Afghans say 'to hell' with The Daily Beast

Twitter users criticise article on President Karzai's speech.

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Afghan President Hamid Karzai speaks at a gathering of women to mark International Women's Day, in Kabul on March 10, 2013. AFP PHOTO/ SHAH Marai

In response to a March 10 speech delivered by Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Leslie H Gelb published an article in The Daily Beast entitled "To Hell with Karzai". The article reacted to Karzai's remarks that Taliban-backed bombings encourage prolonged US and NATO presence in the country. It also argued that Karzai's message divides the country along stark ethnic lines.

View the story "Afghans say 'to hell' with the Daily Beast" on StorifyAfghans say 'to hell' with the Daily BeastTwitter users criticise article on President Karzai's speech.Storified by The Stream· Wed, Mar 13 2013 10:50:37Netizens criticised the piece, saying it was "detached" from the reality on the ground.
Just saw this from @thedailybeast http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/12/to-hell-with-karzai.html - very disturbing&unprofessional. Not to mention racist & detached from reality.Sana SaeedLeslie Gelb should have taken a deep breath before writing that.Murtaza HussainAfghans on Twitter denounced Gelb for the quote below, which they say presents an oversimplified view of Afghanistan's ethnic makeup and an unrealistic distinction between Pashtuns and non-Pashtuns in the country.
The non-Pashtuns, who make up around 60 percent of the Afghan people, are the most pro-American in the country. If anything, the non-Pashtuns would like to see Americans fighting in and for their country, against their Pashtun enemies, for the next century. To Northern Afghans, we’re the best guarantee against a Pashtun takeover—the last thing the non-Pashtuns want.thedailybeast.comapparently #Afghanistan consists of Pashtuns and non pashtuns #EvacuateTheWomentakhalus+32 million confused multi-ethnic people RT @takhalus: apparently #Afghanistan consists of Pashtuns and non pashtuns #EvacuateTheWomenAli M LatifiCan someone please inform @TheDailyBeast that Pashtun and non-Pashtun Afghans aren't thirsting to massacre each other? #EvacuateTheWomenJosh Shahryar شهريارMaybe Leslie can explain to me if I'm a Pashtun or not. Been having identity issues all my life. Leslie?! Am I Pro Karzai? #EvacuateTheWomenWaslat Hasrat-NazimiWhat comes next @TheDailyBeast? Leslie Gelb wants to partition #Afghanistan? #EvacuateTheWomenWaslat Hasrat-NazimiAfghan netizens responded to the following excerpt from the article using hashtag #EvacuateTheWomen saying the article played into the a 'saviour complex' by NATO forces.
The only ones I truly feel for are the Afghan women and those armed forces that continue to fight for a free society that may never come. I wish we could evacuate all of those who wish to flee their mistreatment and enslavementthedailybeast.comCan we just #EvacuateTheWomen of Afghanistan and let the men kill each other?! Maybe then @TheDailybeast will find find more nuance on AFG.Josh Shahryar شهريارLets #EvacuateTheWomen because Afghan women are endangered species according to Leslie Gelb...@thedailybeast ya really messed up on this onePeymana Assad @JShahryar more than #EvacuateTheWomen philosophy I would call it #Americansuperhero complexatnussanAl Jazeera journalist Ali Latifi joined in the discussion:
My #MuslimRage: When @thedailybeast calls to #EvacuateTheWomen in #AfghanistanAli M LatifiSmjhunt, a commenter on the original Daily Beast article, wrote:
Let's not forget that the U.S. invited itself into Afghanistan. Not the other way around.thedailybeast.comGeld's piece fits into a larger backlash against Karzai's statements from the speech. The Pashtun Women Viewpoint blog argues that although Karzai has consistently expressed theories of collaboration between Taliban and NATO forces, this speech addressed "Taliban hypocrisy".
"The Taliban are serving the foreigners and are not against the foreigners," Karzai, speaking in Dari, said two days ago.pashtunwomenvp.comThe primary focus of this particular part of his speech on International Women’s day was to unfold the double game Taliban are playing.pashtunwomenvp.comThat still has not halted international media outlets from suggesting that Karzai referred to direct collaboration between NATO forces and the Taliban.

A citizen petition is urging the US to challenge the Karzai administration on this issue. If it receives 100,000 signatures by April 11, it warrants an official response from the White House.
Petitions.WhiteHouse.govAJstream