BRIBED LOYALTY: THE WAY THEY DO IT IN KABUL

Tribal leaders of Jirga have apparently been bribed in quite a haste. Instead of paychecks and “the only true currency” Karzai had to lavish them with promises that, firstly, their clans would be free from the “night clean-ups” and inspections, and, secondly, that American military wouldn’t interfere with the tribal opium trade in Pakistan, having confined themselves with the fight against major producers. I’m really desperate to know, whether American taxpayers are aware of objectives, their money are spent for?

“As far back as during his election campaign Barack Obama named Afghanistan the cornerstone of his foreign-policy concept. He has repeatedly claimed that achieving success in Afghanistan would allow solving the major part of the international terrorism dilemma”. This is a quote from my article “Afghanistan: Back to the Great Game?” that was written exactly two years ago. Today, preparing to run again, the U.S. President “is cleaning up his background”, burdened with the lost wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Voters demand results, of which there are none. Reuters has recently published an article by Missy Ryan (chief of the Mexico and Central America Bureau) named “Key Senator warns against Taliban talks, transfer”.

OBAMA: TWO YEARS TO CLEAN THE FOREIGN POLICY STABLES OUT. Part II

                                  4. Settlement of the Middle-Eastern conflict.

Cool-down of American-Israeli relationship was nearly the most dangerous consequence of Barack Obama’s coming to power. No matter how paradoxically it may sound, but Israel is every bit as important to America, as America is important to Israel. Republicans have historically supported Israel with a truly religious zealous fervor and — believe it or not — but neo-con ideology, confessed by the GOP is to a considerable degree based on the literal interpretation of some Biblical excerpts. According to them, second coming of Jesus Christ and the Judgment Day may only come when Judaic Jerusalem Temple (also called the Third Temple) would be completely restored. Place where it should be rebuilt is the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. As the saying goes, that’s where the shoe pinches. Without going deep into historical and religious details, we have all the reasons to state that Temple Mount is an equally sacred place for all three Avraam’s religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam). That is why Palestinians demand to give Jerusalem back to them, which is also why Israel has no intention to do so and which is exactly why American neo-cons are supporting the Jewish state.

Two years to clean the foreign policy stables out

Perhaps, everyone may recollect the Obamania that spread over Europe, Asia and Africa during his election campaign in the USA. Europe perceived Obama to be new reincarnation of John F. Kennedy — young, elegant, free-thinking adherent of liberal democracy. Asia and Africa were joyous because of the color of his skin. Whatever the motivation, expectation of a wonder that literally was hanging in the air, unified all Obamaniacs. Miracle, however, didn’t happen. Why is that?

Analyzing the policy of current American democratic administration we should always keep in mind that it is conducted under constant stiff pressure of its eternal opponents — Republicans and the governments of U.S. allies. The latter have their own views regarding the favorable behavior of their Trans-Atlantic “Big Brother” — each of them is to serve the interests of these allies even if it contradicts the goals of other American friends, who are mostly grouped within NATO or simply bound together by the shared aims and targets.