And don't let the door slam on your ass, folks.
I think we've about worn out our welcome in Central Asia, and it would be wise for Americans to learn the new acronym SCO: The Shanghai Cooperation Organization. SCO may soon represent half the world's population, so they are becoming an important player.
Comprised at present of Russia, China, and four stans - Kazakh- , Kyrgyz-, Uzbekis-, and Tajikistan, they are asking, politely now, for a U.S. exit strategy for Afghanistan. From Salon.com.
[SCO] urged a deadline be set for withdrawal of the foreign forces from its member states in light of what it said was a decline in active fighting in Afghanistan.
I'd say that was pretty polite, considering the geopolitical stakes involved in the region.
The REAL reasons, not so polite, after the break:
The alliance's move appeared to be an attempt to push the United States out of a region that Moscow regards as historically part of its sphere of influence and in which China seeks a dominant role because of its extensive energy resources.
But we're the good guys, right? Freedom and democracy and all that? They seem to see the world through different eyes.
Moscow's suspicion of the West has increased recently amid speculation the United States is encouraging the overthrow of Central Asia's pro-Russian authoritarian governments.
Naw, we wouldn't be doing that, would we? We must immediately get moving on Operation Shifting Noble Cause. The latest is to prevent insurgents from taking control of the oil fields in Iraq, but perhaps we can change focus a bit and be a little more inclusive. Yet another Noble Cause could well be framed "to prevent the insurgents and the Iranians and the Russians and the Chinese from getting OUR oil and gas locked up in Central Asia." The nerve of those people!
While many here at home are deluged with Katrina this week, SCOTUS next week, and Iraq every week, SCO may seem easy to deal with.
It looks to be anything but. And in the one area of the WOT - Afghanistan - that we supported going in.
Who lost this one for us? Bolton is busy screwing up the U.N., Rove is busy lawyering up for L'Affaire Plame, Rumsfeld is busy fucking up Iraq, and Condi is testing out her new thousand dollar shoes. That leaves only ... damn, not HIM again!
Note: Bush's meeting with the Chinese premier was postponed because of Katrina. Do you think this is THE topic of discussion? Duh.