Afghanistan: Taliban to target Restaurants

It looks like the Taliban are upping the ante and refining their tactics in Kabul by threatening restaurants frequented by Westerners. Applying the same type of pressure to the government of Hamid Karzai as they are applying to Musharraf's government in Pakistan. Anyone seeing a pattern here? And get this - the "threat" was delivered...

In a phone call to the Associated Press!

The Taliban said Tuesday that its suicide bombers would attack restaurants where Westerners eat in Kabul, an ominous new threat that forced American and European workers to restrict outings in the Afghan capital.

About the Western restaurant scene in Kabul:

Kabul has about a half dozen restaurants popular with Westerners. The establishments — run by ex-pats with themed menus such as French or Mexican — do not allow Afghans entry because they serve alcohol, which is illegal for Muslims here. The restaurants sit behind nondescript walls and do little advertising, relying on word-of-mouth to bring in customers.

Reading about the Kabul restaurant scene makes me think of the piece in Politico today, Pelosi pushes Gourmet Restaurant. It looks like La Pelosi has made a real hash of the House cafeteria with her "Greening the Capitol" plan, more of our US government fiddling while Kabul ka-booms.

The processed cheese has been replaced with brie. The Jell-O has made way for raspberry kiwi tarts and mini-lemon blueberry trifles. Meatloaf has moved over for mahi mahi and buns have been shunted aside in favor of baguettes.

A revolution is afoot at the deli counters, grills and salad bars of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Newly ascendant Democrats may have hit roadblocks on Iraq and fiscal issues, but they have revamped congressional menus, replacing fatty, pre-made foods with healthier, gourmet alternatives. The once dreary congressional cafeterias now abound with haute cuisine.

And shrines to recycling...read it all.