Oh Really?

And this is news? Iran gives Taliban money, arms and training

I don't think anyone is surprised.

And from Matthew Fisher via Terry Glavin:

"There is anger and disappointment, mixed with a sense of disbelief, among western supporters in Afghanistan’s second largest city over Canada’s decision to bring its troops home next summer.

"People are very upset about this. Why leave us?" said Jalani Hamayoun, the former deputy governor of Kandahar and a candidate in parliamentary elections in September.

"It is important for western countries not to repeat the problems of the past. You left us in 1990 and we ended up giving our problems to the world. If you leave Afghanistan, and especially Kandahar, again, there will be more problems for us and for the world."

[---]

""If Canada had asked the question, our government and most of our people would have said, ‘Yes, you should stay,’ " Raee said. "That is why Canada didn’t ask us. That was not the answer they wanted to hear.""

[---]

"While some Afghans fret over the departure of Dutch troops next month, of the Canadians next year, and of U.S. President Barack Obama’s stated desire to start withdrawing his nation’s forces in 2011 and what all this may portend for NATO’s mission here, the Taliban have gloated over these developments and reminded wavering Afghans that they are far more likely to stay the course than the West is. Implicit in their propaganda is that when NATO is gone, there will be a violent reckoning for those who have sided with the enemy."

Let's hope the the Mad Mullahs in Tehran have been swept away with the tides of history by then.