US Tried to Manipulate Afghan Poll: Robert Gates

[Shah-i-Kot]

The BSA is entirely relevant--perhaps not in the legal sense, but in the popular context. The people, GIRoA, and international politics have assigned it significance. Now, its so.

Shah Shuja is a tight parallel and plays into the Popalzai legacy, however, Shah Shuja traded the Koh-i Noor to regain power.. in essence, he purchased a service. All we've seen Karzai do is perform a service for money. Despite Shuja's complete lack of honor and integrity, he still wasn't the prostitute Karzai turned out to be.

As far as the Najeeb parallel, I think people only compare him to Karzai for the sake of how long Karzai can hope to last.

So far, though, Dalrymple had a pretty decent comparison between Karzai and Shuja in the New Yorker (I think it was), but personally I thought Voice of Jihad's was much better.

The BSA may be relevant in the sense of justification planning for a continued limited war, but plans are plans, not reality.

Without the Pakistani NATO supply lines, the US/NATO war can not go on (the Northern Distribution Network is very expensive, and that is why the US uses it minimally). As of now, PTI political party has closed the major NATO supply line through KP. They also plan to close the NATO supply docking port at Karachi (and a symbolic closing at Chaman). That would be an end. The only ones that would remain would be the use of airspace.

PTI is the most powerful political party in Pakistan now, more than the current Pakistani military and PML-N in my opinion.

[Al-Afghani]

Karzai just wants a symbolic victory that he can show to the people. Problem is, Obama isn't playing along.

[Shah-i-Kot]

Karzai just wants a symbolic victory that he can show to the people. Problem is, Obama isn't playing along.

You are right here. Obama was never interested in the US/NATO war, and is seeking a smooth exit. Now what will you say, that Robert Gates is lying?
Obama never believed in Afghan War