Stephen Lendman

Activist Post

Washington didn’t attack, invade and occupy Afghanistan to leave. Permanent occupation is planned.

NBC News headlined “Endless Afghanistan? US-Afghan agreement would keep troops in place and funds flowing, perhaps indefinitely,” saying:

While many Americans have been led to believe the war in Afghanistan will soon be over, a draft of a key US-Afghan security deal obtained by NBC News shows the United States is prepared to maintain military outposts in Afghanistan for many years to come, and pay to support hundreds of thousands of Afghan security forces.

The agreement reflects an open-ended military commitment. It involves “thousands of American troops (and) billions of US taxpayer dollars.

Draft “Security and Defense Cooperation Agreement Between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan” provisions state in part:

The Parties acknowledge that continued US military operations to defeat al-Qaeda and its affiliates may be appropriate and agree to continue their close cooperation and coordination toward that end.

America’s Afghan war has nothing to do with defeating Al Qaeda or other nonexistent terrorist threats. More on that below.

NBC News called the agreement “sweeping,” “vague in places (and) highly specific in others.”

It’s dated July 25, 2013. It’s a working draft. Its effective date is January 1, 2015. It extends through 2024 “and beyond.”

It defines everything from types of future US missions to “use of radios and the taxation of American soldiers and contractors.” It includes 28 articles. They’re titled:

Purpose and Scope

Definitions

(Afghan and international) Laws

Defense and Security Cooperation Activities

Developing and Sustaining Afghanistan’s Defense and Security Capabilities

Defense and Security Cooperation Mechanisms

External Aggression

Detention

Use of Agreed Facilities and Areas

Property Ownership

Positioning and Storage of Equipment and Materiel

Movement of Vehicles, Vessels, and Aircraft

Contracting Procedures

Utilities and Communications

Status of Personnel

Bearing of Arms and Wearing of Uniforms

Entry and Exit

Importation and Exportation

Taxation

Driving and Professional Licenses

Motor Vehicles

Service Support Activities

Currency and Exchange

Claims

Annexes

Disputes and Implementation

Joint Commission (to implement the agreement)

Entry into Force, Amendment, and Termination

US and Afghan negotiators reportedly agreed on terms. A traditional Afghan loya jirga (grand assembly) must ratify them. On Thursday, deliberations began.

Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai is Washington’s man in Kabul. He’s a convenient US stooge. He’s a Pashtun warlord.

He’s a former CIA asset. He profits enormously from America’s occupation. He amassed vast amounts of wealth from elicit drug trafficking.

He’ll step down after April 2014 presidential elections. Another convenient US stooge will replace him.

He agreed to grant US forces immunity from prosecution. He’ll let America discipline its own. It rarely happens for crimes of war or against humanity. US forces repeatedly get away with murder and then some.

Another stumbling block apparently was overcome. A Kerry/Karzai phone call reportedly resolved it.

Terms agreed on supposedly include Obama’s promise to apologize for “mistakes” made throughout the conflict.

Allegedly he’ll do so by letter. Karzai wants it read to 2,500 participating loya jirga elders and officials.

According to Karzai spokesman Aimal Faizi, finalizing terms depends on an Obama apology.

“The idea,” he said, is to “mention that there were mistakes made in the conduct of military operations in the past, in the conduct of military operations by United States forces in the last decade, and that Afghans have suffered, and that we understand the pain and therefore we give assurances and make sure those mistakes are not repeated.”

National Security advisor Susan Rice denies an Obama apology is forthcoming. “No such letter has been drafted or delivered,” she said.

There is not a need for the United States to apologize to Afghanistan. Quite the contrary. We have sacrificed and supported them in their democratic progress and in tackling the insurgency and Al Qaeda.

Rice is one of Washington’s worst ever officials. She reflects moral depravity writ large. She relishes imperial spoils.

She’s indifferent to human suffering. She’s a monument to wrong over right. She’s a disgrace and embarrassment to America, her position and humanity. She’s an Obama favorite. They’re partners in crime.

According to an unnamed State Department official, acknowledging civilian casualties is being discussed.

“We will consider (Karzai’s) request for reassurances, including the option of a letter from the administration stating our position,” he said.

If drafted, it won’t be worth the paper it’s written on. So-called “mistakes” repeat with disturbing regularity. Paper promises won’t stop them. Past ones didn’t end ongoing crimes of war and against humanity.

They include night raids on civilian homes, arrests, torture and deaths that follow, drone attacks largely affecting noncombatants, and other abusive practices.

Apologies ring hollow. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed regret for civilian deaths.

So did former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as Generals Stanley McChrystal, David Rodriguez and John Allen. Noncombatant killings continue.

The proposed deal includes another empty promise. US troops allegedly will only enter Afghan homes under so-called “exceptional and special” circumstances. Allegedly it’s to save American lives.

US troops don’t give a damn about others. They’re trained to kill. Protecting and preserving life doesn’t matter. Longstanding policy won’t change.

According to retired General David Barno:

So-called counterterrorism raids are “the area where the United States is going to be particularly sensitive to restrictions. Forces in combat, under fire, are going to require a little bit of that flexibility.”

In other words, expect no change in US night raid policy. Drone attacks won’t stop. Innocent civilians will suffer most. They’re the main casualties of wars.

Thousands of US forces will remain in Afghanistan indefinitely. Currently around 86,000 NATO troops include 60,000 US ones.

Afghanistan reflects the illusion of a lost cause. After over 12 years of imperial war and occupation, Washington won’t cut its losses and leave. It’s for good reason.

Afghanistan is considered a geopolitical prize. Plans are to stay indefinitely. War won’t end.

At issue is controlling Eurasia’s vast oil, gas and other resources. It’s controlling the world’s largest opium supply.

It floods world markets with heroin. It provides enormous profits for Wall Street. It gives CIA access to billions of dollars in elicit drug money.

Occupied Afghanistan gives America a strategically located land-based aircraft carrier. It’s part of Washington’s plan to encircle Russia and China with bases.

Both nations represent the only challengers to US global dominance. Imperial supremacy depends on neutralizing their alliance.

China is the world’s second largest economy. In a decade or less, it may surpass America. Russia is a formidable military power. It’s the only nation able to challenge America’s military might.

It has enormous oil and gas resources. China needs access to them. Both nations benefit strategically by allying.

Doing so weakens America’s long-term position. The new great game pits Washington against a Sino/Russian alliance. The fullness of time will tell which side prevails.

Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at [email protected] His new book is titled How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening. http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/