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Afghanistan, Six Years Later: The Forgotten Front [VIDEO]

Posted by Adam Howard at 6:25 AM on October 7, 2007.


Al Qaeda is resurgent. Osama bin Laden and his number two, Ayman al-Zawahiri, have not been captured. Suicide bombings have been used with increasing frequency and 750 civilians have been killed in 2007.
Afghanistan: The Forgotten Front

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This summary comes from the Campaign for America's Future

The Bush administration may be funneling more and more money into Iraq, but Afghanistan—yes, the same Afghanistan that Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda used as a safe haven to plan the September 11th attacks—has fallen by the wayside.

Sunday marks the sixth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan. The goals: to oust the Taliban and Al Qaeda and build a stable, secure Afghanistan.

Six years later, the situation looks bleak. Al Qaeda is resurgent and has set up shop along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Osama bin Laden and his number two, Ayman al-Zawahiri, have not been captured. Suicide bombings and improvised explosive devices have been introduced and used with increasing frequency in the Afghan theater, and 750 civilians have been killed in 2007 alone. Opium production is booming and 93 percent of the world’s opium is coming from Afghanistan. And according to the Center for American Progress-Foreign Policy’s Terrorism Index, 84 percent of foreign policy experts believe the United States is not winning the war on terror.

But Afghanistan is not Iraq. There has been some important, fundamental headway in strengthening the Afghan state: a legitimate government is in place that is representative of the people, the U.N. and NATO are contributing to the mission, Afghan security forces are loyal to the Afghan government, and the public supports an international troop presence. These factors make stability in Afghanistan achievable.

This success hinges on a change in U.S. Middle East policy. Resources should be redeployed from Iraq to Afghanistan; operations in Afghanistan need increased funds, attention, and military and civilian manpower.

This means increasing international troop levels and equipment, augmenting reconstruction assistance and providing better oversight for the process, strengthening and shifting counter-narcotics efforts, addressing Al Qaeda's new safe haven in Pakistan, and bolstering Afghanistan's democratic government.

A more comprehensive outline for how to deny sanctuary to Al Qaeda and its affiliates and build a stable, secure Afghanistan will be provided in a report to be released later this month from the Center for American Progress.

To speak with our experts, Caroline Wadhams and Lawrence Korb, please contact Allison Price, 202.481.8190 or aprice@americanprogress.org

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Tagged as: terrorism, al qaeda, afghanistan, bin laden, taliban

Adam Howard is the editor of PEEK.


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Let's Create Another Quagmire
Posted by: InsertNameHere on Oct 7, 2007 8:13 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
America and its coalition are just one more in a series bloody failures in Afghanistan that stretches back more than a hundred years. The Taliban, like the Mujahadeen before them will simply vanish into dust at the sight of American military power, then come back in strength. Like the insurgent fighters in Iraq disappear into the civilian population.

Clearly there is no hope of military victory in such a situation. Americans should ask the British, or Russians about their past campaigns in Afghanistan. Or ask the French about Indochina, or search their own near past about Vietnam and Cambodia. If the civilian population doesn't want you there, then all of the military hardware and intelligence won't change it. Unless you are willing to kill every last Afghan, then the resistance, in whatever form it takes, will never die. That is the simple truth that these warmongers spend millions of dollars per year sweeping under the rug.

Since Al Qaeda is not a military, it doesn't make sense to pursue them militarily. Yet, that's not where U.S. interests lie in the middle east, is it?

If the powers of the world were interested in actual change, they would be pressuring Musharraf to embrace free elections. If there is any state where a radical element stands any chance of gaining control of a nuke, it's in Pakistan.

Many of the 9/11 hijackers were Saudis but the U.S. didn't drop a zillion pounds of death from the sky on their civilian population. It's time the U.S. and their Security Council enablers stopped bullshitting everyone and admit that they conveniently ignore the human rights abuses of outright dictators, calling them allies, when it suits their purposes.

Let's start by bringing Israel, Pakistan and India into the NPT. A treaty the U.S. should start actually honoring.

I'm saddened that my own Canada is participating in this ridiculous 'War On Terror'. While we aren't directly involved in Iraq, there is evidence for material support from Canada directly or indirectly to the Iraq war, a fact that would probably wipe the smug grin off of many of my fellow citizens' faces if they knew it.

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Holiday in Afghanistan
Posted by: andrewstromotich on Oct 7, 2007 9:11 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
this really was a nothing video.
two talking heads cut with pictures from afghanistan set to some "near east" music. really just a junk mail.

if we talk about afghanistan and how it has changed since shock and aweing it, we should talk about the opium (heroin) trade, which has flourished under the US occupation.

