Comments for Registan.net http://www.registan.net Central Asia News -- All Central Asia, All The Time Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:39:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 Comment on Economic purge in Uzbekistan by AJK http://www.registan.net/index.php/2010/03/16/economic-purge-in-uzbekistan/comment-page-1/#comment-384953 AJK Wed, 17 Mar 2010 02:39:44 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10792#comment-384953 I'm a little out of my depth when it comes to the Who's Who of Uzbekistan, but it's interesting that he's going after new money: soccer, wholesaler, oil & gas. Not cotton, which is pretty much the whole export nowadays. I’m a little out of my depth when it comes to the Who’s Who of Uzbekistan, but it’s interesting that he’s going after new money: soccer, wholesaler, oil & gas. Not cotton, which is pretty much the whole export nowadays.

]]> Comment on Holbrooke, Foot, Mouth by Toryalay Shirzay http://www.registan.net/index.php/2010/03/15/holbrooke-foot-mouth/comment-page-1/#comment-384952 Toryalay Shirzay Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:58:55 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10789#comment-384952 Joshua, I wonder if you could write about why is it that the US/NATO continue to support and do business with so many blatant corrupt Afghan officials such as Mojaddadi and his cronies??The ordinary Afghan folks are tormented daily by these thugs as much as by the Taliban who are agents of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.The Taliban are foreign agents whether they come from Afghan villages or from Pakistan.After 30 years of war.bloodbath,massive destruction,the Afghan citizen on the street is still waiting for justice. Joshua, I wonder if you could write about why is it that the US/NATO continue to support and do business with so many blatant corrupt Afghan officials such as Mojaddadi and his cronies??The ordinary Afghan folks are tormented daily by these thugs as much as by the Taliban who are agents of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.The Taliban are foreign agents whether they come from Afghan villages or from Pakistan.After 30 years of war.bloodbath,massive destruction,the Afghan citizen on the street is still waiting for justice.

