Comments on: Afghanistan: Karzai's drug-dealing bro has been on CIA payroll for 8 years, says NYT http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 08:17:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622336 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622336 Caption: "What are you wearing? A burkah? Oooohhhhh ... that's hot!" Caption: “What are you wearing? A burkah? Oooohhhhh … that’s hot!”

]]> By: demidan http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622354 demidan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622354 ,,,and here's my Zeppo,,,! ,,,and here’s my Zeppo,,,!

]]> By: farkinga http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622618 farkinga Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622618 "One of the problems with this approach ... is that ... we have to cede a certain amount of "targeting control" to the host governments" That, my friend, is a *feature*. There's no such thing as a clean assassination unless you've established plausible deniability. Just to remind you, the US - out of principle - doesn't commit *any* assassinations in these modern times. It's a detail that is easy to forget. “One of the problems with this approach … is that … we have to cede a certain amount of “targeting control” to the host governments”

That, my friend, is a *feature*. There’s no such thing as a clean assassination unless you’ve established plausible deniability.

Just to remind you, the US – out of principle – doesn’t commit *any* assassinations in these modern times. It’s a detail that is easy to forget.

]]> By: mstoddard http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622366 mstoddard Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622366 "But Leo... No... But,... Nooo, I found it on Craigslist Bagram ok?! I'm sorry if the New York Times thinks it looks a little fancy, but it was a good deal and its soooooooooo comfortable... Ya I'm sitting on it right now!" “But Leo… No… But,…

Nooo, I found it on Craigslist Bagram ok?! I’m sorry if the New York Times thinks it looks a little fancy, but it was a good deal and its soooooooooo comfortable…

Ya I’m sitting on it right now!”

]]> By: Eric Ragle http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622383 Eric Ragle Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622383 Caption: Here's howsits gonna, see? You're gonna put extra pepperoni on that pie for free, see? You're gonna deliver it within 30 minutes, see? Caption:

Here’s howsits gonna, see? You’re gonna put extra pepperoni on that pie for free, see? You’re gonna deliver it within 30 minutes, see?

]]> By: ill lich http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622394 ill lich Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622394 Didn't I first hear rumors about this a few years ago? (Yes, I know, just 'rumors', but still, why are we only hearing about this now? It should have been researched back when the rumors first appeared.) Caption: "What you mean 'is toilet running?'. . . we have pit latrine here, I not understand. . . <i>Prince Albert in a Can</i>, what is that? Who IS this?! I.P. Freely? Why you call, Sahib Freely?. . . hello? hello?" Didn’t I first hear rumors about this a few years ago? (Yes, I know, just ‘rumors’, but still, why are we only hearing about this now? It should have been researched back when the rumors first appeared.)

Caption:

“What you mean ‘is toilet running?’. . . we have pit latrine here, I not understand. . . Prince Albert in a Can, what is that? Who IS this?! I.P. Freely? Why you call, Sahib Freely?. . . hello? hello?”

]]> By: dculberson http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622396 dculberson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622396 I do think he's got a serious contender for World's Ugliest Couch right there. I do think he’s got a serious contender for World’s Ugliest Couch right there.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622409 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622409 As DarwinSurvivor noted, it's the CIA. What kind of info would they get from all the "decent" individuals? None. Do I ask my law abiding neighbor about criminal activity? Hell no, you go find the crooks and ask them what's up. As DarwinSurvivor noted, it’s the CIA. What kind of info would they get from all the “decent” individuals? None. Do I ask my law abiding neighbor about criminal activity? Hell no, you go find the crooks and ask them what’s up.

]]> By: demidan http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622413 demidan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622413 Yeah but this couch cost me 5,000,000,000,000 sheckles! It's on the cover of Modern Persian Magazine for Allah's sake! Yeah but this couch cost me 5,000,000,000,000 sheckles! It’s on the cover of Modern Persian Magazine for Allah’s sake!

