DUTCH troops are leaving Afghanistan after four years, handing over control of military operations in central Oruzgan province after a political row at home forced their drawdown.
A Netherlands embassy spokeswoman said a small ceremony would take place today to handover to an American-led coalition of soldiers.
"Dutch forces have served with distinction in Oruzgan, and we honour their sacrifice and that of their Afghan counterparts during the Netherlands' tenure in the province," the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said in a statement.
Around 1950 Dutch troops have been deployed in Afghanistan under ISAF, mainly in Oruzgan where opium production is high and the Taliban very active.
NATO had asked the Netherlands to extend the mission, which started in 2006 and has cost the lives of 24 soldiers to August 2011. But the request sparked a political row at home that led to the collapse of the coalition government in February and the end of the Dutch deployment.
The Dutch will be replaced by American, Australian, Slovak and Singaporean soldiers.
"We have planned for the transfer to the new multinational operation to ensure a smooth transition... We will maintain current capabilities," ISAF said.
The Dutch mission, known for its 3D approach of defence, development and diplomacy, has been described by NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen as "the benchmark for others", and by US President Barack Obama as "one of the most outstanding" in Afghanistan.
Since the start of its lead role in Oruzgan at a cost of some €1.4 billion ($2.03 billion) to the Dutch state, the number of NGOs doing development work in the province has risen from six to 50, according to a Dutch embassy document.
Dutch chief of defence, General Peter van Uhm has said his troops had achieved "tangible results that the Netherlands can be proud of".
But the Taliban have welcomed the Dutch withdrawal and urged other countries with troops in Afghanistan to follow suit.
Canada is withdrawing its entire force of 2800 troops in Afghanistan next year, while Britain and the US have signalled that some troops will also leave in 2011.
Friedman certainly is entitled to his view. But he is not entitled to slander Israel, and last Sunday he did so with relish.
In words that blur the line between commentary and defamation, Friedman wrote of the "brutality of Israel's retaliations" against Hezbollah and Hamas, and how Israel "chose to go after them without being deterred by the prospect of civilian casualties." He then crossed a line of common decency when he irresponsibly accused Israel of using "Hama rules" in its war against the twin terror groups.
"Hama Rules," he explained, "are named after the Syrian town of Hama, where, in 1982, then-President Hafez el-Assad of Syria put down a Muslim fundamentalist uprising by shelling and then bulldozing their neighborhoods, killing more than 10,000 of his own people."
This is a straightforward blood libel. To accuse Israel of indiscriminately murdering thousands of civilians the way the butcher Assad did in Hama is to equate a democratic state whose actions are open to international media and scrutiny and constant judicial review with a bloodthirsty dictator and tyrant who held on to power without any restraint of law.
Unlike lies and deception, the use of false language has created an aura around the peace process, says Marwan Bishara.
The good news: "Netanyahu to give peace process a 'robust push". The bad news, any rational person privy to the ideology and makeup of the Israeli government knows this not serious.
And yet, after their meeting, Barak Obama, the US president, has publically supported his Israeli interlocutor, saying he believed Binyamin Netanyahu would take "risks for peace" and praised the Israeli prime minister for easing the blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Obama also called for "direct talks" between Israelis and Palestinians irrespective of the continued illegal settlements.
All of which begs two questions: How does a defunct and discredited diplomatic process continue to masquerade as a success despite its utter failures? And why the US and its Western allies continue to finance and pamper it when it creates more instability and conflict than peace and progress?
The short answer is bullshit.
In is attempt to define bullshit and theorise about its uses and meanings, Harry Frankfurt, the Princeton philosopher, has differentiated between bullshit and lies in his book On Bullshit, and concluded that bullshit can be more dangerous than lying.
Bullshit is more than a word; it is a chronic widespread system of rhetoric and representation that mystifies the truth. It has increasingly become a way of communication not only in the private sphere but has become part and parcel of Western propaganda.
Falafel to fanfare
At times, according to Frankfurt, sincerity also qualifies as bullshit. This is especially true when those uttering it are in denial over their true motivation. This explains why many of the stubborn advocates of the present peace process bullshit even when they are being sincere.
In fact, I cannot but shake my head in bewilderment whenever I am exposed to the "peace industry". Peace and co-existence initiatives by NGOs have used everything from falafel to fanfare and music but failed utterly to improve the situation. Instead, they have contributed to make the occupation look as normal.
Having said that, I do not discount the great degree of lying in the process. But unlike the lies and deception, bullshit has created an aura around the peace process.
How many doubt that the timing of Obama's invitation to the Israeli prime minister ahead of the fall midterm congressional elections is more about domestic politics than foreign policy.
As one Washington Post columnist commented sardonically, it would have been appropriate for Obama who reprimanded Netanyahu before, to have flown the white flag of surrender during the visit.
Mostly bullshit is about spreading half truths, fake statements that allow what amounts to a de facto war process of occupation and colonisation to masquerade as a peace process causing major suffering and destruction.
