Permanent US Afghanistan OccupationStephen Lendman NBC News headlined Endless Afghanistan? US-Afghan agreement would keep troops in place and funds flowing, perhaps indefinitely, saying: While many Americans have been led to believe the war in Afghanistan will soon be over, a draft of a key US-Afghan security deal obtained by NBC News shows the United States is prepared to maintain military outposts in Afghanistan for many years to come, and pay to support hundreds of thousands of Afghan security forces. The agreement reflects an open-ended military commitment. It involves thousands of American troops (and) billions of US taxpayer dollars. Draft Security and Defense Cooperation Agreement Between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan provisions state in part: The Parties acknowledge that continued US military operations to defeat al-Qaeda and its affiliates may be appropriate and agree to continue their close cooperation and coordination toward that end. Americas Afghan war has nothing to do with defeating Al Qaeda or other nonexistent terrorist threats. More on that below. NBC News called the agreement sweeping, vague in places (and) highly specific in others. Its dated July 25, 2013. Its a working draft. Its effective date is January 1, 2015. It extends through 2024 and beyond. US and Afghan negotiators reportedly agreed on terms. A traditional Afghan loya jirga (grand assembly) must ratify them. On Thursday, deliberations began. Afghanistans President Hamid Karzai is Washingtons man in Kabul. Hes a convenient US stooge. Hes a Pashtun warlord. Hes a former CIA asset. He profits enormously from Americas occupation. He amassed vast amounts of wealth from elicit drug trafficking. Hell step down after April 2014 presidential elections. Another convenient US stooge will replace him. He agreed to grant US forces immunity from prosecution. Hell let America discipline its own. It rarely happens for crimes of war or against humanity. US forces repeatedly get away with murder and then some. Another stumbling block apparently was overcome. A Kerry/Karzai phone call reportedly resolved it. Terms agreed on supposedly include Obamas promise to apologize for mistakes made throughout the conflict. Allegedly hell do so by letter. Karzai wants it read to 2,500 participating loya jirga elders and officials. According to Karzai spokesman Aimal Faizi, finalizing terms depends on an Obama apology. The idea, he said, is to mention that there were mistakes made in the conduct of military operations in the past, in the conduct of military operations by United States forces in the last decade, and that Afghans have suffered, and that we understand the pain and therefore we give assurances and make sure those mistakes are not repeated. National Security advisor Susan Rice denies an Obama apology is forthcoming. No such letter has been drafted or delivered, she said. There is not a need for the United States to apologize to Afghanistan. Quite the contrary. We have sacrificed and supported them in their democratic progress and in tackling the insurgency and Al Qaeda. Rice is one of Washingtons worst ever officials. She reflects moral depravity writ large. She relishes imperial spoils. Shes indifferent to human suffering. Shes a monument to wrong over right. Shes a disgrace and embarrassment to America, her position and humanity. Shes an Obama favorite. Theyre partners in crime. According to an unnamed State Department official, acknowledging civilian casualties is being discussed. We will consider (Karzais) request for reassurances, including the option of a letter from the administration stating our position, he said. If drafted, it wont be worth the paper its written on. So-called mistakes repeat with disturbing regularity. Paper promises wont stop them. Past ones didnt end ongoing crimes of war and against humanity. They include night raids on civilian homes, arrests, torture and deaths that follow, drone attacks largely affecting noncombatants, and other abusive practices. Apologies ring hollow. Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates expressed regret for civilian deaths. So did former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as well as Generals Stanley McChrystal, David Rodriguez and John Allen. Noncombatant killings continue. The proposed deal includes another empty promise. US troops allegedly will only enter Afghan homes under so-called exceptional and special circumstances. Allegedly its to save American lives. US troops dont give a damn about others. Theyre trained to kill. Protecting and preserving life doesnt matter. Longstanding policy wont change. According to retired General David Barno: So-called counterterrorism raids are the area where the United States is going to be particularly sensitive to restrictions. Forces in combat, under fire, are going to require a little bit of that flexibility. In other words, expect no change in US night raid policy. Drone attacks wont stop. Innocent civilians will suffer most. Theyre the main casualties of wars. Thousands of US forces will remain in Afghanistan indefinitely. Currently around 86,000 NATO troops include 60,000 US ones. Afghanistan reflects the illusion of a lost cause. After over 12 years of imperial war and occupation, Washington wont cut its losses and leave. Its for good reason. Afghanistan is considered a geopolitical prize. Plans are to stay indefinitely. War wont end. At issue is controlling Eurasias vast oil, gas and other resources. Its controlling the worlds largest opium supply. It floods world markets with heroin. It provides enormous profits for Wall Street. It gives CIA access to billions of dollars in elicit drug money. Occupied Afghanistan gives America a strategically located land-based aircraft carrier. Its part of Washingtons plan to encircle Russia and China with bases. Both nations represent the only challengers to US global dominance. Imperial supremacy depends on neutralizing their alliance. China is the worlds second largest economy. In a decade or less, it may surpass America. Russia is a formidable military power. Its the only nation able to challenge Americas military might. It has enormous oil and gas resources. China needs access to them. Both nations benefit strategically by allying. Doing so weakens Americas long-term position. The new great game pits Washington against a Sino/Russian alliance. The fullness of time will tell which side prevails. Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.His new book is titled How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War.Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/ 