Um, Kim?

Re-read Bush's comment. That is what's known as "putting pressure" on the Afghan gov't. Running around screaming about nuking Afghanistan if they allow this guy to be killed (as some do), or threatening to pack our bags and leave isn't "putting pressure." It's lunacy.

The Afghan constitution and the Afghan basic law are in conflict. That sort of thing happens. It needs to be sorted out, so that the guy doesn't get killed.

But that might take some time, as it means convincing a population that's 90% Muslim that their basic law isn't right.

If the immediate objective is to make sure this guy doesn't get killed for a crime we don't acknowledge (apostacy), then the whole thing may have to be handled in an idiosyncratic manner. He could be deported, he could be excused from the law by reason of insanity, he could be offered a full-ride at Yale.

Yes, the Afghans need to permit true freedom of religion--as does every country on earth need to permit it. But that's not going to happen with a wave of the magic wand. And the US certainly doesn't have the magic wands that might do it.

But that might take some time, as it means convincing a population that's 90% Muslim that their basic law isn't right.

Yeah, that might take "some time".

ah...we are not spreading freedom..we are spreading democracy ..ya know you get the govt you vote for.....in two years the same will be happening in Iraq...Freedom and Democracy are not the same thing..of course we could have commited all our troops and 100's of billions of $$ to Afghanistan. But we did not..Maybe there would be some freedom, an economy other than dope, forcing ABL into Pak...Bush used Jesus to become and remain President..He is the first President since Nixon to not go to church on Sunday on a regular basis. Serious attacks on religon are not taking place here but in Afghanistan and on a daily basis in Iraq..now that you know Bush used you..whatcha' gonna do about it? Oh yeah..blame Sheehan/Feingold/Kennedy/Clintons/MSM/Helen Thomas/Democrats/Moveon/etc..what ever you do don't Blame Bush..oh yeah feel free to bash and blame me..

a note..it wil be a few years befor persons are excecuted by the govt for their beliefs in Christianity..right now they are excecuting each other based on the difference of Islamic beliefs...

DrewE

Nowhere in your rambling, incoherent response did you come close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. We are all dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul.

Ahhh DrewE , it is not possible for a person to use God for their own purposes, This would imply that a man is smarter than God and somehow pulled something off that God was not aware of ..an absolute impossibility.

Ahhh DrewE , it is not possible for a person to use God for their own purposes, This would imply that a man is smarter than God and somehow pulled something off that God was not aware of ..an absolute impossibility.

Namedropping ,however is something different. Take Hillarys namedropping of the Lord today, Now that was purely a nonpolitical honest and sincere statement if i ever saw one !!

DrewE, you said: "we are not spreading freedom..we are spreading democracy ..ya know you get the govt you vote for...." Ain't it the truth? AIN'T IT THE TRUTH? (Snagglepuss imitation) But I think the key to a freer Afghanistan is to award the government a share in the medical(!) opium concession (now held solely by Turkey). Perhaps U.S. morphine can be Afghani. A livelihood for anyone with a patch of ground. Better than getting shot at (the Taliban are paid to fight). This would also undermine the appeal of the fundementalist sects which are basically aid societies for the poor. Until there is a viable economy, elections will only codify the situation as it already is.

Article II, section 2 of the new Afghani Constitution:
"(2) Followers of other religions are free to exercise their faith and perform their religious rites within the limits of the provisions of law."

What provisions are they using to execute Abdul Rahman? Truly he would be an authentic martyr.

"...as it means convincing a population that's 90% Muslim that their basic law isn't right."

Isn't that what a majority of this whole terrorist thing is about?

Shar'ia law is a nasty bitch, and we're well within our soveriegn rights to beat the shit out of that thing if, not only does it threaten our national interests, but if it also saves milliions of people from the misery of living in a country run by a bunch of zealot ass munchers.

I'll "indeed", myself.

Regardless, Bush's statement seems worded in such a way that it doesn't piss anyone off, yet, gets the point across that we've given up a shitload because of that little piece of shit fucking sorry excuse of a country, and they you don't see that, and understand the implications, ... you and I are gonna' have a lil' "chat", Harmid.

An argument that everyone in the world knows that you can't possibly win.

It also shows the left that he's compassionate without having to beat his chest about it. They should be happy enough with that response.

If they're not. Fuck 'em. They've exposed more hypocracy; either religiously or militarily.

No, no. Good on George for saying exactly how what needed to be said - needed to be said.

Besides, I think we all know happens if you piss George off.

bryanD has it - the economy of Afghanistan is the key here. Until biotechnology can make commercial poppy growing a lucrative way to make legal drugs, and until this technology is shared with countries like Afghanistan that have little other agriculture to offer, the outlook is bleak. Think, however, if the money and blood spent by the Russians and now our coalition to tame this region had been spent on such an endeavor, and used as leverage to lead the ruling war lords to a corporate and progressive/moderate Islam and to oust the Taliban. Pipe dreams.

Poppies , Yes Poppies.. now they,ll sleep..poppies.. How about turning it into Afglassistan..

"Bush's cousin, Wirt Walker III, worked there, too."

"Wirt? The third? You're shitting me." http://newyorkmetro.com/news/features/16464/index.html

DrewE said "He is the first President since Nixon to not go to church on Sunday on a regular basis."

I have a strong distrust of people whom make a spectacle out of going to church. Remember, Bill Clinton had the biggest Bible on the planet, was filmed every Sunday at church and turned out to break several of the Ten Commandments VERY PUBLICALLY.

The correct name of the man is 'Abdur.' The initial AP reports had it wrong. Reuters has it right.

Thanks for the links, Kim. Sorry I haven't been over to say hi yet. I'm loving your blogging!

It's basically Taliban philosophy being applied here.

If they kill that guy, why shouldn't we kill the one at Yale in retaliation?

The prophet Mohammed, when betrayed by Jews in Medina, used Jewish law as the basis for having 700 men killed. Given that, we should ask that Christian law be applied in the case of Abdul Rahman, since that would be the equivalent of the prophets choice. In Christian law they would be required to forgive Abdul.