In the US, 'Veterans Today' states

"America is in its 10th year of war in Afghanistan and losing. Everyone there hates us, we haven’t won a single “heart” or “mind.” We have succeeded in building an empire of opium and heroin on a scale never before imagined.
Millions at home, tens of millions in Russia, Europe and around the world have been destroyed by the flood of narcotics distributed with deadly efficiency by a combination of rogue military and intelligence operations and the contracting firms we payed to protect us.
American corruption, incompetence and brutality has recruited hundreds of thousands into a war against the United States who could otherwise have been our allies. This is the simple truth of it."

Now that is coming from the Veterans themselves. Must have some credibility. But little old Australia will just meander along with the big brother, serving no purpose, having the occasional funeral for Gillard to attend just to remind us that we do have soldiers in a military dalliance overseas, of no benefit to us and for all the wrong reasons.
That is how it is in the world today allowing governments to accept such evils such as...

9/11 was pure “false flag” staged by Israel with help from Pentagon, CIA and White House “friends”
There were NO 9/11 hijackers, no “box cutters,” no airplane drama, no passengers storming the cockpit, no phone calls, it was all made up
No plane hit the Pentagon, it was a missile
Two airplanes didn’t knock down the 3 WTC towers.. Impossible
Osama bin Laden worked for the CIA and died 10 years ago of kidney failure
Al Qaeda never existed until the US invented it.

Because most of the world either doesn’t care about the above or just cannot believe that such things are possible, they keep on happening, year after year..

In history, no one has ever won a war in Afghanistan. This war is not there to be won just as a cover up for drugs, military spending, a springboard to attack Iran and US military hegemony.

Oh, I forgot oil?

But Kellie, the state can do no wrong, remember? I find it amusing that you favour government control of virtually every aspect of society, but inconsistently reserve some criticism for military aggression. But all the policies you are in favour of depend on aggressive force, or hadn't you realised that? However keep up the good work: when you apply your anti-violent principles *consistently* across the board, you will be a libertarian.

Don’t hold your breath waiting for the change Peter Hume.

The ways of the Politicians, like those of the gods, are mysterious.

Clear is only their dream to put in order your world.

Sorry Kellie,

You're trying to tell us that the Afghans for peace, (whoever they are) organised a peaceful protest rally with the main slogan being "Death to America, Death to Britain. "

ARE YOU SERIOUS?"
Do you have ANY credulity at all?

Groups and individuals with Islanic countries have ALWAYS used the fact/fiction (whatevers most convenient) of INFIDEL insults to Islam to rally the faithful and drown out the moderate voices. Thats a fact that you seem to gloss over in your search for fellow travellers.

... " Nearly two weeks passed without incident after Mr. Jones and his congregation of about 30 followers burned a Quran in Florida on March 20. Then, on March 31, President Karzai made a speech condemning Mr. Jones and calling for his arrest. A day later, protesters stormed the UN compound in Mazar-e-Sharif, killing seven foreign employees and triggering demonstrations across Afghanistan that left a total of 22 people dead and scores injured."http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-South-Central/2011/0405/Why-did-Karzai-spotlight-Terry-Jones-s-Quran-burning

you say " Would we all be surprised if, as is occurring in North Africa, progressive young city-dwellers mobilised to overthrow the ruling regime? Assuming the improbable, that the invading powers allowed widespread public protest to swell and threaten the Karzai government, how would that sort of movement be portrayed in the press releases that cross directly into the mainstream media?"

Like progressive, inner city dwellers in melbourne and sydney?

Absolutely right, it wouldn't be surprising to have such a movment develop out of nearly 40 years of war. They would be sitting in their cafes sipping their lattes and discussing how to prevent global warming, and deciding whether to write ' DEATH TO AMERICA' or 'KILL ALL AMERICANS' on their banner.

Absolutely spot on.

You forgot a couple Rex

the US is still keeping ALIENS at area 54,

Elvis Presley is alive and well, selling medallions to locals in down town Ho Chi Minh cityhttp://www.google.com.au/search?q=bizarre+asian+elvis&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=ESw&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&prmd=ivnsb&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=jSqkTcSlJ4n-vQO11fyYCg&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1904&bih=975

and

Carbon dioide, the naturally occuring substance which all plants need to produce the oxygen we breathe, is now a posionous pollution.

