COMBAT OUTPOST SABARI, KHOST PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN — An Afghan soldier had spotted the tiny wire in the road, bringing the convoy of Humvees to a halt.
Soldiers trailed the wire to a 30-pound explosive device, where a second bomb had been rigged to blow up whoever came to help the victims of the first. That’s when they saw the young man running across the field off the road.
After he was caught and identified as an insurgent by a fingerprint check and retinal scan, the Afghan soldiers beat him, first with rifles and then with switches, as the Americans looked on disapprovingly.
“It’s their fight now,” said Lt. Alex Graves, leader of the platoon that was patrolling with the Afghans.
Graves did not witness the beating of the suspect, but he sees the differences in the Afghan way of doing things.
“They’re never gonna do it to the American standard, but to an Afghan standard,” he said.
The U.S-led coalition of military forces has spent years training the Afghan soldiers and police in professional conduct so they earn the respect and full support of the Afghan people. But some here worry that the Afghans, who in June took over security from the coalition, may drop some of those standards once the coalition removes most of its combat troops in 2014.
That could alienate the public and give the Taliban the opening back into the hearts of the people that they’ve been denied for the 11 years that the Americans have been here fighting.
“There is a lot of discipline and training with the Afghan National Army, but, of course, the starting level is so low that I am not sure the majority of the soldiers understand the rights of a prisoner,” said Yama Torabi, executive director of Integrity Watch Afghanistan.
KABUL — Of all the challenges the United States faces as it winds down the Afghanistan war, the most difficult might be closing the prison nicknamed “The Second Guantanamo.”
The United States holds 67 non-Afghan prisoners there, including some described as hardened al-Qaida operatives seized from around the world in the months after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. More than a decade later, they’re still kept in the shadowy facility at Bagram air base outside Kabul.
Closing the facility presents many of the same problems the Obama administration has encountered in its attempt to close down the Guantanamo Bay detention center in Cuba. Some U.S. officials argue that Bagram’s resolution is even more complicated — and more urgent. The U.S. government transferred the prison’s Afghan inmates to local authorities this year. But figuring out what to do with the foreign prisoners is proving to be an even bigger hurdle to shutting the American jail.
“Is there a plan? No. Is there a desire to close the facility? Yes,” Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the top U.S. general in Afghanistan, said in an interview.
With the United States’ nearly 12-year fight in Afghanistan due to end next year, the State Department and the Pentagon have been unable to come up with a strategy for the trial or repatriation of men from more than a dozen countries held at Bagram. Meanwhile, the population in the prison is growing because of the apprehension of foreign fighters in joint U.S.-Afghan Special Forces operations. The newest detainee was sent to Bagram last month.
None of the prisoners have been formally tried. Many have been cleared for release by informal military review boards, but most of those were never freed.
Because the detention center is on Afghan soil, U.S. forces are technically obliged to shutter it when their combat role here formally ends in December 2014. But some U.S. officials and politicians say that would pose an enormous security risk.
The best solution, they say, is to keep the facility open under U.S. oversight, possibly for decades. It is not at all clear, though, that the Afghans will permit that.
I think they were annoyed that I was younger than they expected, and I was annoyed they had arrived too early, which complicated the initial verification. As soon as we were behind close doors, however, I think everyone was reassured by the obsessive attention to precaution and bona fides. I was particularly impressed by Glenn’s ability to operate without sleep for days at a time.
Quote by Raine:
Hmmm....I think they were annoyed that I was younger than they expected, and I was annoyed they had arrived too early, which complicated the initial verification. As soon as we were behind close doors, however, I think everyone was reassured by the obsessive attention to precaution and bona fides. I was particularly impressed by Glenn’s ability to operate without sleep for days at a time.
Quote by wickedpam:
No, no, let me stop everything I'm doing for your boss and mine to focus on your little photo issue that I got from the wineries own website. Let me just drop everything to take a bottle shot when my photography skills are beyond suck.
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
No, no, let me stop everything I'm doing for your boss and mine to focus on your little photo issue that I got from the wineries own website. Let me just drop everything to take a bottle shot when my photography skills are beyond suck.