I don't think the point was ever to really rid the country of the Taliban of al queda. Just as laos and burma became major supporters of US black ops in the vietnam era, so to may be afghanistan now.

the heroin trade was basicly transferred from turkey and iran, to the golden triangle with the aid of the cia and us military as a way of paying for the war in vietnam (financing the dirtiest ops that could not be paid for through the gov as they could not even be admitted to).

the us supported local warlords and pushed them to expand their poppy growing in exchange for cash and weapons (AIR AMERICA was basicly the cia transport pipeline of guns for drugs). the warlords then created ragtag armies that could be hired by the US for some of the worst missions (rape and pillage and 'suicide' attacks against the VC and chinese).

Now in afghanistan we have a situation in which the US controls a couple centers and arms warlords to run the rest of the gov't and create ragtag armies. same same, no different.

the reason the US doesn't want to clean up afghanistan is because it is quite lucrative in the form it is now in. Drugs for gun is my guess, just like it was in Burma with the CIA with the KMT and in LAOS with the warlords reigning terror over their Karen minions.

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Neocon success story.
Posted by: sonex on Oct 7, 2007 9:32 AM   
Current rating: 3    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
This has nothing to do with incompetence, it is the plan to have enemies that neocon can point to, to justify pursuing their war policy, weakening governments in that area so they can better manipulate these states and as in the case with Irak privatize the oil resources in the interest of Big Oil corp.

This war agenda was clearly described in the neocon PNAC document of 2000 where it suggest it would much easier to bring on board the American public if ''A new Pearl Harbour'' where to happen...

Well they got their new Pearl Harbour the very next year, the rest is history. None of this is incompetence, from 911 to the mess in Irak, all is going according to the plan.

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That a boy Tim Osman
Posted by: ericthefool on Oct 7, 2007 10:30 AM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
CIA runs this show with drug money and funding "terrorists", to perpetuate a culture war to keep a steady flow of cash for these power hungry fools. Bye Amerika.

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"Al Qaeda" is phony as so-called "war on terror"
Posted by: stryder on Oct 7, 2007 5:24 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Afghanistan is about heroin (opium) black ops profits and as a western base for Eurasian big oil extortion all paid for by gullible American taxpayers.

As for “Al Qaeda”? It was formed and funded by Saudi Arabia with U.S. elites who ran it thru CIA patsies like asset Osama Bin Laden – alias Tim Osman – straight past 9/11 and on (Osama has been reported dead by many news orgs for some time).

Any number of fake Al Qaeda cells have been busted out of Israel, London and Africa. When you’ve got U.S. Jews like Adam Pearlman (alias Adam Yahiye Gadahn) claiming to be an “Al Qaeda” supposed “media advisor” that’s got to be a prime tip-off the jig is up.

At least 7 CIA analysts have come out and said 9/11 and its “Al Qaeda” nonsense is "a joke", "a cover-up", "a monstrous series of lies", "a pretext for war", "not a serious piece of analysis", riddled with "serious shortcomings," "omissions" and so on.

http://www.opednews.com/
articles/genera_alan_mil_070922_seven_cia_veterans_c.htm

The so-called “experts” of this story are no such thing. Lawrence Korb is a CFR (Council on Foreign Relations) military-industrial hack and former Assistant Secretary of Defense who at one time mismanaged at least 70% percent of the defense budget. These are transparent propagandists for a false criminal “war on terror” the west uses to extort big oil and run drugs at the cost of lives on the ground.

All that’s necessary to determine the truth is follow the money.

Like virtually all global wars – “war on terror” is a fraud. It is measured in profit and murder over human misery.

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Does anyone else think...?
Posted by: peacelf on Oct 7, 2007 7:41 PM   
Current rating: 4    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
1) Al Qaeda, "the base" is a CIA operation set up to lure potential "terrorists" into a U.S. trap.
2) Osama bin Laden still works for the U.S. and is a hired "boogey man" to keep americans in fear and same as No. 1.
3) that 9/11 was a conspiracy of ignorance. In other words, top officials in the Bush administration let it happen, so they could push forward their strategic defense agenda to ensure U.S. hegemony in the world.
4) the attack on Iraq was for oil.

5) We've been bamboozled.

peace

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» RE: Does anyone else think...? Posted by: genefire
This video is "Propaganda"
Posted by: genefire on Oct 8, 2007 3:02 AM   
Current rating: 5    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
First thing is first....It seems that Alter Net has been infiltrated by the propagandist who are still trying their best too dumb down the same citizens I work for by keeping this Al Queda(meaning "The Base") boogie man myth alive and well!

Second, How many Al Quedas militants are there...Seriously? Because for the people who believe in this bull how many Al Queda people have you seen with your own eyes. How many of you seriously personally feel terrorized from them?

Don't forget Afghanistan had NOTHING to do with 911! Thats just like if some KKK went over to Russia and set off a bomb and killed over 3 thousand people....Then Russia comes here and invades us....Do you feel they would be justified to do this?
These are the questions you civilians should be asking each other and our government officials rather than drinking the kool-aid! The reporters are not on your side....I've seen them with my own eyes over there (last month) turn a blind eye to something they and there handlers witnessed.

