptional person and politician, but his policies were based on a reading or interpretation of "e pluribus unum" as "the whole is greater than the sum of the parts".
And for a long time, I was satisfied that this was a-- well, WHOLESOME interpretation.
But I've come to see that it's also the first step in the logic of, "we had to destroy this village in order to save it!"
Your grief is sorely felt.
However, the principles that guide us and make us men instead of hairless apes are not at all dead; You are speaking, and so are many of us, hence the principles live on, and in the end, the criminals, throughout the ages, are eventually worsted by their betters.
Courage!
We ourselves see only a sliver of the entire mirror...for a very short while at that.
It is not about "winning".
It is about choosing, at any personal physical cost, for one´s own souls sake as well as the untold futures of the unborn to come...
It wouldn't have anything to do with drugs would it?
Yes, surely the private contractors are taking advantage of the opium trade, by engaging in it, and facilitating it.
Oh, sorry, you were alluding to Karzai. Same there.
Well here we are, American taxpayers funding two wars ( Iraq funding is also greater with private overpaid contractors)and no way to avoid more dept unless Obama gets the courage to exit out now. I believe that the republicans put John McCain and Sara Palin on the ticket because they wanted to loose the election and hand the wars, the trillion dollar, debt and failing economy over to the democrats.
A good, end game to benefit the Afghanistan, Iraqi or the American people cannot possibly be achieved. Our children will be paying for these counterproductive wars in death and taxes, blaming the democrats (who were partly responsible) for years to come.
"I believe that the republicans put John McCain and Sara Palin on the ticket because they wanted to loose the election and hand the wars, the trillion dollar, debt and failing economy over to the democrats."
Had Republicans stayed in "power," we would now be seeing and participating in riots in the streets. They knew full well Obama, the 1/2 black community organizer from Chicago, would diffuse all of this. Mission accomplished. The duopoly lives!
Goooooooooooooo !!!!!!!!!! Karzai !!!!!!!!!!
Karzai has zero credibility.
And like so many corrupt dictators worldwide he always finds fault elsewhere to continually cover up his own corruption and culpability. (ala Mugabe of Zimbabwe)
He couldn't even rig an election without being found out but people seem to be quick to have forgotten that just like of so many 'leaders' worldwide actions who people naively continue to try to hang a shingle of hope upon.
What you say is true, but even the dishonest can point to true facts when it supports their agendas. Sometimes the truth is the best lie.
GGGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!! KKKKKARZAI !!!!!!!!
Karzai has continously attempted to shield his people from the imperial invaders and wishes to make peace with the Taliban.
The only reason there is War in Afghanistan today is because of the USA.
Is it possible to be more corrupt than the USA Multinationals, Military and Government?
What sane person would believe the MSM characterization of a Leader whose Nation the USA is Warring on.
Afghanistan is a Pashtu Nation, Karzai is A Pashtu, The USA is Trying to Subdue the Pashtus
God forbid!
If they disband some 40,000 overpaid highly trained mercenaries and send them back home to America, how will they earn a decent living? How would Blackwater/Xe deploy his teams of psychopaths in the United States?
Would there suddenly appear domestic corporate hit squads? Unexplained deaths of top executives of competing corporations?
Disappearances of dissident politicians? (Of course they wouldn't use torture in this country, would they?)
We must keep those mercenaries overseas because they are a threat to us if they come home!
I sympathize with "President" Karzai's predicament, but we must protect the Homeland first!
-30-
A bomb goes of here, then over there, its terrorists, the Afhans are not ready, they need the private contractors.
The question is , who is really setting off the bombs, terrorists, or contractors looking to secure the next contract.
Its like the spy/ analyst business in Washington, the people who know the most about what we are looking for , or who, have the best inside info to perpetuate their own long term contracts and job security.
What does does it cost to use a cell phone that you can buy at Walmart with a 100 minutes on it , it calls a hot suspicious number over seas , triggers all the right alarms for the contractor monitoring that region of activity over seas, and bingo, contracts renew.
What does it cost to set off a bomb near an Afghan police station where young Afghan men are waiting to sign up to join the army or police, a number of them die, recruit falls way off from fear, bingo , another private security firm contractor wins a contract.
In each scenario, the contract bids could be worth 100s of millions.And for the cost of 500 dollars,and evil behavior or murder, they are secured
And anyone who thinks this is not going on , is stupid, naive , and does not understand the evils and greed of the American Trillion dollar war machine and the military industrial complex.
I have been stalked , harassed and slandered and humiliated by this evil greedy network of stazi torture freaks , fusion center , private contractor controlled , suspect creating, contract renewing group of gang stalking pricks.
Because I wont shut up, I want the American public to know that they are here and screwing with peoples lives.
They will kill, and torture, and try to have your life destroyed, to keep the money train.
Welcome to the New United Stazi Torture freaks of America.
Outstanding commentary.
Thank you for being there. I only wish there were more I could do for people like you, who, as I, state the plain truth of our sordid existence as wage slaves to an incoherently insane, materialistically (?) oriented regime of small men with little character, and even less moral fortitude.
It is, by far, better to die alone defending the truths that make us men instead of mere hairless apes, than to silently stand by while the planet is literally speaking destroyed by the criminal avarice of fools posing as men.
Would that there were a way for you and I to communicate directly without having to resort to commenting on a less than revolutionary talk tank...
We may never meet, but know this;
Wherever you are, whatever circumstances you find yourself in, we are one. Small comfort I know, for I am also struggling against the beast while it plays out it´s tricks and games, as you are. Yet, your words move me, and convince me that we are not in fact alone at all, merely disorganized and as yet (for many of us) unaware of the means with which to directly take the battle to the enemy of human brotherhood.
Best regards
B
"If anything, the corruption that Karzai ties to the contractor community could be exacerbated if the Afghan army (itself plagued with scandal) were to play a bigger role."
The Huffington Post doesn't even try to distance itself from the establishment propagandists but instead spouts viewpoints that reinforce the imperial line. It must be that Adrianna is cashing in "big time" on her military-industrial partnership, with the General Elektric warm-fuzzies-for-the-MIC ads.
Expecting Karzais government to be corruption-free is like expecting Washington D.C. to be Lobby-free. Same thing - different country. Before we diss Karzai we need to consider this.
He was a good puppet who is trying to break free from the shackles (strings) that bind him. Maybe we should encourage him and focus instead on the insanely stupid policy of supporting the jihadist Pakistani State. Denying Pakistan its stated objectives of controlling Afghanistan, is the first step towards peace in Afghanistan. We broke it, we fix it. We cannot walk away leaving the fox in charge of the hen house.
Of course the first step is USA withdrawal.
Does one expect murderers to administer first aid?