"Zardari's refusal to reopen the supply routes left a diplomatic blot on a summit that NATO sought to cast as the beginning of the end of the conflict in Afghanistan. The Chicago gathering did produce a formal agreement by the alliance to hand over lead responsibility for security to Afghan forces by mid-2013, and pull out nearly all U.S. and other NATO troops by the end of 2014 even if the Taliban-led insurgency remains undiminished.
U.S. officials insist ample fuel and other supplies are being delivered via much longer and more expensive land routes in Russia and other nations north of Afghanistan. But the Pentagon says reopening the land route in Pakistan will be essential to hauling vast stores of military equipment and vehicles out of Afghanistan during the withdrawal." LA Times
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I guess BHO does not really accept the idea that Afghanistan and Pakistan are sovereign entities that are not obliged to do his bidding.
WH spokesmen are now citing the great "success" in Iraq as "proof" of how well things are going to end in Afghanistan.
We have yielded effective operational control to the Afghans. A formal transfer of opcon can wait until after November.
The Pakistanis are still blockading our supplies and are demading large bribes before they will be willing to open the spigot.
The former Soviet states are getting rich by "solving" this problem temporarily.
General Allen, the WH's man is leaving for EUCOM command soon. I hope the skiing is still good at Garmisch.
Ambassador Crocker has announced hat he is returning to retirement this summer.
Looks like the little furry critters are leaving. pl
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-nato-afghanistan-20120522,0,2278946.story