At least we recognize propaganda when we see it on the DOD channels, the briefings, the literature in the Recreation Centers,FOX news,Pentagon channel, etc. WE KNOW IT's PROPAGANDA,...Why can't you civilians recognize that fact is baffling. This video was probably made by someone in my building or out of Ft.Mead!

You (The American tax payers that is) pay our salaries but you guys/gals have fallen asleep at the wheel while letting your rights get pushed aside! Hey maybe because your scared,lied too, pacified, and propagandized for most of your days so I can understand a little bit for the ignorance but its no excuse if your able to read this from your computer which means you can always research what your being told if you really gave a damn about being mislead!

Well I care and thats why I had to respond to this VNR from that Think Tank...The same think tank that helped get us in Iraq! DO THE RESEARCH....WAKE UP! For the ones who are awake...Bless you and I'll feel better protecting you guys in the line of fire because we know you real patriots have our backs...thank you for always questioning my upper echelons,...because we can only follow orders and have no influence of how long we fight uselessly! They'll stop feeding you this bull when you start calling them on it!

One last thing....How is it that We control the Seas,the ports,borders and the air but all of those millions of tons of Heroin seems to make it out of that country undetected and arrive undisturbed in America(as well as the rest of the developed countries)cities through our so-called homeland security during a time of conflict and boosted security!

These questions are legitimate questions that you never hear asked nor brought up by ANY MEDIA...including Independent Media...why is that!
G.F

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» RE: This video is "Propaganda" Posted by: motamanx
Regress versus Progress
Posted by: ray burchard on Oct 8, 2007 7:56 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Afghanistan and Iraq are both individually just another American Quagmire and just like other nations efforts before, an exercise in futility. That’s the suggested inevitable effect of America’s attempt to coagulate the Muslim denizen and thereby build a unity governance instead of the antiquated, anfractuous tribal mindset that is and was indicative of the middle eastern governance. A antiquated mindset that views progressive change as a threat to their very successful cultural way of life and a return to the rule of the Taliban, and/or the Mujahadeen’s continual sectarian conflict would be a welcome return.

Bull shit progress moves forward not backwards

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U.S. Protection of the Saudi Royal Family
Posted by: taureandevi on Oct 8, 2007 11:24 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
in exchange for oil will keep Osama bin Laden alive!

Remember the American Government has priorities which don't include YOU.

War=Profits

Peace=Prosperity

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Iran-Contra
Posted by: Mahjee on Oct 8, 2007 5:49 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
Interesting that six years of U.S. occupation in Afghanistan has led to an increase in the supply of opium. This extremely profitable crop now hits the streets, mostly in the U.S., where in its sinister form- heroin- it inspires untold misery.

What if U.S. military officers in the field were permitting opium to be produced and exported? Turning a blind eye to shipments at the border is one thing. Receiving kickbacks is another matter altogether. They certainly stand to profit handsomely from the trade.

Heaven forbid. I should bite my tongue. The "good" guys wouldn't do that sort of thing. The American officer corps is incorruptible.

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Lay off the Kool Aid
Posted by: ErHoff on Oct 9, 2007 4:38 AM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
As the lost-in-space folks still go after pop star Tim Osman, the truth continually has to ride another bus on the Al Qaeda tour.

The US is not in Afghanistan for bin Laden, NO!

The US has oil and gas pipeline owned by Bush & Buddies.

Afghanistan & Iraq were not pre-emptive, but rather preventative wars, meaning they were illegal. If justice and freedom are issues then we should have war crimes trials.

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bogus video
Posted by: fma7 on Oct 9, 2007 5:19 PM   
Current rating: Not yet rated    [1 = poor; 5 = excellent]
The author is pushing for heightened war in Afghanistan. That bogus little introduction doesn't address the invisible air-war, the increased targeting of civilians nor the carnage past and present due to the illegal invasion and occupation for strategic positioning of oil. Lets do a quizz? Quess who : …a former contra fighter,

hand-picked by the West to rule Afghanistan,

a CIA stooge among stooges,

a one time supporter of the Taliban,

a long-time U.S. resident,

a U.S. oil-industry consultant...

He’s our man in Kabul,

he’s their very stylish President,

who Gucci calls the world’s “most chic man,”

he’s the one and only,

Hamid Karzai!
Now, all that the US and its NATO allies (like Canada) needed was to legitimize this regime change.
The process – which took five-years – is detailed in this COAT magazine, available at a fine literature table near you.

The process including the conferences and grand assemblies with delegates hand-picked by the US.
It included violence, intimidation, bribery and elections riddled with blatant manipulation, widespread multiple voting, vote rigging and vote buying.

At every step along the way, Canada’s government and corporate media were there, ignoring all of the blatant scandals, cheering along the whole faulty mess and giving unconditional support to the new regime that is – of course – totally dominated by the Northern Alliance warlords. Wanna see Canada 's faulty/crumbling mythology as the peacemaker:
go to http://coat.ncf.ca/Slides/3in1/045.htm

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