Foreign
Developments
U.S. Military Has Work
CHINA’S SPACED OUT
China is developing a
new generation of high-tech
space weapons that could
To Do in Afghanistan
obliterate key U.S. satellites,
The Washington Times reports.
China is building lasers,
Civilian Efforts Aren’t Enough
microwave devices, and new
computer systems to attack
U.S. satellites, says strategic
“W
E CAN’T KILL OUR WAY TO fundamentalist group. Relief agencies
expert Bruce W. MacDonald.
victory” in Afghanistan, are learning from these mistakes and
The systems could complicate
says Adm. Michael adapting their approach.
efforts to defend Taiwan.
MacDonald recommends
Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of For example, Provincial
using sophisticated jammers to
Staff. Success, he says, requires greater Reconstruction Teams have been set neutralize the Chinese threat.
efforts among U.S. up by the U.S. Army along with the
GUEST
civilian agencies and the Australians, Canadians, British, and BAGHDAD BLUES
COMMENTARY
international community. Germans. The teams of soldiers and
Why is America spending
Caroline Firestone
He is right, of course. civilians go into villages and meet with
$300 million to plant pro-U.S.
But those independent Loya Jirga, the traditional village councils
stories in the Iraqi news media?
That question would appear
agencies seeking made up of old men, called white beards,
particularly appropriate, given
peace and stability in who hold an iron grip on the community. the $79 billion budget surplus
Afghanistan still face The teams offer Loya Jirga up to
Iraq has. Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va.,
serious obstacles, most $50,000 to build whatever the village
says enough is enough. Webb
thrown up because needs most — a school, a water facility,
is asking the Pentagon to
halt the program, adding, “It
of their inherent a road, or a bridge. The only condition
makes little sense for the U.S.
misunderstanding of is that village residents must elect a new Department of Defense to be
Afghan culture. Without a council by secret ballot, and that the new
spending hundreds of millions
Caroline Firestone,
fi rm grasp of the way the council will designate the improvements.
of dollars to propagandize the
wife of the late
Iraqi people.”
Firestone Tire and
country’s laws and society As a result of these secret ballots, the
Rubber Co. President interact, even the most traditionally all-male village councils
Leonard Firestone, is
well-intentioned efforts have been overturned in favor of mostly
RUSSIANS ARE COMING
the author of the book Israeli Prime Minister Ehud
Afghanistan Evolving
have proved ineffective. female local leadership. Even before the
Olmert’s decision to cede part
and founder of the And without construction projects begin, the PRTs are
of downtown Jerusalem to
New Hudson
cooperation from and accelerating women’s rights and bringing
Russia received scant attention.
Foundation. She’s
protection by the military, Afghanistan into the 21st century.
But
IsraelToday.com reports
visited Afghanistan
several times. civilian relief work is Despite these successes, much work
that, during Olmert’s visit to
Russia in October, he bowed to
doomed to failure. remains to help the civilian population
demands from Russian leader
Consider our sluggish progress to and thwart the Taliban.
Vladimir Putin
date. The U.S. government had paid Several hundred nongovernmental
and agreed
about $500 million to advisers in organizations (NGOs) working in
to hand over
Afghanistan by 2005, but their efforts Afghanistan serve as the lifeblood of the
control of a tract
of land known
at the local level remained hamstrung nation, building hospitals and schools
as Sergei’s
by laws against private land ownership, and offering training for modern farming
Courtyard. The
corrupt local offi cials, oppressive warlords production, etc.
property includes
and militia leaders, and a population of The NGOs have tried to distance
a lush garden
largely powerless refugees. themselves from the military, believing
and fountain, as
well as Israel’s
That corruption led to the common that their neutrality would earn the
agricultural and
CEDED
misconception that Afghan villagers Taliban’s respect and keep them safe
parks ministries. Olmert
warmly welcomed the re-emerging from attack. But Islamic fundamentalism
Most Israeli (top) to
Taliban. In fact, when the Taliban has exposed the NGO workers to
offi cials agree
Putin.
AP IMAGES
returned in 2005, its members simply kidnapping and beheading.
the property
belongs to Russia, but worry the
entered villages undeterred, and went Now more than ever, these groups
handover could set a precedent
from house to house demanding need the security only a strong military
for other land transfers.
that families enlist a male member can provide, or we are as doomed in our
T
/
AP IMAGES / PUTIN/
of the household with the Islamic efforts as the British and Russians were. OLMER
40 NEWSMAX / DECEMBER 2008
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