The Taliban's spring offensive has begun, with the insurgency significantly increasing its activities.
In the meantime, here's this Reuters news item...
US President George W Bush and other Western leaders have latched onto the case of Abdul Rahman, 41, who was arrested last month and accused of apostasy for converting to Christianity in 1990, saying that the issue was one of "honoring the universal principle of freedom".
For many Afghans, though, it is just another rallying point to step up pressure for a broader alliance against the presence of foreign forces in the country, while for the Bush administration and its allies it is an opportunity to rethink their position on Afghanistan.
US President George W Bush and other Western leaders have latched onto the case of Abdul Rahman, 41, who was arrested last month and accused of apostasy for converting to Christianity in 1990, saying that the issue was one of "honoring the universal principle of freedom".
The United States has more than 18,000 troops in the country, while the UN-mandated International Security Assistance Force numbers about the same. Germany and Italy have already hinted they may reassess military support for Afghanistan. And German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble suggested that Afghanistan could lose aid or technical support for reconstruction because of the case. The US begun reducing its troop strength in Afghanistan this year and has indicated that it will continue to do so.
So, all of this raises a question in my mind:
What do we really care about in Afghanistan?
- Preserving the rights of Christian minorities?
- Controlling the poppy production and winning the war on opium?
- Building a national and republican government there?
- Defeat of the Taliban?
- Capturing Osama bin Laden?
- Because we have enough time, assets, personnel and treasury left over from Iraquagmire that we can accomplish all of the above?
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