Oh, I forgot to say that, bizarely, the murder of the UN workers occured on a friday ... after mosque ...

But that wouldn't have anything to do with it. Surely. Afhgans don't react to mere burning of a book, or silly cartoons etc etc etc.

Afghanistan is not so much a country, Kellie, as a collection of warring tribes who hate each other. What makes things a lot worse, Kellie, is that these people are Muslims, which means that they are the victims of an evil, racist, and mysognist ideolgy which has failed its adherents when it comes to social progess.

Now Kellie, can we get back to basics?

The enemy is not the USA. The enemy is Islam.

The USA is the world's foremost democracy, it was attacked by terrorists who were using Afghanistan as a base courtesy of what could laughingly be called a "government" made up up religious fruitcakes, and who had imposed an administration which even Pol Pot or Kim Jong Il would admire for its brutality.

Taliban Afghanistan was a country where aid workers got flung into rat filled dungeons by wild eyed crazies with kalashnikovs for the crime of trying to prevent the local from starving to death.

So I find it rather strange, Kellie, that all your bile is reserved for the USA, which is not only defending itself and other western nations from similar attacks by invading Afghanistan, it is doing exactly what the terrorists had hoped to provoke.

The only problem for the terrs is that things are not going to script. The Yanks and their allies have done a very good job at exterminating so many terrorist leaders that they need people like yourself who possess mixed up loyalties and values to open a new front for them.

KT's - nail biting essay has much credit. The marginalized Afghan's have little say, in the present occupation of their Homeland - that flaunts Liberty, and is virtually impossible to bring Democracy ( as we know it ) and justice, to their War ravaged Country.

Three Presidents, and 7 trillion dollars later, the casualties have now exceeded 11,758 killed, 59,465 combat personnel wounded and injured ( source: Wikipedia )US returned Veterans suffering PTSD, suicides, depleted uranium poisoning, mental dystrophy, family fractures, dislocations, mass unemployment, and in many cases disillusionment with their Country's Foreign Policy objectives. ( source: American Veteran's for Common Sense Assn )

The grim reality, is the untold and often traumatic intrinsic aftermath of Service families. From extended combat Duty Overseas, marriage break-ups, separations, drug and alcohol abuse, violence, home defaults, etc. Who can possibly evaluate, and put a price on this tragic dilemma ?

This endless, and unwinnable War, is taking it's toll on the World's greatest Military Machine, in History. Now, 10 years old, it is replicating what History has decreed the " grave-yard of Empires ", in more ways, then ever, imagined.

Despite Obama's (2009) announcement of an eminent withdrawal of all US Troops by 2014, the reality is, the US is enlarging two of the World's largest Military bases eg. Bagram AFB, and Kandahar AFB at $ 1.6 B. Presently, 150,000 troops from 47 Countries are involved in NATO -ISAF contingent.

Presiding General Patraeus ( replaces 6 former US Commanders ) has escalated the conflict by utilizing Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, as staging areas, for arms storage build-ups. Extended the Iran-Pakistan-India Gas pipeline & Trans-Afghan gas pipeline. Moreover, he is now deploying Abrams M1 Battle Tanks, fitted with the latest laser range-finders, with night vision scopes.

Recently, the discovery of huge mineral deposits of Lithium - used in Electric cars, batteries, space technology, etc, Reputedly $1 trillion worth, has added a new dimension to Afghanistan's ongoing saga.

Meanwhile, the infamous Kazai sponsored Drug Trade, is fueling the Economy, and the Taliban resources. 3.3 million Afghan's produce over $ 2.7 B worth of Opium, which kills and maims 100,000 world-wide. Particularly vulnerable are the neighboring Russians, who share border townships. Putin claims it has replaced vodka, and is now an epidemic.

The training of the ANA ( Afghan National Army ) has been an unmitigated disaster. 171,000 strong,only 1:10 can read or write. Systematic corruption, desertions, drugs, bribery, tribal pay-backs, etc undermines any credibility, as a viable alternative military Force. ADF personnel are actively engaged in this pursuit.

