Are we supposed to treat this threat seriously; or was he just venting & using hyperbole?
So you are just going to attempt to downplay this? He deserves to be taken out of power for just saying this, he is no ally, and “moderate” Islam is not coming to the rescue.
"SUBJUNCTIVE (نا خبري) ما کتاب لوستو؟ Subjunctive mood is used to show the speaker’s or the writer’s hopes, wishes or doubts about an event. A verb showing the possibility of an event is also included in this category. Some examples are:...."
Taken from: http://www.mabidkhan.com/pdf_papers/Pashto%20Verb%20General.pdf
I believe that satisfactorily explains how a translator can mistranslate Pashto at will and totally misrepresent the speaker's intent.
Give you an example ~ Karzai might well have said "Well, I might well as have joined the Taliban if that were to have happened". That could be translated as "You do that and I join the Taliban".
The problem here is that many languages, and Pashto is one, like Spanish, chronically use subjunctive mood to avoid offense. English is quite declarative and doesn't care if you are offended because, as it turns out, we English speakers sound so calm and nice as we deliver the most hideous threats.
I'd like to see the text in Pashto and English to see if one of the 25,000 Afghans who live within 5 miles of me can provide advice on the real meaning of the discussion.
Remember, it's not beyond belief that the Obama regime would misrepresent what Karzai said in order to stab him in the back. That's the Chicago Way!
Wait a second....I am not defending Karzai, personally I think he is using us and is corrupt (like Obama has room to talk), but I did read where he was insulted by his visit with Obama.....there is a difference between being firm and being an a$$ and we KNOW for a fact that Obama is an A$$....Plain and simple, Obama has no clue, doesn’t care to get a clue, and thinks everyone has to do what HE says......he is going to be responsible for the whole Afghanistan thing blowing up right in our faces.