Sunday, December 27, 2009

Common sense: German defense minister says West should abandon hopes of creating democracy in Afghanistan

He says it's because of its "history and its cultural orientation." That is true, but those things are true because of the deep roots of Islam in the country, leading most people there to want Afghanistan to be a Sharia state. "Guttenberg: Afghan democracy impossible," from The Local, December 26 (thanks to C. Cantoni): Germany's beleaguered defence minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg has said the West should abandon hopes of creating a democracy in Afghanistan.

Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg told the Sunday edition of the tabloid Bild newspaper that Afghanistan was simply not suited to democracy, and that any realistic government in the country had to include the Taliban.

"I have long since become convinced that because of its history and its cultural orientation Afghanistan is not suited to being a model democracy, measured by our standards," said Guttenberg, who has come under intense pressure over his ministry's public relations disaster following a deadly air strike in Kunduz in which up to 142 people were killed....

"We have to ask ourselves which of the insurgents represent a serious threat to the international community, and which are concerned with Afghan questions," Guttenberg said. "The question of human rights has to be addressed here, without ignoring the cultures that have developed in Afghanistan."

But he warned, "Negotiations and the inclusion of the Taliban should of course not be started without conditions. It would be unacceptable if universally acknowledged human rights were simply suspended."

Well, don't hold your breath, Guttenberg.
Thanks Jihad Watch

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