I am also in a place of re-examining my schedule and time commitments for the year. Just two weeks ago our friends (and very close friend of my 6 year old son James, incoming Tiger) lost their only child, 6 year old son, in a tragic drowning accident (at a supervised day camp, unthinkable happened). They are part of our school family and good friends. This loss has been devastating to our family. And I am doing what I can to make room in my life for these precious friends who need strong support.
Quote by Raine:
I hope things are going as well as they can for Liv this morning. Today is his hearing.
Quote by TriSec:
I have news.
Tragedy has struck the extended Pack 250 family, per the note I just received from our Committee Chairman...
I am also in a place of re-examining my schedule and time commitments for the year. Just two weeks ago our friends (and very close friend of my 6 year old son James, incoming Tiger) lost their only child, 6 year old son, in a tragic drowning accident (at a supervised day camp, unthinkable happened). They are part of our school family and good friends. This loss has been devastating to our family. And I am doing what I can to make room in my life for these precious friends who need strong support.
Apropo to our discussion yesterday - I'm truly at a loss here. I have just called an ad-hoc session of the executive committee to see what kind of support our Scout family can offer. "A Scout is Helpful", after all...
Quote by Raine:
Thanks OBAMA...
Quote by wickedpam:
That was random
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Where is Mondo? he needs to see this! (I'm still laughing)
Quote by Raine:
He's on the BoF -- I hope he wasn't blocked out of Das Blog.
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
He's on the BoF -- I hope he wasn't blocked out of Das Blog.
oh noes! He hasn't gone all Little Match Girl has he?
Quote by Raine:Probably more Squirrell! than Match girl...Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
He's on the BoF -- I hope he wasn't blocked out of Das Blog.
oh noes! He hasn't gone all Little Match Girl has he?
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Quote by TriSec:
Scoop about today?
Dude, if you're still into electronic music, you need to drop what you're doing RIGHT NOW and get over to the Chillcast with Anji Bee and download episode #371.
It absolutely kicks ass.
Quote by Raine:
Just found another AWESOME place for lunch.... They have the bast clam chowder I have ever had -- and believe me that is saying ALOT. They call it Galway Clam chowder and it's similar to NE Clam chowder yet a little lighter (more like a bisque) with a few more veggies.
I fell in love.
Quote by TriSec:Quote by Raine:
Just found another AWESOME place for lunch.... They have the bast clam chowder I have ever had -- and believe me that is saying ALOT. They call it Galway Clam chowder and it's similar to NE Clam chowder yet a little lighter (more like a bisque) with a few more veggies.
I fell in love.
Oh, fine....BLASPHEMER!!!
Vegetables in clam chowder. What's next, tomatoes??? grumble, grunt, "manhattanisnotchowder" *spits*.
Quote by Raine:Quote by TriSec:Quote by Raine:
Just found another AWESOME place for lunch.... They have the bast clam chowder I have ever had -- and believe me that is saying ALOT. They call it Galway Clam chowder and it's similar to NE Clam chowder yet a little lighter (more like a bisque) with a few more veggies.
I fell in love.
Oh, fine....BLASPHEMER!!!
Vegetables in clam chowder. What's next, tomatoes??? grumble, grunt, "manhattanisnotchowder" *spits*.
You must miss out on an awful lot of good food with that 'tude.
Quote by TriSec:Quote by Raine:
Just found another AWESOME place for lunch.... They have the bast clam chowder I have ever had -- and believe me that is saying ALOT. They call it Galway Clam chowder and it's similar to NE Clam chowder yet a little lighter (more like a bisque) with a few more veggies.
I fell in love.
Oh, fine....BLASPHEMER!!!
Vegetables in clam chowder. What's next, tomatoes??? grumble, grunt, "manhattanisnotchowder" *spits*.
Quote by Raine:New England clam chowder
Manhattan clam chowder
Rhode Island clam chowder
New Jersey clam chowder
Delaware clam chowder
Hatteras clam chowder
Minorcan clam chowder
and so on....
