Apr 23 2010

For Your Consideration: The Shock Doctrine for Afghanistan

(11 am. – promoted by ek hornbeck)

In this mornings Editorial in the NYT, the President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, is labeled as “frustrating, difficult and – as his recent anti-American rants make especially clear – not a reliable partner.” Not necessarily an inaccurate description but then the US government backed him and is now whining because he is acting as the head of a sovereign nation and criticizing the policies of the US and NATO Allies

However the main thrust of the Editorial is for Mr. Karzai to accept the “assistance” of

The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank could all do a better job of monitoring, auditing and coordinating the billions of dollars of international aid flowing into Afghanistan.

As Jim White in the Seminal at clearly states

Oh, yes. Bringing the IMF and World Bank into the equation is “less sensitive” only to those who haven’t read Naomi Klein. For those who have read The Shock Doctrine, this move by the Times amounts to a request to declare open season for the west to exploit the vast sums of relief money flowing into Afghanistan and to then follow up by exploiting the natural resources there.

Just as the multinationals have looted the relief money that flowed into Argentina after the Allende assassination, Southeast Asia after the Tsunami, NYC after 9/11, New Orleans after Katrina, and now, Haiti, again.

Even Former president Bill Clinton said that so-called “free trade” has destroyed the ability of developing countries to even feed themselves forcing them to rely on hand outs from the US, China and the EU.

The last  chapter of Ms Klein’s book describes how with the help of NGO’s the people and the government can rebuild their lives, their economy and  in the process their country.

The United States and her allies need to stop meddling in the affairs if Afghanistan and let the people there get on with recovering and rebuilding or we will forever be at war and they will forever be dependent.

3 comments

    • TMC on April 23, 2010 at 22:20
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  2. ….. was the person who penned that, sober ?


    Afghanistan is one of the world’s poorest countries, but it is not without prospects. It is believed to have huge mineral wealth, including copper, iron ore and rare earth minerals like lithium, used in making electric cars. Its agricultural areas can be more than self-sufficient if irrigation canals are rebuilt and access provided. Its carpets and textiles have a worldwide market.

    The ag areas are loaded with landmines. Millions.  Hence, poppygrowing for drugs for cash.  http://www.atimes.com/atimes/S…  The Opium Wars in Afghanistan, 4/1/2010

    Oh, and don’t forget about the TAPI pipelines!   Toronto Star  http://www.thestar.com/article…


    Turkmenistan is the country nobody talks about. Its huge reserves of natural gas can only get to market through pipelines. Until 1991, it was part of the Soviet Union and its gas flowed only north through Soviet pipelines. Now the Russians plan a new pipeline north. The Chinese are building a new pipeline east. The U.S. is pushing for “multiple oil and gas export routes.” High-level Russian, Chinese and American delegations visit Turkmenistan frequently to discuss energy. The U.S. even has a special envoy for Eurasian energy diplomacy.

    Rivalry for pipeline routes and energy resources reflects competition for power and control in the region. Pipelines are important today in the same way that railway building was important in the 19th century. They connect trading partners and influence the regional balance of power. Afghanistan is a strategic piece of real estate in the geopolitical struggle for power and dominance in the region.

    Since the 1990s, Washington has promoted a natural gas pipeline south through Afghanistan. The route would pass through Kandahar province. In 2007, Richard Boucher, U.S. assistant secretary of state, said: “One of our goals is to stabilize Afghanistan,” and to link South and Central Asia “so that energy can flow to the south.” Oil and gas have motivated U.S. involvement in the Middle East for decades. Unwittingly or willingly, Canadian forces are supporting American goals.

    Could it be the civilian casualties that McChrystal’s NATO forces have to keep apologizing for ?  https://www.docudharma.com/diar…

    Gee, why would that “ingrate” Karzai be feeling any pressure from his surroundings ?

    • Edger on April 25, 2010 at 17:19
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    in a position to see the corruption and imperialism firsthand…

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