As previously reported on Change.org, this momentous event in the progress of peace in Afghanistan has already been diligently underway for months, but has left observers very confused.

No one is clear about what a “Contact Group” actually is or does, but among its members are United Nations, the European Union member-states and NATO. Having more countries and their resources invested in the peace process will hopefully help it along, but too many cooks in the kitchen can also become a hindrance.

There are a couple of surprise invitees in the group. One is the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), which rarely makes the Western press despite representing more than 50 nations and promoting Muslim solidarity worldwide. The OIC wasn’t present at the first Contact Group meeting held in Rome last week.

The second invitee, however, was. That country is Iran.

Iran has a long, unguarded border with Afghanistan and a seemingly insatiable appetite for its neighbor’s opium (also used for heroin), of which Afghanistan is the world’s largest producer. So Iran certainly has a stake in seeing a peaceful Afghanistan. What’s odd is the U.S. statement about Iran’s inclusion in the Contact Group.

“For the United States there is no problem” said Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. special representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, about Iran’s involvement. Holbrooke even went so far as to say that “Iran has a role to play in the peaceful settlement of this situation in Afghanistan.” In fact, Holbrooke will be meeting with his Iranian counterpart at the Contact Group’s meeting next month in Lisbon.

Hold on a minute. What?

During his campaign, candidate Obama controversially proposed direct talks with Iran. On becoming President, however, he has followed exactly the same path as his predecessor George W. Bush, using the proverbial “big stick” by slapping sanction after economic sanction on Iran over its nuclear program, causing the people of Iran and not its political leaders to suffer.

Obama via Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (as if she didn’t have a say or two) has even made things worse by purposefully raising already high-strung Middle East tensions: giving the green light to Israel to station nuclear submarines off Iran’s coast, and going ahead with the biggest arms deal in U.S. history to Saudi Arabia, Iran’s other regional archenemy.

Maybe U.S. officials at the highest levels have no clue what they are doing with Iran, either. If they do, could they please let the world know?

Photo Credit: Beverly & Pack (flickr)

Whatever a ‘Contact Group’ for Afghan Peace Is, It Includes Iran

Immediately after Haiti’s devastating earthquake, pledges of aid and reconstruction assistance poured in from around the globe. But to date, only 4 countries have delivered on those commitments and it’s time to hold the others accountable.

Bill Clinton, special UN envoy to Haiti, is charged with overseeing the aid and has vowed to accelerate the process. Let’s help him hold world leaders to account and get Haiti the resources it needs to rebuild now.
World Leaders: Pay Up So Haiti Can Build Up