Replicating Russia's Rout ?

Russian Ambassador to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov says that no mistake committed by the Soviet Union in Afghanistan isn't being repeated by the International Community, and worse, the US and NATO led forces are making mistakes of their own. Kabulov was a young Soviet diplomat in 1977 and is considered an experienced resource on the situation in Afghanistan. He cites 3 major mistakes: Underestimation of the Afghans, perceived superiority over the inferior fighters, and distrust of their abilities to run their own affairs.

Kabulov admits to some satisfaction watching those who backed the mujahideen now suffering the same way, adding that the lack of knowledge of the social and ethnic structure and insufficient understanding of religion and tradition compounds the Alliance's woes. His words are being echoed by Ahmad Shah Ahmadzai, a mujahideen leader who admits to failure after the Soviet pullout but draws parallels with the 1980's war and the current international mission. He said the Russians were beaten because they were transgressors in their country, and opines that the Soviets tried to impose communism then. Today, the so-called democracy is being imposed, and he sees no difference on the ground situation then and now.

NATO commanders were quick to object to these assessments claiming everything was being done to prevent casualties, and that the military was making progress against insurgents. Ambassador Kabulov, who 2 years ago questioned the US on the establishment of a base in Afghanistan if the US claims that the Taleban no longer exists, also credits the Soviets with a working administration during their time, making the efforts more difficult now than it was in the 1980's.

The assessment by the Russian Ambassador comes at the heels of brewing tensions among NATO's Defense Ministers on the operations in Afghanistan. The emergence of divisions stemmed between nations doing much of the fighting (US, Canada, Britain, Netherlands) versus those alliance members with national caveats on their troops location or their ability to take part in combat missions (Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Spain). This was harmonized however, after a few hours over lunch with all ministers dismissing a crisis among themselves.

Ambassador Kabulov may be providing a well informed opinion and some serious thought towards the conduct of the operations in Afghanistan. Or, he could just be sour graping. But his admission of satisfaction at the suffering of the Alliance's soldiers betrays his intent. For a diplomat to express this sentiment reflects a low valuation on human life and regard for peace and order. It shows willingness to sacrifice both and to see its defeat for the sake of political vindication, and to increase the clarity of his pretentious posturing.

Harrrwwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!

Bout Busted in Bangkok

The "Merchant of Death", regarded as the world's biggest illegal arms dealer was arrested by Thailand's police in Bangkok. Victor Bout, 41, a Russian who graduated from Moscow's Military Institute and known to be a Major in the KGB, is wanted for engaging in illegal arms trade in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, South America, Europe, and selling arms and weaponry to the Taleban and Al Qaeda. He is also the most prominent foreign business man known to be breaking UN embargoes on arms sales to Bulgaria, Slovakia, Ukraine and Krygyzstan. Bout was arrested on the strength of a US warrant issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Victor Bout, who has the reputation as the "man who makes war possible", is believed to be the inspiration for Nicolas Cage's character in the 2005 film "Lord of War". In 2002, he evaded arrest stemming from a warrant issued by Belgium and interpol when he returned to Russia. The Russian Constitution protected him from extradition. He has also been investigated in several countries but has never been prosecuted for arms dealing. As implied in the movie, the illegal arms dealer is set free by the higher authorities of the very country that arrested him, primarily because these countries use him to sell arms to the enemies of their enemy in a war for wealth and profitable resources.

Bout speaks several languages and owns the largest private fleet of Soviet era cargo aircraft, obtained during the break-up of the Soviet Union. It is chillingly possible that he has also obtained and sold some of the former USSR's nuclear weapons and ICBMs to countries that are at odds with the western powers. Bout has denied performing illegal acts. How this arrest and seizure of his cargo in Thailand will play out deserves scrutiny. Trade offs and back room deals to prevent information leaks about involvement of other countries and their officials in sanctioning arms selling, could conceal the brutal truth about these transactions and the bloody trail of death, destruction and misery it leaves behind. Bout could certainly be out of the picture, but someone from the same mold will take his place.

Men like Victor Bout see only the profit in war. They are cognizant of the lust for power among leaders, that fuel the greed and plunder of nations; unmindful of the suffering, pain, dislocation, and psychological damage to the survivors and the generation of bitter orphans it produces. These are mere collateral damage for their objective of wealth and power acquisition. The trader in Victor Bout is focused on the transaction as a business agreement; and death, in all its savagery, brutality, and inhumanity is just an economic method where the tools of his trade are applied. That such men are protected by heads of powerful agencies of states is not surprising. The pursuit of power and the desire to dominate produces the worst of scoundrels even within nations that declare their adherence to democratic principles.

Haaaarrrrwwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!