Afghanistan, and Liberal Europe

Did you know that many Taliban fighters are afraid to defect from cause? Much as Iraq has changed since former fighters began to fight for the country, it could also be true in Afghanistan. But, a stronger, more secure government is needed to pul it off.

"Ninety-five percent of the Taliban want to reconcile with the government if they can be assured security," Mullah Abdul Salam, a former high-ranking Taliban commander and now district chief in Musa Qala in the southern Helmand Province, told Reuters. "But the government of Afghanistan cannot ensure their safety. If they defect to the government, the other Taliban will kill them. They are fighting for their lives."

This possibility has a lot of promise. Petraeous has said what worked in Iraq will not work in Afghanistan. And, he has cited several good and valid reason why. Yet, while the tactics and applications that brought so much success in Iraq may not work in Afghanistan, the goal needs to be the same.

Meanwhile, the Spanish are out to arrest Bush administration officials.

The case, against former Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales and [five] others, was sent to the prosecutor’s office for review by Baltasar Garzón, the crusading investigative judge who ordered the arrest of the former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet.

A previous attempt was made by human rights groups in Germany. This attempt has been filed by a different human rights group, the Association for the Dignity of Prisoners, using Spanish jurisdiction since Spanish prisoners are believed to have been tortured. Mr. John yoo, whose legal opinions were the basis for Bush policies, commented that such cases could prompt military and intelligence agencies to reduce efforts to protect due to the threat of legal actions. Needless to say, there is a fine line between gathering intelligence and abuse of prisoners. The problem is that many “prisoner rights” are based, not on good policy, but on self esteem and other such concepts. This whole line of thinking ignores the wrong that is done, and the need for restitution to the victims, in the name of making nice to those who did wrong. Terrorists are no different. They hide behind legal obscurities to maim and destroy, but are treated exactly the same by liberaldom. Without some sort of punishment, aside from locking people up in country club environments—even though surrounded with barbed wire and walls—there will never be any real change in a criminals’ or terrorists’ hearts. These types of lega; actions, while perhaps motivated to keep excesses in check, will most likely only curb truly necessary and proper action, giving criminals and terrorists even greater reign.