Tweet
If you’re interested in the Afghanistan imbroglio reading William Dalrymple’s article "Why the Taliban is winning in Afghanistan" in full will repay the time spent. I’m posting two paragraphs below just to whet your appetite. Further comment from me is extraneous
markfromireland
Now as then, the problem is not hatred of the west, so much as a dislike of foreign troops swaggering around and making themselves odious to the very people they are meant to be helping. On the return journey, as we crawled back up the passes towards Kabul, we got stuck behind a US military convoy of eight Humvees and two armoured personnel carriers in full camouflage, all travelling at less than 20 miles per hour. Despite the slow speed, the troops refused to let any Afghan drivers overtake them, for fear of suicide bombers, and they fired warning shots at any who attempted to do so. By the time we reached the top of the pass two hours later, there were 300 cars and trucks backed up behind the convoy, each one full of Afghans furious at being ordered around in their own country by a group of foreigners. Every day, small incidents of arrogance and insensitivity such as this make the anger grow.
There has always been an absolute refusal by the Afghans to be ruled by foreigners, or to accept any government perceived as being imposed on the country from abroad. Now as then, the puppet ruler installed by the west has proved inadequate to the job. Too weak, unpopular and corrupt to provide security or development, he has been forced to turn on his puppeteers in order to retain even a vestige of legitimacy in the eyes of his people. Recently, Karzai has accused the US, the UK and the UN of orchestrating a fraud in last year’s elections, described NATO forces as "an army of occupation", and even threatened to join the Taliban if Washington kept putting pressure on him. Shah Shuja did much the same thing in 1842, towards the end of his rule, and was known to have offered his allegiance and assistance to the insurgents who eventually toppled and beheaded him.
Read in full: New Statesman – Why the Taliban is winning in Afghanistan
28 Comments
I’ll add this paragraph as it mirrors exactly the Iraki experience of how Americans behave towards the “sand n*g*e*s” in Irak:
“It’s just a matter of time.” Gives me chills. I can’t understand what we are doing or why. We are indeed a bully nation.
Thanks for the diary, Mark. I always learn things from you and really appreciate your work.
Many months ago on CNN we were treated to an account of Afghanistan from a young Marine Captain Ho, who, I belive has since left the service. He pulled no punches whatsoever re exactly what goes on in Afghanistan. Assassinations aside, mistrust and sheer hatred of foreigner invaders, but also seizing of arable land for national Afghan government purposes. Get out now and save some young lives!
You’re welcome :-) and I’d agree with that it is just a matter of time. “Conquering” Afghanistan if you look at the history is relatively easy. Holding it is another matter entirely.
If you look at the pattern of violence – where are the invaders? That’¨s where you’ll find the most violence.
The same is true of Irak: If you read the reports the most violent parts of the country are the ones where the American troops are out and about and active. There are a lot of attacks on American patrols. There are a lot of attacks on American bases.
Similarly a joint U.S-Green Zone Government patrol is more likely to be attacked than a Green Zone Government only patrol.
There’s an obvious lesson here ….
Yup
Whether you are talking Iraqis or Afghans, they live there; we don’t. They will always be able to outlast us.
Yes, and giving them reasons (other than not wanting to be bossed around in their own country by a pack of foreigners) to hate your guts is a great incentive to any resistance to keep their eye on the long term.
This is from the article :
William Dalrymple is a British aristocrat. The Brits want America to lose Afghanistan. They want it to be our new Viet Nam. So they can back to the lucrative Afghan poppy trade.
And your evidence for all these unsupported assertions is?
very good opinion from Dalrymple. thank you.
Popping up to say hi and I’m off to read the article.
Those of us in anti-war groups have been comparing the First Afghan War to the current disaster from the start, wondering if any of the military brass had ever bothered to read the history.
Great article, mark, thanks for the link.
“By the time we reached the top of the pass two hours later, there were 300 cars and trucks backed up behind the convoy, each one full of Afghans furious at being ordered around in their own country by a group of foreigners”
Sounds like some of the stories I am hearing from returning soldiers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Still arrogant
And Americans seldom have any idea what is really going on over there.
Afghanistan Massacre:Convoy of Death
The only media person who touched this story was Amy Goodman
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6050857680395448306#
ANYONE HEAR RACHEL MADDOW MENTION THIS MASSACRE DURING HER VISIT THERE? WHY NO INTERNATIONAL INQUIRY INTO THIS MASSACRE?
“everything was under the control of the American commander”
If folks have not seen this documentary they need to
In America I think we would Road Rage and get off on Justifiable Homicide. Yes I hate Traffic Jams
Reverse Psychology I smell Darth’s cunning military mind./s I personally don’t think this will work.
Hilary hasn’t updated the State Dept response plans written by Kissenger?
http://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/2010/06/british-afghanistan-government
4 losses funny the facts you Never here in the American Media and I like to think that I’m well informed.
http://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/2010/06/british-afghanistan-government
I think I’ve seen this movie before only it was called Custard’s last stand. Where are the Americans resupplying from? The Afghan’s next move is to cut the supply lines and wait I take it?
Sorry Mark I saw Shaw I assumed Iran
pertinent parallels
Gallows Humor? I don’t think the Troops think we are winning.
http://www.newstatesman.com/international-politics/2010/06/british-afghanistan-government
I’m sure a loss in Afghanistan will make America’s enemies take note. Its time to stop playing the game of Empire.
MarkfromIreland do you know if there was ever an international investigation into this massacre?
Just watched it again. Watched it quite awhile back. So disturbing so criminal
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6050857680395448306#
I doubt it. I wouldn’t have done it the way they are; it’s a really good recipe for becoming hated by the people who live there.
Incirlik.
No.
NP :-)
How very imperial.