]]> By: redpiller http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622694 redpiller Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622694 The idea that the CIA is just an "information gathering agency" is laughable at best. Maybe in the 40s that's what they were, but they have long since turned into a paramilitary organization involved in "peacetime operations", codewords for covert war, whether it is military, economic, or psychological. The idea that the CIA is just an “information gathering agency” is laughable at best. Maybe in the 40s that’s what they were, but they have long since turned into a paramilitary organization involved in “peacetime operations”, codewords for covert war, whether it is military, economic, or psychological.

]]> By: Kibble http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622439 Kibble Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622439 There's an article in the Oct. 26 of the New York called "The Predator War." It's about our use of drones and missiles to kill people in Afghanistan and Pakistan. One of the problems with this approach (among many) is that, to get permission to use these things, we have to cede a certain amount of "targeting control" to the host governments, which means that Afghanistan and Pakistan get to pick who gets blown up sometimes. Another problem is that the use of these drones and missiles continues to expand. One of the uses being considered (and if they say they're considering it, it means they're already doing it) is to kill people in the Afghan narco-trade. The article wondered, "Will Karzai's brother be targeted?" I burst out laughing at the feigned naievty. This guy won't be a TARGET of our missiles; he will DECIDE who is targeted, to eliminate his rivals. FREEDOM FRIES! There’s an article in the Oct. 26 of the New York called “The Predator War.” It’s about our use of drones and missiles to kill people in Afghanistan and Pakistan. One of the problems with this approach (among many) is that, to get permission to use these things, we have to cede a certain amount of “targeting control” to the host governments, which means that Afghanistan and Pakistan get to pick who gets blown up sometimes.

Another problem is that the use of these drones and missiles continues to expand. One of the uses being considered (and if they say they’re considering it, it means they’re already doing it) is to kill people in the Afghan narco-trade. The article wondered, “Will Karzai’s brother be targeted?” I burst out laughing at the feigned naievty. This guy won’t be a TARGET of our missiles; he will DECIDE who is targeted, to eliminate his rivals.

FREEDOM FRIES!

]]> By: LeFunk http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622442 LeFunk Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622442 I'm on a couch, I'm on a couch Everybody look at me 'Cause I'm sitting on a couch I'm on a couch, I'm on a couch Take a good hard look At my very comfy couch I’m on a couch, I’m on a couch
Everybody look at me
‘Cause I’m sitting on a couch
I’m on a couch, I’m on a couch
Take a good hard look
At my very comfy couch

]]> By: octopod http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622449 octopod Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622449 presumably he's ordering some nice red mercury cakes from the internet bakery. it might or might not be true. but tbh, the take home from iraq was that any story in mainstream us media citing unnamed sources, particularly in the cia, and using guilt-by-association quotes (the flynn quote doesn't mention any names) is that it's more likely to signal a shift, of the presence of uncertainty in direction, of US foreign policy, but it's relation to reality is largely irrelevant. presumably he’s ordering some nice red mercury cakes from the internet bakery.

it might or might not be true.

but tbh, the take home from iraq was that any story in mainstream us media citing unnamed sources, particularly in the cia, and using guilt-by-association quotes (the flynn quote doesn’t mention any names) is that it’s more likely to signal a shift, of the presence of uncertainty in direction, of US foreign policy, but it’s relation to reality is largely irrelevant.

]]> By: mdh http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622452 mdh Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622452 Pfffft. CIA payroll. One of his customers was my president for 8 years. Pfffft. CIA payroll.

One of his customers was my president for 8 years.

]]> By: Bill Albertson http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622205 Bill Albertson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622205 Yeah, this reads like the 80's, where US drug abatement teams were sent out to farmers in Latin America to get them to replant non-drug crops, only to be followed shortly by thugs on the CIA payroll to ensure that anyone foolish enough to work with them was made an example of, thereby sealing the deal for the cartels to continue moving more product. I am not in the least surprised that the same pattern is being played out in Afghanistan. Yeah, this reads like the 80′s, where US drug abatement teams were sent out to farmers in Latin America to get them to replant non-drug crops, only to be followed shortly by thugs on the CIA payroll to ensure that anyone foolish enough to work with them was made an example of, thereby sealing the deal for the cartels to continue moving more product.

I am not in the least surprised that the same pattern is being played out in Afghanistan.

