I was somewhat amused, though I have to be careful using the word amused in regard to a tragedy like this, to see Northern Alliance fighters in Afghanistan defy the wishes of President Bush by capturing the capital of Kabul.
What did we expect?
They're the ones who've been fighting and dying on the ground, though it was undoubtedly our bombing campaign that gave them new muscle. Kabul is the historical, geographical center, literally the Land of Oz to these men. For them to see their deadly enemies, those butchering Taliban maniacs flee, to see their own capital undefended, and not move forward?
Bush and Powell have handled things pretty well up until now, but if they don't watch out, they'll micro-manage this war to the point they snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
There is such a thing as being too cautious. It's happened before. Hitler did it at Dunkirk. He was winning hands down and got nervous about his tanks. He allowed the British and their Free French allies to escape.
You big shots in government get paid enough. Why don't you study history so you won't make the same mistake.
Our representatives are worried about human rights violations among the Northern Alliance, about their shady past. Gee! That's shocking, given our long history as an arms dealer for much of the world, and past support for white knight paragons of democracy like South Vietnam and the Philippines, not to mention the same Taliban we're now trying to oust.
We were once allies of Stalin, the greatest butcher in history. We needed his help.
Mainland China, a nation that kills its prisoners, chops them up into little bits, and ships the body parts refrigerated parcel post all over the world----is today our favored-nation trading partner.
I say let the Northern Alliance fight and win. Beggars can't be choosers. We need friends in that part of the world, even unsavory ones. Some of them may be thugs, but they're our thugs. Let me rephrase that. They're not ours. They wouldn't have disobeyed our orders and taken Kabul if they were.
It's gotta be that way. If they do everything we say, then they're our puppets (the Taliban will make that charge regardless). What chance would they have of consolidating and holding what they've won if they don't have a shred of independence?
We'll focus on making them nice guys when the dust settles.
This episode begs the question. Just how far has the arrogance of the imperial presidency advanced that Mr. Bush thinks he can order allied troops not under his command to do anything? Bush seems a very likable down-home sort of guy. But I've noticed that ever since Nixon, some of our chief executives tend to act like they're president not just of the United States, but of the world.
