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General In Afghanistan Dismissed For Dissing Karzai
You would think that after the Rolling Stone profile that cost Stanley McChrystal his command in Afghanistan, generals would be extremely careful about venting steam to reporters. But no.
Gen. John Allen, the commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, just announced that he fired Maj. Gen. Peter Fuller after he gave a surprisingly harsh interview to Politico criticizing Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the Afghan generals he mentors as “isolated from reality.” (photo: U.S. Army) Gen. John Allen, the commander of U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, just announced that he fired Maj. Gen. Peter Fuller, the deputy commander of the crucial mission to train Afghan security forces. Fuller, a recent arrival to Afghanistan, gave a surprisingly harsh interview to Politico criticizing Afghan President Hamid Karzai and the Afghan generals he mentors as “isolated from reality.”
Allen is having none of it. “These unfortunate comments are neither indicative of our current solid relationship with the government of Afghanistan, its leadership, or our joint commitment to prevail here in Afghanistan,” Allen said in a statement.
Fuller is a perfect example of what Dave Chappelle memorably called “When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong.” In the Politico interview, he excoriated Karzai for threatening to take Pakistan’s side in a hypothetical war with the United States. “Someone senior” in the Afghan government apparently told Fuller that he wanted expensive tanks from the U.S. not to defend his country but to haul out for parades.
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Show All"Allen is having none of it. “These unfortunate comments are neither indicative of our current solid relationship with the government of Afghanistan, its leadership, or our joint commitment to prevail here in Afghanistan,” Allen said in a statement."
Karsai like Israel at all costs.
Not to worry. He'll resurface in the CIA or the Pentagon. Just like Petraeus and other shills like this one who have been "dismissed" before in order to please some sensibilities and keep appearances.
"“Someone senior” in the Afghan government apparently told Fuller that he wanted expensive tanks from the U.S. not to defend his country but to haul out for parades."
Any real journalists follow up on that part of the story?
to bad the rest of the troops can't just say the same and get let go
Maybe Gen. Fuller decided he wanted either to come home or retire, but didn't feel like wading through all the red tape which might take months. So he said something too insubordinate to ignore and got instant results - one way or the other.
Just sayin'.
Ya know, I'm getting REAL tired of paying taxes that go to support our fascist military. I mean, it really pisses me off....... All of us here at CD know fully well that Karzai, a former employee/rep of a western oil company, and some of his fellow Afgan "politicians", have likely sequestered BILLIONS of our tax dollars in various banks in various countries. He is not really "on our side".... Plus, we don't want to be on his side, regardless! We supposedly went into Afganistan to put a stop to OBL & his what, 200 or so henchmen?..... 200?!...... omg................. I'm sure all the military guys know Karzai's a POS.....
As I said, I'm really getting sick of my hard earned money going to fund criminals.... & that includes loads of US politicians, too!!!
ps. btw who are we writing in for prez in 2012? Gary Johnson?!....(an apparently "liberal" libertarian oriented rethug from CA...) (We've all read the straight dope on Ron Paul, & yeah, he's wacked....) Ralph Nader, Jr.? (is there one?!)..... I like the lady from the Washington Post (?) who's a frequent guest on the Tavis Smiley show...... How 'bout Robert Kuttner? Or any number of other CD writers....Amy Goodman.............. Is John Brown still around?...........
Why not vote Green? It will still be a protest vote, but for a party whose platforms are truly progressive.
That stupid two-star actually believes the cover story.
I want to bring to Mr. Fuller’s notice:
First, “. . . we just gave you $11.6 billion and now . . .”. Excuse me!! Who did you give $11.6 billion to? You are absolute wrong. You didn’t give Afghans a single penny. Major part of that amount was spent by the army itself either for killing innocent people or for their own extravaganza. The remaining either went to the pockets of corrupt contractors (they were corrupted by corrupt generals), warlords like Fahim, Khallili, Qanuni, Karzai’s brothers and other folks and friends.
My second point is about Fuller’s baseless statement “Afghan government had not fully recognized the sacrifices in “treasure and blood” that the U.S. was making for their security”. You must be joking After Americans and their allies invaded Afghanis-tan, they destabilized the country, they snatched security, and they dehumanized people. Who asked you to make sacrifices for Afghans? Why did you invade that country in the first place? Why are staying after Bin Laden was killed? Because you were shouting that you invaded Afghanistan to either captor or kill Bin Laden. If your aim is not to plunder the resources of that area, then get out, but take all your dirty agents and mobsters with you. Don’t leave them laden with arms in Afghanistan to carry on your wicked and immoral mission.
My 3rd point is Fuller’s arrogant comment “And I think that’s part of my job to edu-cate ’em.” I think first you better educate yourself and learn your language. Then you’d better educate your personnel so that they behave like human beings not like blood thirst vicious creatures. Go and educate your own people so that they become aware of the horrendous and inhuman policies of their own government (I’m sure your never do these things because it is against your blemished moral principals).
I don’t think Afghans needs that kind of twisted and crooked education. I think by “. . . . educate ’em.” you mean to bend them to fit your values. You cannot impose your values on others at the tip of the gun!