]]> By: Raian http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622464 Raian Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622464 "I can't believe you could only get Anne Leibovitz to do my portraits... you call yourselves the cia..." “I can’t believe you could only get Anne Leibovitz to do my portraits… you call yourselves the cia…”

]]> By: Keith http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622466 Keith Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622466 Funny how almost every horrible international idea comes back to the CIA. Let's sell guns to the contras! Train al Quida to fight dirty! Overthrow the Shaw of Iran! What could possibly go wrong? Funny how almost every horrible international idea comes back to the CIA. Let’s sell guns to the contras! Train al Quida to fight dirty! Overthrow the Shaw of Iran! What could possibly go wrong?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-623239 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-623239 the question becomes: when will americans of good conscience use the tactics of the CIA against the CIA rather than making snarky commentary on BB? They're reading all this commentary and not caring, because even if we're right, they don't have to change anything they do. can we actually affect change through political means? I doubt it. can we affect change by infiltration or whatever other means are available to us? are we willing? No, we aren't. "wheedling accomplishes nothing" is admonishment for troll commentary on this site, yet trolling the *subject* of the post accounts for the majority of the commentary to this post. can't we accomplish something more? the question becomes: when will americans of good conscience use the tactics of the CIA against the CIA rather than making snarky commentary on BB? They’re reading all this commentary and not caring, because even if we’re right, they don’t have to change anything they do. can we actually affect change through political means? I doubt it. can we affect change by infiltration or whatever other means are available to us? are we willing? No, we aren’t. “wheedling accomplishes nothing” is admonishment for troll commentary on this site, yet trolling the *subject* of the post accounts for the majority of the commentary to this post. can’t we accomplish something more?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622217 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622217 this stinks of another iran-contras... this stinks of another iran-contras…

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622227 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622227 Back in the '80s I saw a brick of hash with a gold stamp on it that said, "Smoke the Russians out of Afghanistan." It had an outline of a mountain in the background an fist clinching an AK-47 in the foreground. The more things change, the more they don't. Back in the ’80s I saw a brick of hash with a gold stamp on it that said, “Smoke the Russians out of Afghanistan.” It had an outline of a mountain in the background an fist clinching an AK-47 in the foreground. The more things change, the more they don’t.

]]> By: DarwinSurvivor http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622239 DarwinSurvivor Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622239 Chances are they are paying him off for information about his brother. What he does with the money is probably of no concern to the CIA, though maybe it should be. Remember, this is the Central Intelligence Agency, all they want is information. They don't care how much they pay (as long as marginally reasonable), who they pay it to or what it gets used for, as long as they get that juicy, irresistable information. Chances are they are paying him off for information about his brother. What he does with the money is probably of no concern to the CIA, though maybe it should be.

Remember, this is the Central Intelligence Agency, all they want is information. They don’t care how much they pay (as long as marginally reasonable), who they pay it to or what it gets used for, as long as they get that juicy, irresistable information.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622241 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622241 Folks who sign up to go fight and die in that country ought to pay better attention. Folks who sign up to go fight and die in that country ought to pay better attention.

]]> By: MythicalMe http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622246 MythicalMe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622246 For the caption: Hey, George, remember that deal you and Dick made with me while you were President? You're still backing me, right? For the caption:

Hey, George, remember that deal you and Dick made with me while you were President? You’re still backing me, right?

]]> By: mneptok http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622254 mneptok Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622254 caption: <i>DAY-YUM! No 3G at Langley?!</i> caption: DAY-YUM! No 3G at Langley?!

]]> By: kmoser http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622309 kmoser Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622309 Caption: "More <i>hookah</i> bars in more places" Caption: “More hookah bars in more places”

]]> By: PFlint http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622311 PFlint Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622311 Caption: I don't know how much I'm paying per month on this phone. My 'dad' pays for it. Caption: I don’t know how much I’m paying per month on this phone. My ‘dad’ pays for it.

]]> By: k1p http://boingboing.net/2009/10/27/afghanistan-karzais.html#comment-622312 k1p Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-622312 Whazuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup! Whazuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup!

]]>