Dec. 15 (Bloomberg) -- President George W. Bush arrived unannounced in Afghanistan, where the Taliban is regaining its hold on a country that served as the first front seven years ago in the U.S. fight against terrorism.
Bush’s visit today came as more of a surprise than his journey to Iraq yesterday, where he had been expected to go before leaving office Jan. 20. In Baghdad he signed an accord on future U.S. military involvement and cautioned that the war there “is not over.” He also dodged shoes thrown at him by an angry Arab journalist.
During his second and final visit to Afghanistan as commander-in-chief, Bush plans to hold a pre-dawn rally with U.S. troops and meet later with Afghan President Hamid Karzai. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made an unexpected trip two days ago to Afghanistan, where he met with British troops battling Taliban militants in the south before going to Kabul, the capital.
Read on.
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Michael Yon reports from Afghanistan. Near the end he mentions the unusual habits and bravery of Lithuanian troops:
U.S. and Afghan soldiers in Zabul Province give high marks to the Lithuanian Special Forces, who like to ride these captured Taliban motorbikes to sneak up on, and chase Taliban fighters. The “LithSof” are on their way to becoming living legends: Both Afghans and Americans report that the Taliban are afraid of the Lithuanians. Stories about them are filled with dangerous escapades and humor.
Americans say that the Lithuanians are sort of a weaponized version of Borat, who think nothing of sauntering around a base in nothing but flip-flops and underwear. “They look like mountain men. They never shave, sometimes don’t bathe, and often roll out the gate wearing nothing but body armor and weapons. Not even a t-shirt,” an American soldier told me. The Lithuanians may be a little bit nuts, but the Americans love to have them around because Lithuanians love to fight, and when you need backup, you can count on them. That contrasts starkly with many of the NATO “partners.” Maybe when your country spends almost a half-century with the Soviet boot on its neck, its first generation of free soldiers know what freedom is worth — and that you sometimes have to fight for it.
I read this at http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/195426.php
MS
I heard from a soldier in Baghram and yes GW is coming. This time he will be shield because he knows what happen when Cheney went there. Baghram is/was the safest place in Afghanstan. No attacks and Peaches said people got along with the troops as respect was always given. Along come Dick Cheney and yes Baghram was bombed. Now nothing has happen since he left, but one soldier feels with the visit of GW trouble could come again. The actions of the Journalist throwing the shoe is how all the Middle East people feel, now the Middle East leaders a sucking up to Bush for the money that's given. When the taxpayers really see how much money Bush has spent as blackmail/kick backs/pay offs you'll understand why our debt is in the Trillions. We killed so many innocent people and paid for them not to report it. We're like the Mob but we pay out for our murder. The best news comes from the troops on the ground in Iraq/Afghanstan and I'm glad they keep in touch.
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