On being Hamid Karzai

Robert Haddick of Small Wars Journal has a provocative piece online that’s summed up in this sub-head: “Note to the White House: You don't own Karzai -- he owns you.” With each escalation of American forces, Mr. Haddick argues, the Afghan president has a firmer grip on Mr. Obama’s testicles. The essay concludes: “the United States is fighting in Afghanistan not against terrorism but for its reputation, for its ability to convince the wider world that it is in control of its affairs and that its power can achieve challenging goals. But this means that the world audience, and not the U.S. president, will decide for itself whether it is convinced about the efficacy of American power.” Which was pretty much the case in Vietnam forty years ago. Blue skies! – Dan Ford