It Gets Worse

First defence minister Gord O'Connor said he "hoped" the US wouldn't draw down its forces in Afghanistan to meet president Bush's "surge plan" for Iraq.

Now he says there's no problem anyway because we've got the Afghan police set up throughout our area. Say what?

I don't know if Gord reads but I'm sure he doesn't read much. If he did he'd realize that source after source, Asian, European, North American and Afghani, have shown the Afghan police are crooked and predatory against their countrymen. They're bent, Gord, and they're heavily infiltrated by the very folks we might have to fight come the Spring.

Even the National Post, cheerleader for all things Tory, was incredulous:

"I gotta tell you, things are looking a lot better in Kandahar province than they were six or seven months ago,” Mr. O’Connor said. “The prospects for the future are much better.”

Asked to explain the reason for his confidence, Mr. O’Connor said: “As we clear village after village, we’re putting police detachments in those villages, so there are Afghan police being placed through the whole zone. We’re also moving the Afghan army into strongpoints, so this whole area is going to be dominated by the Afghan police and the Afghan army.

“If there is a return in the spring of more Taliban into that area, we will know about them almost instantly, because we will have police and army in that area, and the Taliban will find it a lot more difficult penetrating that area than they did in the past.”

"Mr. O’Connor’s confidence in the reliability of the Afghan police is not shared by many western observers. While the fledgling Afghan army has proved to be a brave and disciplined partner of coalition forces in the past year, the loyalty and ability of the Afghan police is far less certain."

"A motley crew that includes many one-time militants loyal to various warlords, the poorly armed and equipped police are described in the January edition of the respected Foreign Affairs magazine as “corrupt,” “incompetent,” and heavily involved in the illicit opium trade that helps fund the insurgency."

You're right Gord. When they come to fight in the spring we'll know about them almost instantly. They'll make sure of that. Meanwhile, Gord, isn't it time for your nap?