April 5, 2010

     Dear President Karzai, I notice you're flailing against the United States more and more these days:something over the weekend about whether our troops in your country were an invasion or a help. Then the New York Times quotes a member of your Parliament today as hearing you say, "If you and the international community pressures me more, I swear that I am going to join the Taliban."  Now there's a thought.  Or then there is your promising tribal leaders you'd launch no military operations in their area without their approval.  Who's in charge these days anyway?  History may offer some help here.  Oliver Cromwell, a 17th century English politician, once famously dismissed the Long Parliament (which had been sitting for some years) with the words, "You have sat here too long for any good you may have done.  Stand not upon the order of your going.  In the name of God, go!"  They went. It worked for Cromwell, who ruled untroubled for several more years before dying, if I remember correctly, of malaria.  So maybe if you said something like that to President Obama, he'd pull our troops out.  It might be worth a try. I'd be all for leaving myself.  I don't know, of course, what would happen to you if we left... ...or much care. Sincerely, Bruce Morton 
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