Zcom_simple

Hello,

Blogs are a familiar feature on the internet - where users post content in an accumulating manner, with comments, and search options, etc. They facilitate expression and exploration, and via attached comments, also debate and synthesis.


Reading and
Navigating Blogs

Our blogs are quite powerful. Each writer can post, as is typically the case. Sustainers who have the option can also post, however. All Blogs appear in the blog system, and sometimes also in content boxes the top page of ZNet - and always via the left menu of the top page - and can be found via searches, etc.

Commenting on blogs follows the blogs, attached at the bottom, and blog comments, like all others, are also visible in many places that show comments including in the forum system. In addition, the entire blog system gathers content for everyone - but one can look at the accumulating content in many ways.

  • For example one can look at one writer's efforts - so one is seeing what is effectively a blog system for that one writer, or Sustainer.
  • One can also look at the content by topic, seeing blogs that are tagged as being about a certain topic - or place, as well. Thus, when doing that, it is a blog system about a topic, or a place, with many contributors.
  • One can look at only writer blogs, or only sustainer blogs, as well.
  • One can look at blogs for particular Groups, too.

All this is easily done using the left menu. Searches allow even more variables and refinements.


Creating Blog Posts

If you are a Sustainer with permission, and are logged in, you will see a link in the left menu for you to post a blog - and you can use that to post one, and then tag it various ways (such as with a topic or place, or a group tag), and once you do, it is in the system with you as the author.

You can also use the console button to the left to post a blog - anytime and from anywhere in the site, as long as you are logged in.

Meanwhile, enjoy the blogs - and, by the way, if you are a Free Member or a Sustainer with a ZSpace page, of course you can put one or more content boxes on it, pulling blog links of any sort you may want to filter for, for example, by you or by your friends or by others - and by topic, about places, for groups, etc.

Blogs

The US is “surprised” at Afghan-Taliban Negotiations.

By Michael McGehee at Oct 09, 2008


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The US is “surprised” at Afghan-Taliban Negotiations.
 
Last week I noted about the French cable concluding our illegal war and occupation is already “doomed.”
 
It just keeps getting worse.
 
While we are busy propagating nonsensical excuses for our illegal wars and occupations of (Iraq and) Afghanistan; while Obama is saying we “dropped the ball” in Afghanistan; while our military leaders are calling for an escalation, the recipients (which also includes Pakistan and their American-provided gift of a Cambodianesque not-so-secret bombing) of our living Hell are trying to make peace.
 
What was our response to the talks? Surprise!
 
This is what kills me:
A U.S. defence official in Afghanistan told the paper the Bush administration was 'surprised' that it had not been informed about the meeting in advance by the Afghan government.
Gee, I wonder why we were not informed about the negotiations. Why would be excluded? Perhaps it's because the participants already knew not to waste their time and that we would be "cool" to such diplomatic negotiations. (Remember the Taliban offers before and shortly after the bombing began in late 2001??? I do.)
 
Shit, the article goes on to explain that our ideal solution is to escalate the occupation by sending more troops! If I was having a dispute with someone who was openly hostile and talking about being more aggressive I would take that as a clear message that they are not interested in talking with me. I would ignore them too.
 

Let’s be honest: We're not the kind of people who should be included in diplomatic negotiations for a peaceful solution. Think about what all we know about the Taliban and consider the depth of this: they negotiate for peace, we are ignored and escalate.

It must be real tough for many Americans to have to face the sad reality that we are bigger antagonists and belligerents than the Taliban. That has got to be hard to swallow but we will never extricate ourselves from this war (crime) until we do.

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