Chimera
Since the so called "peace process" started two decades ago, all promises of progress, peace and prosperity, have turned into disappointment, conflict and regress.
After hundreds of meetings, tens of initiatives and seven interim agreements, the situation in the Israeli occupied territories might have "improved" in certain micro areas, but at a macro level it has notably worsened.
During that time, the peace process has bestowed on an ever more aggressive Israeli occupier and increasingly discredited Palestinian Authority the title of "peace partners".
In the process, colonisation deepened, the colonised suffered and nonsense triumphed.
Despite recent assurances to the contrary, illegal Jewish settlements continue to proliferate and destabilise the West Bank and especially East Jerusalem.
A report, on the eve of Netanyahu's visit, by the Israeli organisation B'Tselem on the proliferating Jewish settlements despite assurances to the contrary speaks volumes about Israeli deception regarding the settlement issue.
Now the Netanyahu government is promising "improvements" on its blockade of 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza, but the end result is clear: it will continue to police, and treat the impoverished and overpopulated refugee camp like the mega prison it has become.
Likewise, despite talk of economic revival under the Palestinian Authority, the standard and quality of living in the semi-autonomous areas of the West Bank is below 1980s levels, when the West Bank was under full Israeli occupation. It continues to deteriorate relative to Israel, which is now a member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, a club for developed countries.
It is mind boggling that the likes Tony Blair, the International Quartet envoy, gets away with promoting improvement in life conditions and better "security" at the heart of the miserably occupied territories.
Netanyahu's focus on economic rather than political rights for the Palestinians has led to no real improvement in the movement of labour and capital, nor in true amelioration of the access to health, education, let alone to the outside world.
With the exception of a number of English speaking "peace process contractors" (those living off politically motivated Western aid), most Palestinians continue to live in destitution.
Comparing the situation between the refugee camps the moderates' administer in the West Bank and those run by "extremists" in Gaza is like comparing the situation in two prisons.
Bluffing is of course integral to or even indispensable for diplomacy, but it generally has limits or is a side show for something more strategic. So what is the strategy behind the promotion of the defunct peace process?
Private club
Since the end of the Cold War, the Middle East peace process has emerged as the US regional order.
Entire peoples and states have been judged on where they stood on the peace process. Those, especially among the Arabs who supported it have been called moderates and those opposed as extremists.
The "Peace Process" became a private club whose membership carried a number of strategic advantages, while being on the outside risked sanctions, even war.
Paradoxically, over the last two decades, both the US, the sponsor of the peace process, and Israel, its ally and peace partner, have waged destructive and bloody wars in the region.
But both remained untouched as sponsor and partner in the peace process.
If these were any other countries, they would have been sanctioned, blockaded and bombarded, even occupied.
This explains why Israel's most infamous general was referred as a "man of peace" by George Bush, the self-proclaimed US "war president".
Promoting the peace process has become a strategic reality, even necessity, regardless of its realisation or implementation.
There are far better ways to free Israelis from the political and moral burden of their occupation, and bring Palestinians liberty and independence from foreign occupation.
But the peace process is the best way to maintain Pax Americana in the region, secure Jewish support in the US while pampering the special relationship between the US and Israel.
Given the choice between peace in the Middle East and peace between the US and Israel, the Obama administration has made its choice known this week.
Israetards, Israeo-Nazis and Zio-Nazis are operating the longest running concentration camp known to mankind with a stamp of infinity inside occupied Palestine! People of Palestine can not get in and out of Palatine!! They got no job, no money, no food, no water and electricity!!! On top of these barbaric conditions they are rewarded with daily doses of Israeli ‘kosher” bombs and missiles."
Shiekh Haron and What’s Wrong With ANZAC? are not popular in Australia right now. Many media outlets won’t even allow anyone to talk about these issues. Many politicians and media outlets are using ANZAC ‘legend’ to hype up militaristic jingoism to justify many of our recent illegal and immoral invasions as well as prejudice and bigotry against migrants, Aboriginals, Arabs and Muslims.
Even Sydney talkback radios are carefully filtering out migrant, Aboriginal, Arab and Muslim voices from the airwave. The television and newspaper are even worse. All of them are far too busy to manufacture consent and opinion against groups mentioned above.
Every ANZAC time attack on taxi drivers goes up a bit!
They do not allow people to talk about taxi mafia crimes. They are also deliberately running one sided story about the following issues without any right of reply!
To be precise, Australian media used to be a bit naïve and curious. Still some people could snick in a few words here and there! The post 9/11 media became anti-Arab, anti-Muslim and pro-war in general. Yet, persistent people managed to pass message or two too. It appeared some of these faint voices were contrary to the well planned pro-crusade establishments wars and conflicts based on race and religion. However, this year is entirely different! Australian media outlets are becoming exclusive, manipulative and somewhat robotic in nature. They are silencing all oppositions!!
