Gideon Rachman links to a Newsweek story claiming that UN Ambassador Zalmay Khalizhad "is seriously considering running for Karzai's seat himself when the next elections are held in 2009." Khalizhad is one of the few Bush administration figures whose reputation has been enhanced during his tenure, and he was generally agreed to be a breath of fresh air as ambassador to both Afghanistan and Iraq, but this is just ridiculous. Rachman put it best: " gives a whole new spin to the idea of American imperialism." It's true that figures like Khalizhad and Petraeus have much more power than a normal General or Ambassador, but for Zal to actually run for president just seems deluded. I think we already have enough influence over Afghanistan's government, with the military presence there and everything...
Though it may not be much of a cinematic accomplishment (considering it was directed by Mike Nichols and features Philip Seymour Hoffman in a prominent role) Charlie Wilson's War makes a much needed statement about American foreign policy. Read More »
Since the Afghan diaspora first discovered it, Khalid Hosseini's landmark debut novel The Kite Runner has managed to be one of the most loved and loathed pieces of cultural art ever. Everyone had their opinions on the novel and its companion film -- was it good for Afghans or just "lifting your skirt over your head" as Afghans would say?
Now, the same questions are being asked of Hosseini's second novel A Thousand Splendid Suns. Having recently read it in its entirety in a single 24-hour period I can say that A Thousand Splendid Suns is indeed good for Afghans, and more importantly for Americans wanting to understand historical and political situation that created the current state of affairs in Afghanistan.
Shortly after the events of 9/11 Afghanistan, the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and Osama Bin Laden dominated the news, as if they all naturally went together and the Afghans had control or even a true engagement with the post cold war politics of Afghanistan.
Please remember that Campus Progress' terms of use do not allow promoting or endorsing any particular political party or candidate for office. Posts or comments that do this will be deleted.
Posts
!
