DISQUS

Letter Never Sent: Karzai’s Edgy Special Forces Bodyguards | Letter Never Sent

  • Prentiss Riddle · 7 years ago
    Well, no, I don't think Karzai's difficulty staying one step ahead of assasination attempts is a particularly good indicator of the strength or weakness of his mandate. Rather I think it is an indication of the level of violence to which Afghan society is accustomed. I think he would have similar problems whether he was supported by 1%, 10%, 50%, 90% or 99% of his people, provided that his enemies are well-armed and ruthless.

    I'm not very well read in political theory, but I've heard the phrase "monopoly of violence" used to describe the norm in functioning nation-states, whether democratic or not: when the police and/or the military have overwhelming firepower and are subject to a unified authority, you don't see a lot of violence in the streets. Afghanistan is a good example of a place where there is no monopoly of violence -- although it's now moving in that direction.

    I have no particular belief that Karzai represents democracy in the here and now, but then it strikes me as pretty naive to think that democracy is even a possibility so soon after a "regime change" in an occupied country that's had a war within its borders for 30+ years. Karzai is supposed to be a first step in the direction of democratic institutions. You may have information about how he falls short of even that modest goal; if so, I'm all ears. But to fault him for not being democratically elected strikes me as a straw man argument.
  • Neils · 7 years ago
    Wahhhhhhhhhh
    Wahhhhhhhhhh
    Sob moan
    Please please
    Protect my house and home

    You big strong hairy man
    You idiot I don't respect you
    Givin it his all all he can
    I'm not backin what you do

    My split personality allows
    Me to think it coincidence
    That I'm safe here and it's Not my head that's dense

    I talk talk peace
    That make me good
    You on the other hand
    Have not been misunderstood

    I not small spoiled child
    I not arrogant twit
    I cool with my hampshire drool
    And intellectual snit

    Mommy mommy mommy
    Big man make me cry
    Somebody protect me
    I no wanna die

    But I ok
    It's those vests and guns
    It never take that
    To get things done

    I angel wonderful and sweet
    I friendly and smart
    I blow up hot air balloons
    I like to tear you apart

    From far away
    It my right to whine
    And tantrum throw
    My light know how to shine

    Look girls look
    I against war
    Aren't I sexy
    All the way to core

    Look girls look
    Like a cock I crow
    Dos men moving
    Dey don't know

    I real man
    They bad
    I ghandi..almost
    Not some passing fad

    Here me when I Wahhhhhhh
    I Wahhhhhh sometimes the best
    I salivate my preadorned fate
    I pass the racetraitor.org

    Litmus test

    Neils
    9:58 pm
    9/10/2002

    ***************
    ***************

    Way to go
    Way to extend your learning curve..I remember you said somethin about bikers..bein cool to watch..why don't you find some real ones and give them some of this column and stand their all popular culture like in some small town or off on some lone rest stop somewhere...

    N..again