]]> Comment on Economic purge in Uzbekistan by Gucci Sneakers http://www.registan.net/index.php/2010/03/16/economic-purge-in-uzbekistan/comment-page-1/#comment-384951 Gucci Sneakers Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:46:43 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10792#comment-384951 www.guccisneakers1.com Gucci mens shoes on sale come in different forms and styles. It could be flats, boots, heels, sandals, or sneakers. If you value sneakers more than any other casual shoes because of its purpose or use, you can still own branded shoes of Gucci. You just have to choose Gucci sneakers in your desire to own at least one Gucci shoes. http://www.guccisneakers1.com
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]]> Comment on Holbrooke, Foot, Mouth by DE Teodoru http://www.registan.net/index.php/2010/03/15/holbrooke-foot-mouth/comment-page-1/#comment-384950 DE Teodoru Wed, 17 Mar 2010 01:13:24 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10789#comment-384950 There's an old Leninist concept that the neocons tried to use on America to garnish support for their so-called "World War IV" against Islam; it is POLARIZE TO MOBILIZE. Yet, this method only works with intellectuals, not village mullahs, elders or “one tribe at a time,” I think. I have never seen it work on rural folk anywhere in the Mediterranean Basin. Another concept is that of culture as a limitation on acts of self-advancement and sacrifices that enable the largest number of people in a community to survive. Lastly, Mao advised guerrillas to always operate BETWEEN provinces because then the provincial authorities would argue over whose jurisdiction they fall in and by the time it's settled the guerrillas can be gone. While Mediterranean cultures seem very similar, especially in terms of social interactions, Muslim cultures seem uniquely able to muddle the distinctions. Therein it is an art form more than a mere taking of advantage. In that context, Holbrooke seems an utterly absurd individual to use in "rural diplomacy with ever shifting Muslim authorities." He has a knack for assuming freedom of action to justify the commitments he bullies in demanding and then proceeds to use his Foggy Bottom gaggle to nudge people to accept his demands. Speaking to Balkan in-laws who dealt with him I can safely say that he is NOT the man for the job. Of course, if he's dealing with British molded South Asians, then he's the perfect man to BS them because he starts off seeming real dumb and then soon has them in his vice-grip logic of no other *available* alternatives. But the cartooning of Pashtuns that he has engaged in reminds of that old question: what walks on four to start, moves to two, then to tree and finally back to four. This would suggest that he is now crawling in the twilight of his diplomatic career much as he did in its Vietnam infancy. At any rate, smart Obama is using a lot of diplomats and generals like fireflies as means of getting people's eyes off the ball. The Clintonistas dominating the White House may or may not squeeze him out by 2012 to be replaced by Hillary. If so, then it would be Hillary standing on a Democrat feminist “suitpants outfilt” on a soapbox against Petraeus as the Republican standing on his cardboard of ribbons. So whether Obama is the candidate in 2012 or Hillary, by 2011 PRESIDENT Obama will begin withdrawing forces and assets and, most importantly, money from Afghanistan (causing a lot of WashDC bureaucrats to be pink-slipped) so that by Election Day we may well see the Taliban facing the Shanghai Cooperative Accord instead of McChrystal and Holbrooke. Such a situation makes the Tajiks, Uzbeks and others more dominant in a Russo-Sino dominated war on terror and drugs. The Pashtuns have proved something the Punjabis would love to see mowed down somewhat by external forcers. I never met a Pakistani officer who did not rue the day they let 5 million Afghans set up base in Pakistan. Even tribalism has given way to “villagism,” just as in Vietnam. That being the granularity at which the Afghan War will be resolved, I can't imagine Holbrooke having anything to offer. On the other hand, the fate of Dubai forebodes badly for the cash support of the Taliban from the Gulf so Brit-educated surrogates may well be speaking for a lot of diverse tribal elders, gangs and warlords in Jirgas run by Holbrooke. As a result, he may profit in prestige resulting from the desperation of his interlocutors much as he did from Balkan desperation. Stay tuned because a lot of deadlines are coming and this time they won't be extended because America is veeeerrrryyyy anemic! There’s an old Leninist concept that the neocons tried to use on America to garnish support for their so-called “World War IV” against Islam; it is POLARIZE TO MOBILIZE. Yet, this method only works with intellectuals, not village mullahs, elders or “one tribe at a time,” I think. I have never seen it work on rural folk anywhere in the Mediterranean Basin. Another concept is that of culture as a limitation on acts of self-advancement and sacrifices that enable the largest number of people in a community to survive. Lastly, Mao advised guerrillas to always operate BETWEEN provinces because then the provincial authorities would argue over whose jurisdiction they fall in and by the time it’s settled the guerrillas can be gone. While Mediterranean cultures seem very similar, especially in terms of social interactions, Muslim cultures seem uniquely able to muddle the distinctions. Therein it is an art form more than a mere taking of advantage. In that context, Holbrooke seems an utterly absurd individual to use in “rural diplomacy with ever shifting Muslim authorities.” He has a knack for assuming freedom of action to justify the commitments he bullies in demanding and then proceeds to use his Foggy Bottom gaggle to nudge people to accept his demands. Speaking to Balkan in-laws who dealt with him I can safely say that he is NOT the man for the job. Of course, if he’s dealing with British molded South Asians, then he’s the perfect man to BS them because he starts off seeming real dumb and then soon has them in his vice-grip logic of no other *available* alternatives. But the cartooning of Pashtuns that he has engaged in reminds of that old question: what walks on four to start, moves to two, then to tree and finally back to four. This would suggest that he is now crawling in the twilight of his diplomatic career much as he did in its Vietnam infancy.

At any rate, smart Obama is using a lot of diplomats and generals like fireflies as means of getting people’s eyes off the ball. The Clintonistas dominating the White House may or may not squeeze him out by 2012 to be replaced by Hillary. If so, then it would be Hillary standing on a Democrat feminist “suitpants outfilt” on a soapbox against Petraeus as the Republican standing on his cardboard of ribbons. So whether Obama is the candidate in 2012 or Hillary, by 2011 PRESIDENT Obama will begin withdrawing forces and assets and, most importantly, money from Afghanistan (causing a lot of WashDC bureaucrats to be pink-slipped) so that by Election Day we may well see the Taliban facing the Shanghai Cooperative Accord instead of McChrystal and Holbrooke. Such a situation makes the Tajiks, Uzbeks and others more dominant in a Russo-Sino dominated war on terror and drugs. The Pashtuns have proved something the Punjabis would love to see mowed down somewhat by external forcers. I never met a Pakistani officer who did not rue the day they let 5 million Afghans set up base in Pakistan. Even tribalism has given way to “villagism,” just as in Vietnam. That being the granularity at which the Afghan War will be resolved, I can’t imagine Holbrooke having anything to offer. On the other hand, the fate of Dubai forebodes badly for the cash support of the Taliban from the Gulf so Brit-educated surrogates may well be speaking for a lot of diverse tribal elders, gangs and warlords in Jirgas run by Holbrooke. As a result, he may profit in prestige resulting from the desperation of his interlocutors much as he did from Balkan desperation. Stay tuned because a lot of deadlines are coming and this time they won’t be extended because America is veeeerrrryyyy anemic!

