Obama Ups the Ante in Afghanistan, Graveyard of Empires

Interview with Nicholas Davies, author of "Blood on our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq", conducted by Scott Harris

After weeks of consulting with his advisers and the Pentagon, President Obama announced his administration's new strategy on the Afghan war in a nationally televised address from West Point military academy, Dec. 1. The plan calls for the deployment of an additional 30,000 American troops over the next six months -- and a timetable to withdraw most U.S. soldiers within three years. Obama plans to step up the training of Afghan forces to take over their nation's security.

Public opinion polls reveal widespread opposition to expansion of the war among Americans. The peace movement organized anti-war protests across the country to respond to the Obama speech. In the Senate, Democrat Russell Feingold of Wisconsin and independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont have pledged to block congressional authorization of the White House plan to escalate the Afghan war. In a recently published article, "Why Afghans Dig Empire Graveyards," Nicolas J.S. Davies recounts the multiple unsuccessful attempts by a succession of colonial powers to occupy Afghanistan. The strategic geographic location of Afghanistan for building critical oil pipelines may have as much to do with U.S. designs on the country as the potential threat posed by the Taliban and al Qaeda. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Davies about the current conflict in the context of Afghan history and his view of President Obama's plan to escalate the war.

Nicolas J.S. Davies is author of the forthcoming book, "Blood on our Hands: The American Invasion and Destruction of Iraq." Read Davies' article, "Why Afghans Dig Empire Graveyards," online at www.consortiumnews.com.

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: www.btlonline.org
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