An Old Afghanistan Hand Offers Lessons of the Past

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/20/world/europe/20russian.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=kabulov&st=cse&oref=slogin

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 9:04 AM
Subject: An Old Afghanistan Hand Offers Lessons of the Past
To: letters@nytimes.com

To the Editor:

    Ambassador Kabulov can see what many in our own country cannot. Afghan soldiers have proven to the world that they are very effective with AK-47s. To replace these with M-16s does nothing to enhance the Afghan military. It is a gratuitous gift of propaganda and dollars to the M-16's maker. Until we put the Afghans' needs ahead of domestic political calculations, we will be viewed as unwelcome occupiers there.

Barry Levine