]]> Comment on Holbrooke, Foot, Mouth by Afghanvoice http://www.registan.net/index.php/2010/03/15/holbrooke-foot-mouth/comment-page-1/#comment-384949 Afghanvoice Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:00:44 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10789#comment-384949 Well, there is something that can be said about Holbrooke's statement. Maybe not every Pashtun family has a Talib of its own. But it is certainly true that in every Pashtun household there is at least one who sympathizes with the Taliban. Pashtuns are very diverse people. Usually the ones who are in favor of foreigners are from rich, and wealthy families. If not, then they are certainly secularists. And as we all know by now, majority of Pashtuns are extremely poor, unemployed and very conservative. So I think Holbrooke has a point. But Sibghatullah Mujadidi should be just shot between the eyes. he is more evil and corrupt than Satan. He use to spit on people's hand in exchange for money. Because apparently he is some kind of a saint. Well, there is something that can be said about Holbrooke’s statement.

Maybe not every Pashtun family has a Talib of its own. But it is certainly true that in every Pashtun household there is at least one who sympathizes with the Taliban.

Pashtuns are very diverse people. Usually the ones who are in favor of foreigners are from rich, and wealthy families. If not, then they are certainly secularists.

And as we all know by now, majority of Pashtuns are extremely poor, unemployed and very conservative.

So I think Holbrooke has a point.

But Sibghatullah Mujadidi should be just shot between the eyes. he is more evil and corrupt than Satan.

He use to spit on people’s hand in exchange for money. Because apparently he is some kind of a saint.

]]> Comment on AfPax Insider Is Death by CTuttle http://www.registan.net/index.php/2010/03/15/afpax-insider-is-death/comment-page-1/#comment-384948 CTuttle Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:44:24 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10785#comment-384948 As google touts <a href="http://www.afpax.com/" rel="nofollow">AfPax Insider...</a> <blockquote>AfPax Insider: The world's premier Afghanistan and Pakistan-focused Web site. Free 24/7 up-to-the-minute news providing an unrivaled combination of ...</blockquote> Funny how there's no posting whatsoever for 2010...! Love the content too...! (Britney Spears and faux Oakley's...?) Our US taxpayer dollars hard at work again...! Imagine the damage you would wrought, Joshua, with even a tenth of that swag...? ;-) As google touts AfPax Insider…

AfPax Insider: The world’s premier Afghanistan and Pakistan-focused Web site. Free 24/7 up-to-the-minute news providing an unrivaled combination of …

Funny how there’s no posting whatsoever for 2010…!

Love the content too…! (Britney Spears and faux Oakley’s…?)

Our US taxpayer dollars hard at work again…!

Imagine the damage you would wrought, Joshua, with even a tenth of that swag…? ;-)

]]> Comment on America the Unreliable by Dave http://www.registan.net/index.php/2010/03/15/america-the-unreliable/comment-page-1/#comment-384947 Dave Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:44:47 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10782#comment-384947 Great post Joshua, but I disagree on your analysis of the role of the U.S. I don't think that Baradar, as an intelligence asset, would be of sufficient value to the U.S. for them to undermine negotiations. Instead, I think they were in the dark and the ISI played the U.S. (again). I wrote up my thoughts in more detail here: http://demagoguesanddictators.blogspot.com/2010/03/now-it-all-makes-sense.html Great post Joshua, but I disagree on your analysis of the role of the U.S. I don’t think that Baradar, as an intelligence asset, would be of sufficient value to the U.S. for them to undermine negotiations. Instead, I think they were in the dark and the ISI played the U.S. (again). I wrote up my thoughts in more detail here:

