So far, we've got dozens dead and probably close to 200 injured in mob violence targeting UN personnel, Afghan police, security forces and girls' schools. Why is it taking so long for security forces to restore some semblance of order? From afar, it almost seems as though the strategy is to let this chaos burn itself out -- which isn't much of a strategy at all.

These are not protests. You don't "protest" by beheading people or stoning them to death, or burning schools to the ground. This is pure mob violence by fanatics either acting in league with the Taliban or directly led by them.

In a normal country, this is when the security forces would prevent the violence with an overwhelming display of force -- two days ago. Yet the latest reports seem to indicate the army is cooling its heels:

In Kandahar, several thousand young men, shouting slogans calling for death to Americans and to the government of President Hamid Karzai, were still rioting after several hours on Saturday, setting tires on fire throughout the city, burning cars and attacking journalists trying to cover the disorder. Shops and businesses were closed, and most people stayed off the street. Many of the protesters were waving the white flag of the Taliban.
 

 

The police said that some of the protesters were armed, and Afghan authorities used live ammunition on occasion to quell the disturbances, which continued all day. Of the 16 arrested, 7 were armed, officials said.
 

Kandahar’s provincial governor, Tooryalai Wesa, said the police had been patient with the protesters on Saturday, even when some used hand grenades and other weapons against them. “The security forces have tolerated much,” he said. “If it continues for another day, the security forces will take action against them.”

While your cities are burning and your police are being attacked with grenades, now is not the time to round up these violent pinheads? What precisely are the Afghan authorities waiting for?

Peace, order and good government is the aim, isn't it. Security forces ought not to worry about being viewed as "intolerant" or "provoking violence" after the killing spree these nutbars have been on for days. Crush these murderous bastards.

Jonathon Narvey is the Editor of The Propagandist