Is Afghanistan Obama's Vietnam?

If Afghanistan's ruler Hamid Karzai looks a little fey to you, perhaps it's because he's not from the world we inhabit.  He didn't win his country's election, but his only competition dropped out in disgust at what he charged was rampant cheating.  And he's said to have been a creature of American intel.  Do you think this could become another 'Vietnam?'

His brother, Ahmad Wali Karzai, is said to have been at least a double agent for both America's Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] and the opium cartels which have long dominated Afghanistan's economic, political and social life.

Is it any wonder that President Karzai's only contender in the disputed election, Abdullah Abdullah, has just withdrawn -- leaving the country with only one candidate to contest what's supposed to have been a runoff this weekend?

Against this backdrop, new charges of corruption and of the utter futility of attempting to remodel Afghanistan in America's image were outlined by growing numbers of experts on the country and the region.

Among them is Matthew Hoh, a bright and as yet undaunted young American State Department officer and former Marine who's just resigned his Embassy post in Kabul to protest the new Obama administration's policies.

What do you think our nation should now do about Afghanistan?  Do you think we should continue to send American troops there?  How many more troops do you think President Obama is likely this month to announce that he's sending?

[Views expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of CompuServe, Netscape, any government, agency, or news organization.]

This morning's Manchester Guardian:

Abdullah Abdullah: 'I will not participate in the election'

Afghan presidential candidate Abdullah Abdullah has withdrawn from an election runoff because he says his demands to ensure a fair vote have not been met

CBS:

Leak on CIA, Karzai's Brother Changes Everything

(AP Photo/File)

The leak of information about Afghan President Hamid Karzai's brother and his alleged connection to the CIA and tribal drug lords is curious. Leaks always are. But in this case, the release of this sensitive information is troublesome and potentially game-changing in a dangerous war.