Robert Fisk: For the Muslim World, It Will Make No Difference Who Wins the Election

By Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, Democracy Now!. Posted October 6, 2008.

Juan Gonzalez: The U.S. strategy in Afghanistan is back in the news. The British ambassador to Afghanistan has been quoted in a French newspaper as saying that the American military strategy in that country is "destined to fail." Ambassador Sherard Cowper-Coles's critical comments about the NATO operation in Afghanistan were part of a leaked memo from a French diplomat. He also said, "The coalition presence -- particularly the military presence -- is part of the problem, not the solution."

The British ambassador's leaked statements were published just as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan called for three additional combat brigades -- that is, over 10,000 soldiers -- to be immediately deployed to Kabul. General David McKiernan told reporters in Washington, D.C. Wednesday that Americans were facing a "tough fight" in Afghanistan that "might get worse before it gets better."

Amy Goodman: As the U.S.-led wars in the Middle East show no sign of abating, we turn now to a man who has chronicled eleven major wars in this part of the world and shows no sign of abating, himself. Robert Fisk is Britain's most celebrated foreign correspondent, has borne witness to countless tragedies in the Middle East for over three decades.

Robert Fisk has been named British Press Awards' International Journalist of the Year seven times. He is currently the Middle East correspondent for The Independent of London. His previous books include Pity the Nation: The Abduction of Lebanon and The Great War for Civilization: The Conquest of the Middle East. His latest is a collection of his essays and articles from The Independent; it's called The Age of the Warrior. Robert Fisk joins us here in New York in our firehouse studio.

Welcome to Democracy Now!

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Amy Goodman is the host of the nationally syndicated radio news program, Democracy Now!

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