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Afghanistan/South Asia
Karzai wants long-term security deal with US
2005-04-14
KABUL - Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Wednesday he wants his country to have a long-term security relationship with the United States to help the war-torn country defend itself. Speaking at a press conference during a visit by US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Karzai said "the Afghan people want a longer-term relationship with the United States".

"They want this relationship to be a sustained economic and political relationship, and most importantly of all, a strategic security relationship to help Afghanistan defend itself," Karzai said.
I think we can oblige. Who do we have in Heidelberg who's not doing anything important right now?
Rumsfeld said the US military's relationship between Afghanistan and the United States had "grown and strengthened," but he avoided the issue of whether Washington hoped to establish permanent military bases. "What we generally do when we work with another country (is) we find ways we can be helpful, maybe training, equipment or other types of assistance. We think in terms of what we are doing rather than the question of military bases and that type of thing," he said.
"We're thinking, we're thinking ...
Posted by:Steve White

#10  Never thought they were,Gimpy.But they would be of much more benifit elswhere.And given Germany and France's attitude I say screw it,take our money,toys,personel and put them where they will do some good.After all niether country considers the world a dangerous place,infact they consider the U.S. the most dangerous country in the world.If they need an army let them buy thier own.
Posted by: raptor   2005-04-14 6:34:00 PM  

#9  ummmm.... Pork Steaks!
Posted by: Shipman   2005-04-14 5:40:06 PM  

#8  Hello, GIMPY, and welcome to Rantburg. Hope we see you in comments now and again.
Posted by: Seafarious   2005-04-14 2:38:50 PM  

#7  "I think we can oblige. Who do we have in Heidelberg who's not doing anything important right now?"

Um, that would be that 700 to 1,000 of us down here now, from H-Town, Steve. LOL
Raptor, look at where the Divisions are now.
While I am a fully paid up member of the Rummy Fan Club and support Global Rebasing, I don't want you guys to walk away with the impression that OCONUS forces are sitting in Garrison getting fat on beer and pork steaks,
Posted by: GIMPY   2005-04-14 2:21:06 PM  

#6  "Don't call me sir,I work for a living"
Posted by: raptor   2005-04-14 12:39:50 PM  

#5  The problem for Karzai, and Uncle Sam, is that Afghanistan is landlocked. This means we must gain access to the country via either Pakistan or the Central Asian states (I'm assuming China and Iran are out - neither provided its airspace for the Afghan campaign). Is it in the American interest to provide a security guarantee for Afghanistan? I think it's too early to say. First, we need to see a viable Afghan army. Then we'll talk. Otherwise Afghanistan could become like the Philippines - just another country with which Uncle Sam has a mutual defense treaty that has chosen to neglect its national defenses. (Japan and South Korea are the other two, and neither is exactly self-sufficient). What Karzai may want is military welfare, paid for with the blood of American troops. I think we need to make sure he creates a viable security force before committing to anything.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2005-04-14 12:30:49 PM  

#4  TW: Absolutely.
Posted by: Ptah   2005-04-14 10:26:19 AM  

#3  Is it possible that SecDef Rumsfeld actually knows what he's doing? ;-)
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-04-14 10:06:03 AM  

#2  Right On, raptor! I still can't figure out why we have even one soldier in Germany. Maybe we're waiting on the second rise of Nazism or something! You're promoted...General raptor.
Posted by: smn   2005-04-14 9:13:18 AM  

#1  Pulling 38,000 troops out of Germany,ok.Send a division to Iraq and relieve a division for R&R.Send a division to Afganistan to establish a permanant base on the Iranian border.Works for me.
Posted by: raptor   2005-04-14 8:44:46 AM  

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