Comments on: Not Really a Press Release You Ever Want to Read http://washingtonindependent.com/49079/not-really-a-press-release-you-ever-want-to-read National News in Context Sun, 04 Mar 2012 13:30:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: joshuafoust http://washingtonindependent.com/49079/not-really-a-press-release-you-ever-want-to-read/comment-page-1#comment-39915 joshuafoust Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:44:43 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=49079#comment-39915 So it's come out that the commander of the "security guards" had a family member cooling his heels in the jailhouse, so he gathered some men and tried to break him out. The police chief arrived on scene, and a gunfight ensued.<br><br>Sounds like (the real version, that is, at least as best we can tell) it was competing corruption by men with guns that ended badly. I guarantee you we'll see Karzai spinning this for his campaign since the 41 men they arrested were found on KAF, and that there was a bribe element involved in why the prisoner was not released peacefully.<br><br>But more worrying is that the Karzais' quick run to the media have managed to cement in a lot of Afghan's minds the impression that this was yet another SOF raid gone wrong. Which is pretty much the most damaging thing they could have possible said. So it's come out that the commander of the “security guards” had a family member cooling his heels in the jailhouse, so he gathered some men and tried to break him out. The police chief arrived on scene, and a gunfight ensued.

Sounds like (the real version, that is, at least as best we can tell) it was competing corruption by men with guns that ended badly. I guarantee you we'll see Karzai spinning this for his campaign since the 41 men they arrested were found on KAF, and that there was a bribe element involved in why the prisoner was not released peacefully.

But more worrying is that the Karzais' quick run to the media have managed to cement in a lot of Afghan's minds the impression that this was yet another SOF raid gone wrong. Which is pretty much the most damaging thing they could have possible said.

]]> By: Tom Brouns http://washingtonindependent.com/49079/not-really-a-press-release-you-ever-want-to-read/comment-page-1#comment-39597 Tom Brouns Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:56:21 +0000 http://washingtonindependent.com/?p=49079#comment-39597 I agree it's ominous - for Afghanistan. We in Afghanistan are also wondering what's going on. Sometimes there are tribal or other tribal dynamics we simply aren't privy to - who knows. But I wouldn't criticize (not that you are) US Forces Afghanistan for not providing additional substance. I think they flat out don't know, and after President Karzai lashed out without knowing the facts, it would have been simply adding fuel to the fire to lash back - or to comment without knowing the facts. I think it's best left for the Afghan government to fill in the details. I agree it's ominous – for Afghanistan. We in Afghanistan are also wondering what's going on. Sometimes there are tribal or other tribal dynamics we simply aren't privy to – who knows. But I wouldn't criticize (not that you are) US Forces Afghanistan for not providing additional substance. I think they flat out don't know, and after President Karzai lashed out without knowing the facts, it would have been simply adding fuel to the fire to lash back – or to comment without knowing the facts. I think it's best left for the Afghan government to fill in the details.

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