http://demagoguesanddictators.blogspot.com/2010/03/now-it-all-makes-sense.html

]]> Comment on Holbrooke, Foot, Mouth by Bilal Wardak http://www.registan.net/index.php/2010/03/15/holbrooke-foot-mouth/comment-page-1/#comment-384946 Bilal Wardak Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:37:06 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10789#comment-384946 Well said, Mr Holbrooke knows what he's up to. I can count about 11 people from my family being associated with the current resistance. Pashtun's have always gave hands to those who resists the foreigners let it be Taliban, Hezb e Islami or whatever floats one's boat. The Taliban ideology is not what we see through media, it's very simple and straight up' they are fed up with the foreigners. We all know that 95% of the Taliban come from the pashtun lands. The rest are Arabs, chechens, uzbeks, Tajiks, europeans and what not. Holbrooke is not wrong, Mojaddedi seems like he isn't being loyal to his bosses (US, Holbrooke, NATO) I think it's about time to twist mojaddedi's ear lol. Well said, Mr Holbrooke knows what he’s up to. I can count about 11 people from my family being associated with the current resistance. Pashtun’s have always gave hands to those who resists the foreigners let it be Taliban, Hezb e Islami or whatever floats one’s boat. The Taliban ideology is not what we see through media, it’s very simple and straight up’ they are fed up with the foreigners. We all know that 95% of the Taliban come from the pashtun lands. The rest are Arabs, chechens, uzbeks, Tajiks, europeans and what not. Holbrooke is not wrong, Mojaddedi seems like he isn’t being loyal to his bosses (US, Holbrooke, NATO) I think it’s about time to twist mojaddedi’s ear lol.

]]> Comment on America the Unreliable by DePetris http://www.registan.net/index.php/2010/03/15/america-the-unreliable/comment-page-1/#comment-384945 DePetris Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:05:21 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10782#comment-384945 Mr. Foust, do you have any personal information that would actually confirm that Baradar is truly interested in reconciliation with Karzai? I understand that western officials consider him a moderate in the Taliban leadership, but even moderates have self-interest at heart. Perhaps he was merely using negotiation as a tactic to bring the Taliban into a potential Afghan governing coalition. While this is certainly speculation, it seems that this scenario is just as viable as the one you are putting forth in this post. Mr. Foust, do you have any personal information that would actually confirm that Baradar is truly interested in reconciliation with Karzai? I understand that western officials consider him a moderate in the Taliban leadership, but even moderates have self-interest at heart. Perhaps he was merely using negotiation as a tactic to bring the Taliban into a potential Afghan governing coalition. While this is certainly speculation, it seems that this scenario is just as viable as the one you are putting forth in this post.

]]> Comment on Holbrooke, Foot, Mouth by DePetris http://www.registan.net/index.php/2010/03/15/holbrooke-foot-mouth/comment-page-1/#comment-384944 DePetris Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:59:21 +0000 http://www.registan.net/?p=10789#comment-384944 Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the job of a U.S. Special Envoy- like Richard Holbrooke- was to create conditions that make U.S. objectives easier to attain. In fact, this is why the Obama administration has relied on so many special envoys during its first year in office (Ross in Iran, Mitchell in Israel/Palestine and Holbrooke in Afghanistan/Pakistan); the White House wants to achieve a certain element of success in these vital regions. Statements like these are not only highly offensive to Pashtun families in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but they totally disregard the tremendous sacrifices made by the Pashtun community against the Taliban Movement. Thousands upon thousands of Pashtuns have been killed in both countries for the sake of this objective. Some are even killed for merely helping coalition forces in intel operations. Wise up Holbrooke, and do the job that the President expects you to do. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I thought the job of a U.S. Special Envoy- like Richard Holbrooke- was to create conditions that make U.S. objectives easier to attain. In fact, this is why the Obama administration has relied on so many special envoys during its first year in office (Ross in Iran, Mitchell in Israel/Palestine and Holbrooke in Afghanistan/Pakistan); the White House wants to achieve a certain element of success in these vital regions.

Statements like these are not only highly offensive to Pashtun families in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but they totally disregard the tremendous sacrifices made by the Pashtun community against the Taliban Movement. Thousands upon thousands of Pashtuns have been killed in both countries for the sake of this objective. Some are even killed for merely helping coalition forces in intel operations.

Wise up Holbrooke, and do the job that the President expects you to do.

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