Quote by Raine:
“Putin is trying to re-establish the Orthodox Church as the moral compass of the nation it had been for 1,000 years before Russia fell captive to the atheistic and pagan ideology of Marxism,†Buchanan wrote in conservative news site Townhall, citing recent statements by Putin in a July 2013 meeting with church leaders.
“In many of the world’s regions, especially in the Middle East and in North Africa inter-confessional tensions are mounting, and the rights of religious minorities are infringed, including Christians and Orthodox Christians,†Putin said at the meeting, prompting Buchanan to criticize President Barack Obama’s August 6 remarks rebuking of Russia’s law banning “homosexual propaganda.â€
“Has Obama ever spoken out so forcefully for international action to save Christians?†Buchanan wrote. “Has the New York Times ever exhibited a fraction of the concern for persecuted Christians it daily exhibits for harassed homosexuals?â€
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Scoop, can you give me the definition of what you mentioned a few weeks ago: Outrage tourist?
{@zosi} someone on Hacker News (one of the few sane people...) coined the phrase "outrage tourist" and I think that perfectly describes the demographic that Greenwald and several others are targeting nowadays - people who are angry at the state of things, and just itching for more excuses to rage, and Greenwald delivers. over and over, he posts articles that are designed to just make your blood boil if you're on his ideological side, which is the exact same thing that conservative talk show hosts do.
{sc00p} the funny part is i (we) are on his 'ideological side' and we know all he's doing is the same HYPEbolic bullshit that Fox News does
{@zosi} I've listened to more of their (Rush & Hannity's) shows than I care to admit - and if you listen critically, it's really easy to see a pattern. they know before the show starts what they want to get people worked up about. they hype it up, they provide some fuel for the fire in the form of monologue, then they start taking carefully-screened callers to either pick apart and destroy (if they're opposition) or sympathize with the occasional caller thrown in for pure affirmation
{@zosi} "You're so right Rush, this is exactly what the liberals are doing to destroy this great country, we can't let them!", etc.. the only difference is that Greenwald uses his blog and Twitter instead of a radio show and phone bank. and yeah, I don't even really disagree with a lot of the points he brings up... I have never supported the Patriot Act. I would prefer it if the government was at least slightly more transparent. I don't like the lack of oversight on a lot of intel/anti-terrorism programs. I also don't like it when demagogue on my side makes it impossible to have rational conversations with the other side
Quote by wickedpam:
OMG! This recording Randi is playing really is on the crazy train!
Quote by Scoopster:Quote by Raine:
Scoop, can you give me the definition of what you mentioned a few weeks ago: Outrage tourist?
*rummages through the IRC chat logs* Aha! This should help.{@zosi} someone on Hacker News (one of the few sane people...) coined the phrase "outrage tourist" and I think that perfectly describes the demographic that Greenwald and several others are targeting nowadays - people who are angry at the state of things, and just itching for more excuses to rage, and Greenwald delivers. over and over, he posts articles that are designed to just make your blood boil if you're on his ideological side, which is the exact same thing that conservative talk show hosts do.
{sc00p} the funny part is i (we) are on his 'ideological side' and we know all he's doing is the same HYPEbolic bullshit that Fox News does
{@zosi} I've listened to more of their (Rush & Hannity's) shows than I care to admit - and if you listen critically, it's really easy to see a pattern. they know before the show starts what they want to get people worked up about. they hype it up, they provide some fuel for the fire in the form of monologue, then they start taking carefully-screened callers to either pick apart and destroy (if they're opposition) or sympathize with the occasional caller thrown in for pure affirmation
{@zosi} "You're so right Rush, this is exactly what the liberals are doing to destroy this great country, we can't let them!", etc.. the only difference is that Greenwald uses his blog and Twitter instead of a radio show and phone bank. and yeah, I don't even really disagree with a lot of the points he brings up... I have never supported the Patriot Act. I would prefer it if the government was at least slightly more transparent. I don't like the lack of oversight on a lot of intel/anti-terrorism programs. I also don't like it when demagogue on my side makes it impossible to have rational conversations with the other side