My first reaction to this news is "screw you" you ingrates, we'll stop worrying about collateral damage and simply pound you if you allow al Qaeda back in:
In a phone call Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged "mistakes" and asked Afghan President Hamid Karzai to allow American forces to enter Afghan homes in "exceptional circumstances" as the two sides rushed to finalize the wording of a draft security agreement ahead of a meeting of tribal elders who must approve the deal.
We've fought very cleanly. And within the rules of war. Our enemies can't say that.
The night raids are also very effective and people siding with the Taliban from conviction or pay checks want them to stop.
So I'm inclined to tell them to bugger off if this is anything remotely like an apology. Has Afghanistan apologized for "green on blue" attacks? For subjugating women? For Taliban jail breaks aided by insiders? For hosting al Qaeda prior to 9/11?
But I want us to stay in Afghanistan for our interests and not as a favor to Afghanistan.
And those calling for this so-called mistake memo don't represent all Afghans.
So if we can craft some vague letter that says mistakes have been made by many parties and that all concerned will work to fight jihadis in a manner consistent with the laws of war, I can live with that.
But Lord, they do make it difficult to blog on the subject.
UPDATE: We have a deal, it seems:
The United States and Afghanistan reached a draft agreement on Wednesday laying out the terms under which U.S. troops may stay beyond 2014, one day before Afghan elders are to debate the issue.
A draft accord released by the Afghan government appears to meet U.S. demands on such controversial issues as whether U.S. troops would unilaterally conduct counterterrorism operations, enter Afghan homes or protect the country from outside attack.
Good. I commend the Obama administration for getting to "yes" on this issue.
Now we have to see what troops will be kept there after 2014 and what they'll do.
We deny the idea of an apology even was brought up by Karzai. How the issue made the news is unclear.
The draft language is here.
