Comments on: J is for Jihad, and K is for Kalashnikov, and I is for Infidel

J is for Jihad, and K is for Kalashnikov, and I is for Infidel

kirkaracha — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 17:04:56 -0800

"I" is for "Infidel" "Associated Press and New Yorker [Q&A] writer Kathy Gannon delivers an intimately observed history of Afghanistan from 1986 to the present. The longest-serving Western journalist in the region, Gannon overturns simplistic understanding of the country's politics in this eye-opening talk." [more inside]

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 17:06:10 -0800

Excerpt from her book, I is for Infidel. From a Boston Globe review:

One recurrent theme is an uncanny American habit of allying with Afghan leaders who brutalize their own people and later turn against the United States or nurture its future enemies. ... Her title is drawn from an English primer printed in the United States for Afghan refugees who fled to Pakistan during the Soviet occupation. The book, Gannon writes, 'taught the alphabet by using such examples as: J is for Jihad, and K is for Kalashnikov, and I is for infidel."

By: kirkaracha

kirkaracha — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:23:29 -0800

"Every single bomber or I.E.D. in one way or another is linked to Pakistan," a senior Afghan intelligence official said, referring to improvised explosive devices like roadside bombs. "Their reasons are to keep Afghanistan destabilized, to make us fail, and to keep us fragmented."

By: taosbat

taosbat — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 18:46:37 -0800

"...wrong facts..."

By: bardic

bardic — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 19:39:40 -0800

Of all the screwing over my government is responsible for in the past century, it's the Cambodians and the Afghanis who have every right to shove pitchforks in our collective asses when we make it to hell.

By: spazzm

spazzm — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 19:58:11 -0800

Fascinating. Looking at the history of Afghanistan, it seems that one of the requirements for having a real empire is to fuck over Afghanistan.

By: homunculus

homunculus — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 20:14:11 -0800

The Bush War on Afghan Drugs

By: QIbHom

QIbHom — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 20:31:21 -0800

spazzm, I think the Maya and the Vikings missed invading Afghanistan.

By: CynicalKnight

CynicalKnight — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 20:40:29 -0800

the Maya and the Vikings missed invading Afghanistan They were going to, but the Vikings got lost at Newfoundland and the Mayans called in sick.

By: j-urb

j-urb — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 21:01:29 -0800

is anyone actually observing the lecture besides myself?

By: taosbat

taosbat — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 21:06:29 -0800

I listened to the whole thing, j-rub.

By: j-urb

j-urb — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 21:44:20 -0800

what's with the "...wrong facts..." ? How so, taosbat?

By: infini

infini — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 23:28:18 -0800

the Maya and the Vikings missed invading Afghanistan They were going to, but the Vikings got lost at Newfoundland and the Mayans called in sick. posted by CynicalKnight at 8:40 PM PST on November 14 aaah but the afghans invaded India instead ...

By: yonation

yonation — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 06:12:55 -0800

jeff gannon is back?

By: taosbat

taosbat — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 06:40:44 -0800

At about 7:48, she is talking about how our government got so much of what was/is happening in Afghanistan & Pakistan wrong using the example of the CIA mistaking just who it was that invited OBL to Afghanistan, and she says that our foreign policy was "...based on these facts, wrong facts..." I keep seeing those "...wrong facts..." causing us trouble in all sorts of situations. I'm thinking our worst enemy is "...wrong facts..."

By: languagehat

languagehat — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 12:43:31 -0800

A good, informative talk—thanks for posting it.

By: j-urb

j-urb — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 18:55:45 -0800

tru dat, t.b. yeah thanks for posting, kirk a. too bad more people cant take the time to check it out.

By: taosbat

taosbat — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 19:30:43 -0800

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Al Qaeda is reinvigorating its operations from havens on the Afghan-Pakistani border and poses a growing challenge to U.S. interests in both Iraq and Afghanistan, American intelligence officials said on Wednesday. Five years after the September 11 attacks and the fall of Taliban rule in Afghanistan, the network led by Osama bin Laden has replaced leaders killed or captured by the United States and its allies with new seasoned militants. "It has shown resilience," CIA Director Michael Hayden told the Senate Armed Services Committee. "The loss of a series of Al Qaeda leaders since 9/11 has been substantial. But it's also been mitigated by what is, frankly, a pretty deep bench of low-ranking personnel capable of stepping up to assume leadership positions," Hayden said. "These new leaders average over 40 years of age and two decades of involvement in global jihadism..."