Dear brothers and sisters, December 30, 2009;
Assalaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmathullahi Wa Bharakhathuhu.
Commander-in-Chief President Barack Obama has given a clear cut duty to the US Military: Finish the job before July 2011 and start the withdrawal. We have the fullest confidence in the US Military and its allies that they would indeed neutralize both Al-Qaeda and the Taliban, either eliminating them or reforming them. By reforming we imply that they would become part of the democratic process in Afghanistan. Once a group becomes democratically committed to the welfare of the Afghan people, they would eschew violence. That indeed would be the sweetest victory to a war-President who accepted the Nobel for Peace.
Unfortunately two persons one Ex-CIA operative Henry Crumpton and his ally Amrullah Saleh, the head of the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan's domestic intelligence agency do not think so. Indeed they seem to mock at the Commander-in-Chief and defame the US Military.
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Today, the U.S. presence in Afghanistan is about to surge by 30,000 more soldiers. We wanted to hear from Crumpton and Saleh - two experienced veterans of the Afghan fight - what they think about where the war is heading.
"We still have a window of opportunity that has not closed. ..." Crumpton said.
"And fighting for it over and over and over again," Logan pointed out.
"That's correct. That's exactly right. It's easy to say, 'Okay, let's pack up. Let's go home.' But this is an enduring security concern for the United States, for our homeland. ..." Crumpton explained.
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How could Crumpton make the above observation? Who is packing up? Just because the Commander-in-Chief has given the US Military a time bound assignment, is he packing up and going home? This is mocking the Commander-in-Chief. Irrespective of the political camp to which Crumpton might belong, such a comment deserves to be condemned.
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Asked what he thinks would happen in Afghanistan if the U.S. decided to withdraw, Saleh told Logan, "I am very clear on what will happen. First, a massacre campaign will start. The human cost in this country will easily be up to two million people killed, at least. It will not be a big news for Afghanistan. We are used to tragedies, throughout our history. But the cost for you will be bigger."
"What will that be?" Logan asked.
"Glory comes from winning wars. Not from retreat," Saleh responded.
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Saleh need not respect American government. But Crumpton must have protested. The fact that there is no such protest mentioned, we believe Crumpton agrees with Saleh.
By July 2011 the Afghans must become capable of defending their nation. If the top intelligence officer has such a poor opinion of his country men, it is up to President Hamid Karzai to get better persons to handle Afghanistan's security. If President Hamid Karzai retains Saleh in his current position, and if there is massacre after July 2011, the blame rests on the shoulders of Karzai alone.
Should the American public remain silent? Should they not condemn Crumpton?
Please pass this mail to every American you know. We hope that every American who trusts his military, the American Military, would do the appropriate actions so that Crumpton and his like feel ashamed and apologize, at the minimum.
With prayers to Allah Subhana Wa Taala,
Your brother,
Mohideen Ibramsha
Was Salaam