Afghanistan

Paddy's lucky escape

Jock — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:23:59 +0000

A country where parliament has a role in sentencing a journalist to death for blasphemy is hardly likely to be open to the ministrations of one of the greatest liberals in the past few decades. Coupled with the thought of having to shore up the ailing powerbase of former oil man and Bush placeperson Karzai, I reckon Paddy's had a lucky escape this time, despite his obvious enthusiasm and qualifications for the role he was set up for.

I reckon we may as well pull our troops out of Afghanistan. If the Afghan government doesn't think they areworking for them the last ting we want is years, perhaps decades, of bogged down forces losing British boys and girls for a country that doesn't want us there. read more »

Just a little retirement job, Paddy?

Jock — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 13:17:37 +0000

So Lord "Paddy" Ashdown has apparently accepted the job as UN high representative in Kabul:

The former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Paddy Ashdown, has agreed to become the United Nations' envoy to Afghanistan, a source close to negotiations on the post said today.
"Yes, he has accepted the job," the source told the Reuters news agency, speaking of an agreement between Ashdown, 66, and the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon.

Ashdown, a former soldier, had been seeking a strengthened mandate for the post, to become more deeply involved in coordinating efforts to combat a Taliban insurgency and guide reconstruction.

Hardly what I would choose as a retirement job. I guess it's true what they say about old soldiers! Good luck to him. I disagree with our presence there, but I can't think of anyone better to try to put it right. read more »

Our man in Kabul?

Jock — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 06:42:06 +0000

The Telegraph is reporting that the US backs Lord Ashdown for Afghanistan role:

US backs Lord Ashdown for Afghanistan role
By Tom Coghlan in Kabul and David Blair, Diplomatic Correspondent
Last Updated: 12:24am GMT 04/12/2007

The United States is backing Lord Ashdown, the former Liberal Democrat leader who served as the international community's "high representative" in Bosnia, to be the United Nations new "super envoy" to Afghanistan. The proposed role would see Lord Ashdown being charged with uniting the efforts of both Nato and the UN in Afghanistan. Nato officials are understood to support his candidacy for a job with exceptional power. read more »