Afgoneistan

U.S. oil puppet Hamid Karzai is attempting to extend his sphere of influence beyond his own bedroom:

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- Demonstrators stormed U.N. compounds and stoned U.S. soldiers in a tense western Afghan city, officials said Sunday, a day after the government sacked its warlord governor.

About a dozen people were reported injured -- most with bullet wounds -- as security forces tried to keep order in Herat following the replacement of Gov. Ismail Khan. The office of one international aid group was also ransacked.

As I recall, Herat is in the Shiite Farsi-speaking part of western Afghanistan, and therefore close to Iran religiously, culturally, and geographically. I'll have to check in on Juan Cole and others who actually know what they're talking about, but this seems ominous. As I understand it, Karzai and his American string-pullers have had little authority in that part of Afghanistan. But Ismael Khan has run his own little province there which has not been a major hiding place for al Qaeda and Taliban, or anyone else attacking the "government" in Kabul or a supposed target in the "war on terrorism." Since Karzai and company have had little success in gaining control in those areas of eastern Afghanistan which have been causing them trouble, it seems insane that he would be picking a fight with the western part which probably just wants to be left alone. Unless, of course, this is all a part of the Bushies' plan to tighten the noose on Iran.