The paradoxical collective damage, in the 1980 ( Soviet War ) by assisting the Mujahideen, to overthrow the invaders, by arming them to the teeth with RPG's, IED's, food and supplies has rebounded.

Isn't it ironical, the Taliban, are now a fearsome foe, and arch enemy.

What goes round, silly enough, comes round.

Yes Dalma,

Wasn't all that exacly what they said about Iraq.?

And yet they were wrong. Iraq has the first real democracy in the region. It may not be very strong yet, but they have a chance. It was bloody and costly, but for the first time, Shiite, Kurdish and Sunni Iraqis are sharing power and participating in a democracy. It may not be the western ideal, but there is room to grow. Before there was none. The current Arab uprisings have UNDOUBTEDLY been nutured by the sight of ordinary Iraqis participating in the political process.

It is simply absurd to suggest that the problems of corruption, drugs warlordism etc, whch are endemic in some parts of Afghanistan, are American inventions. They are patently NOT. These problems were temporarily supressed during the rule of the Taliban, who imposed strict rules and BRUTAL punsihments, to force compliance.

You say 'only 1 in 10 Afghan soldiers can wread or write' ? What an incredibly specious statistic that is. Firstly, the actual number is generally put somewhere between 14% and 18%, which compares reasonably well with the national average which is 28%. But you didn't mention how many women were allowed to study under Taliban rule. Or what books the Taliban allowed people were allowed to read.

Are you claiming the low literacy rates as a US failure? Because that would be totally absurd. The Taliban did everything in its power to stunt education as we know it, in favour of recitation of the Koran. To saddle the US with Afghanistans poor literacy rates is vacuous in the extreme.

In any case, the effectveness of an army is not measured by the results it gains on a reading test. It is in the security it can provide. The process of progressivley shifting the burden of security to the afghan forces is the only way to get out of afghanistan without abandonning the place to total civil war, and anarchy, with the likelihood of more terror groups moving into the region.

What is it exactly you are suggesting we should do?

The protest happened, not because of the Koran burning itself, but due, solely to, the Person who made it a major cause. Yes, one Hamid Kharzai himself, it would be amusing, but in the same period as bringing this to his "nation", he also announced that he wished to do a deal with the Taliban? With the result that he lost support in the Balkh (where Mazar-e-Sharif is) Province, the Panjshir Province and several others? Where he lost the support of the Northern Alliance Supporters (non-Pashtun, mainly Hazara & Tajik regions)? The ones backed by India, not Pakistan?

I mean, one can hardly blame him for seeing the writing on the wall can one? His Cousin (and reported smuggler), Yar Muhammad Khan, is killed by the UN/NATO forces (supposedly accidentally:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/05/afghanistantaliban-peace-_n_751972.html) while another cousin is playing with the Taliban. You cannot blame them, with the support of the US, Pakistan & the Taliban, he can lead (for a while) part of Afghanistan (& he is a Pashtun like the Taliban).

However, the Taliban, Pakistan and the Pashtu controlled government would like nothing more than to destabilize the Northern Provinces would they? Presumably the Obama administration is assisting in this unholy endeavour? I wonder why? Wouldn't be anything to do with the finding of massive reserves of mineral and oil wealth in Southern Pakistan would it (I mean, American foreign policy would never be driven by greed)? If they don't continue to support Pakistan/Taliban, then Pakistan will not hang onto Baluchistan (and there goes the mining concessions - India supports the Northern Alliance & Baluchi Separatists).

Yes, everything to do with an article in a anti-US paper, you just keep on believing that(http://www.jamestown.org/programs/gta/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=709&tx_ttnews[backPid]=239&no_cache=1). This is being driven by gas (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/pakistan1.htm), copper and gold and the US Companies that want them. This all boils down - not to anything at all to do with Afghanistan - but with the multiple Billions of US Dollars needed for re-election (http://www.tethyan.com/: http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/mineweb/en/page36?oid=39325&sn=Detail: http://www.dawn.com/2011/03/19/its-time-balochistan-got-its-rights.html) and the Companies involved. India's demand for minerals is nearly as insatiable as China's & both look likely to outstrip US demand.