Boat People
Right now, a carefully orchestrated anxiety and paranoia is emerging regarding the boat people. According to my information, 94% refugees come to Australia via airports by planes with the assistance of airlines, travel agents and high flying lawyers. Surely no one is going to prosecute the above mentioned classes of `people smugglers'! On the other hand, only 6% refugees come to Australia via leaky boats and 98% of them are found to be genuine refugees even under very rough and tough laws of Australia. Source: Mike Williams of 2GB
Anti-Muslim Hysteria
Australians were forced to fight other peoples’ war before and after Gallipoli. Naturally the illegal and immoral invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan based on totally false and fabricated reason and ground are a sad indictment for Australia. Political leaders, media moguls and elite power brokers made these decisions without proper debate or discussions inside or outside parliament. Virtually they black mailed our nation towards immoral, illegal and un-winnable wars. In short, people who are pushing our nation in wars outside Australia and not in defense of Australia are worse than this silly Sheikh Haron. Source: Shiekh Haron
Emotional Blackmailing
Marilyn Lake, Henry Reynolds, Joy Damousi, Mark Mckenna, 9781742231518, New South, April 2010, 192pp, PB, 234x153mm Availability: Plenty Price: AUD$29.95 (AUD$27.23 ex-tax) NZD$40.95 Booksellers Discount Code: General
In recent years Anzac – an idea as much as an actual army corps – has become the dominant force within Australian history, overshadowing everything else. The commemoration of Anzac Day is bigger than ever, while Remembrance Day, VE Day, VP Day and other military anniversaries grow in significance each year. Pilgrimages to Gallipoli, the Somme and Kokoda are commonplace and popular military history dominates the bestseller lists. Anzac has seemingly become a sacred, untouchable element of the nation. In this brave and controversial book, some of Australia’s leading historians dare to criticise Anzac. They show that the Anzac obsession distorts the rest of Australia’s history. They investigate official sponsorship of Anzac through commemoration and education and show that this has mobilised it as a conservative force, often for political ends. Finally—and perhaps most devastatingly—they ask whether the grief and loss associated with bloodshed on foreign shores was all worth it. Source: What’s Wrong With ANZAC?
Anti-Muslim Conspiracy
Further to Burkah, Fear and Paranoia Based on Prejudice and Bigotry below 30 women out of 600 000 Belgium Muslims wear burqa. To date, neither of them forced to wear these garments, nor did they use burqa to commit any crimes!! Yet, the Belgium authorities are trying to impose the burqa bulldozer legislation against only 30 women!?! Source: Belgian Prejudice and Bigotry
Anti-Aboriginal Conspiracy
The former Prime Minister of Australia John Howard managed to win two un-winnable elections by using irrational and illogical fear and paranoia based on prejudice and bigotry. His last bastion was the Northern Territory Intervention at the expense of Aboriginal people. Yet, after all of this vicious and creative propaganda: 1. Not one person was prosecuted for sexual abuse. 2. Not one hospital was built. 3. Not one school was built. Media outlets of this country do not want to talk about this issue! According to many credible sources, this debacle is costing Australia more than $A680 millions already!! Source: What Do You now About The Northern Territory Intervention?
Blatant Anti-Semitism
Zionism is worse than Nazism. The Sacred Cow strengthens the argument further. Israeli Holocaust, Holocaust continuum and The Iron Wall remove any shred of doubt. Yet, the poor Palestinians are terrorists in their own mothers' cradle, backyard and schoolyard! Ironically, the invaders from all over the world are victims (?) because they are holding passports from "God" (?)!!
According to the ever-growing myth, the Australian Government is obliged to provide 144 000 virgins for 2000 Australian citizens who have committed suicide last year alone! However the United Nations Organisation is not providing (80 000 X 72 = how many virgins?) virgins to 80 000 farmers of the world who have committed suicide in the year 2007 too!! Legend says most of these farmers are neither Muslims nor religious!!! Source: 72 Virgins to Nothing
False Virgins
Muslims get 72 virgins! Non-Muslims get nothing!! Yet, non-Muslims commit more suicide!!! Why is it so? Is it because they are Jealous of Muslim virgins?
Manufacturing consent and opinion are two main dirty games in the Australian media outlets including radio 2GB and 2UE! It appears, both 2GB and 2UE are using their telephone operators to silence free speech of Mr. Faruque Ahmed to appease their advertisers as mentioned in Taxi MafiaInspired Blockade (Radio 2GB), Taxi MafiaInspired Blockade (Radio 2 UE) and Producers of Radio 2GB earlier.
However, it is noticeable that many advertisements by the NSW Taxi Council Limited and taxi companies are appearing in your station lately! One may think, maybe the commercial inducement of the taxi industry or some other factors are instrumental behind my blockade in the talk back shows.
1. Is it because of American blind support for Israel?
2. Is it because of American open cheque book for Israel?
3. Is it because of American diplomatic protection and blind support for Israel?
4. Is it because of American blind hate towards Arabs and Muslims?
