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The Forum > Article Comments > Leaving Afghanistan will have consequences > Comments

Leaving Afghanistan will have consequences : Comments

By Chris Lewis, published 5/11/2010

Deserting Afghanistan now would make it a haven for terrorists.

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Chris,

There was a lack of evidence to justify an invasion on the legal basis of self defence and also a lack of a UN resolution supporting an invasion. The Taliban were not linked to the 911 attack on the USA. Actually, the Taliban were USA government allies (not terrorists), when they were funded and trained to attack the Russian occupation.

As posted, the evidence gathered by the FBI found 911 attacks planned in Germany and USA, by a international terrorist organisation.

Further, security analysis by the US govt. agencies found that attacking Afghanstan would INCREASE world wide threats of terrorism.

Since the invasion, the resulting conflict has lead to thousands of innocent civilians, The evidence shows a MASSIVE INCREASE IN TERRORISM.

It is a circular argument, to say that after a country has been victimised and destroyed by an illegal invasion and occupation that the occupiers should remain to make sure things 'don't get worse'. In that case, any country could invade others with intention of making them unstable, on grounds that they are required to "fix things up".

Why did we invade and occupy? Consider the strategic importance of Afghanastan in relation to resources (oil and rare metals) and resource trade routes. Other evidence may also be found in the historical record of invasion of Afghanstan by other major powers. You will find these are the main motives for war.

The occupation should end, reparations be paid to Afghanstan and then we listen to solutions given by the Afghan people, none of which currently support any occupation of their country. Let us support all humanitarian efforts to aid peaceful development. How about an arms blockade of the country. Who has turned Afghanastan into a arms manufacturers playground? Who pays the westrern mercanaries to harrass the Afghans, and insult their culture? How about blockading this money?

The Afghan people haven't trusted the western powers for centuries. The poltical reality is that imperial powers like the USA don't want other neighboring countries having more influence in the country.
Posted by Nigel, Monday, 8 November 2010 11:36:58 AM
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Nigel,

In regards to your comments, I will merely cite a bit out of my draft sourced from the US security publication.

US intelligence has found continuing links between the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Afghan Taliban, and the al Qaeda safe haven in Pakistan is protected by the umbrella organization Tehrik-i Taliban-i Pakistan
(TTP, Taliban Movement of Pakistan). Already the TTP is believed to collaborate with militant groups that have fought in Kashmir, as well as with Uzbeks and Chechens. Its support base among the local population uses a combination of money (funds from al Qaeda, Persian Gulf donors, and drug and other trafficking), force (death threats against tribal elders), and the provision of public services such as justice
Posted by Chris Lewis, Monday, 8 November 2010 3:13:36 PM
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There appears to be some inconsistency in the article by Chris Lewis. The population of Afghanistan is about 28 million. There cannot be 45 million Pashtuns , if 40-50% live in Afghanistan, and 10-20% live in Pakistan.

What is more to the point, - as the article referred to it, - the overall literacy is only 34%, while female literacy is only 10%. It is very important to consider the implications of this. Try to imagine the consequencies of illiteracy in our society hundreds of years ago.

For complex reasons, the illiterate Afghans have an affinity with the order offered to the by the Taliban. The order offered to them by the coalition forces simply does not resonate with them. The only way to change the perceptions of the illiterate Afghans is to have a massive educational programme, - which can take three generations. Nobody is prepared to entertain such thing.

Therefore, it is a waste of time, money and men, for the coalition forces to stay.

As regards the renegade bands of terrorists, such as the one assembled by Bin Laden, they can be dealt with without having troops on the ground. The Afghans should have no illusions about this.

As regards the Chinese, who are developing one of the largest copper deposits a short distance SE of Kabul, it is doubtful if they would allow Afghanistan to descend into chaos. The possibility of the Chinese having a controlling influence there is perhaps unfounded. They have enough problems within China, to waste money and time on futile interventions.

Naturally, the best way would be to have an effective, reformed United Nations which is not controlled by the Permament Members of the Security Council, and which can exert strong influence on failed or threatening states. Without this, all the other nations may look forward to some unpleasant complications not of their own doing.
Posted by Istvan, Monday, 8 November 2010 8:39:10 PM
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Istvan,

You make some good and interesting points.

In regards to the population of Pahtuns, I relied on a US source and should have checked the data.

40-50% of Afghanistan's population is 11-14 million, and 10-20% of Pakistan's 180 million is 18-36 million, thus giving a range of 29-50 million range.

I should have offered such a range.
Posted by Chris Lewis, Tuesday, 9 November 2010 7:09:42 AM
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Here is where you can go to buy the Afghan clothing before going to Afghanistan:

http://www.zarinas.com/
Posted by mariam, Thursday, 11 November 2010 3:40:40 AM
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Perhaps ground troops should be withdrawn and just turn it into an air
to ground war.

I just wonder what the women of Afghanistan would think of a return of the Taliban ?
Posted by Bazz, Thursday, 11 November 2010 2:57:15 PM
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