Back in July, I read that Republican Rep. Jeff Duncan inserted into the State Department and foreign operations authorization bill an amendment which prohibited any foreign assistance to governments that vote against the U.S. position at the U.N. more than 50 percent of the time.
I thought it was a great idea. Now, maybe I’m not seeing all the angles but I’m a simple person and you don’t thank someone when they give you a gift by insulting them.
Maybe the idea of financial support in exchange for favorable votes would be construed as a bribe; maybe it would simply mean, you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. Me? I look at it as not biting the hand that feeds you. But that’s just me.
A perfect example came when I read that Afghan President, Hamid Karzai was recently quoted as saying, “If Pakistan is attacked (by the U.S.) and if the people of Pakistan needed Afghanistan’s help, Afghanistan will be there with (Pakistan).” I couldn’t believe it.
Well, just this weekend Major General Peter Fuller, deputy commander for the Afghan training mission, was 
relieved of his duties. Why? Because he had the cojones to speak the truth.
Major Gen. Fuller said Karzai’s comments were “erratic” and said, “Why don’t you just poke me in the eye with a needle! You’ve got to be kidding me. I’m sorry, we just gave you $11.6 billion and now you’re telling me, I don’t really care?” He also said the Afghans don’t understand the extent to which the U.S. is in economic distress or the “sacrifices that America is making to provide for their security.” He said the Afghans are “isolated from reality.”
I know that Major Gen. Fuller is in the military and that there’s a strict code of conduct in place when it comes to speaking one’s mind.
I’m guessing he knew actually what he was saying and what would happen to his career. But I’m always in awe of someone with the moral courage to speak the truth despite the adverse consequences.
You’re a hero in my book. God bless you, General, for your service and Godspeed.
