America's War on Terrorism and the Consequences for Afghanistan

The Chilean Anti-Communist League shows solidarity, sadness and understanding towards one of America's greatest tragedies, that of septmeber 11, 2001, where 5,000 Americans perished due to terrorist actions. We support the US in every way in fighting terrorism. But many questions come to mind...how was it possible that the CIA and the other intelligence agencies didnt see this coming, having nuclear warheads, sophisticated weapons, and even satellites? The US government has to give a more rational explanation as to how such a thing could occur. The plan, carried out by Osama Bin Laden, evil as it was, was brilliant in that it was a hit to America's underbelly. It is understandable then, that this was an attack on America itself without any doubt. However pundits are wrong when they say that America was attacked "because of America's freedom and what we stand for", as some terrorist "experts" and other US officials have stated. Therefore why was America attacked? Not that any monstrousity like that of september 11 could be justified for any reason, but man-made tragedies occur for a reason. Osama Bin Laden and other islamic fundamentalists struct at America because they had nothing to loose after many decades of frustrations and failures. It is clear then that these ignorant and hateful individuals led by Osama Bin Laden struct America because of America's foreign policy and what they perceive as injustices of US foreign policy in their own countries, and what they see as a "corruption" of their socities by American policy and power. This is seen by the US' relentless support of Israel, which they perceive as unfair, as well as America's incongruent foreign policy specially during the Clinton years. The true unbiased version is that the Arab states of the middle east including Iran, should recognize Israel's right to exist, and that the Israeli's have to respect and accept the Palestinian people's serious peticion for a free and sovereign state. Thus America's foreign meddling has gained it many enemies over the decades, specially since the end of the cold war. Thus America's bombing and invasions usually lead to little else other than suffering in those countries as ocurred in the bombing of Libya in 1986, Belgrade, Serbia in 1999, and the bomnings in the Sudan and Afghanistan in 1998. The Bush administration has our support as it is a comeback to the good old days in which the US had a organized objective as a foreign policy, going all the way. However, unlike the US regimes of the 70's it must relaize that not all countries can have democracy, unless they have some development.

The Bush admnistration is doing all the right things, but for the wrong reasons. When specifying about why the US would attack Afghanistan, Bush mentioned, "because the Taliban regime wont hand over Osama Bin Laden". In other words, President Bush was attacking another sovereign nation because of one person. Many ignorant people in the USA started rallying and using bone head slogans and ideas of wanting to "nuke the whole middle east", or why dont we "nuke these islamist bastards". This is of course very wrong, and said in the most complete and barbaric ignorance.

Afghanistan was once a much better place, and a stable country in the developing world. Led by H.M King Zahir Shah from 1933, he led a nation that was constantly modernizing itself, and seeking to improve the lives of their citizens. Under the King's rule, Afghanistan modernized, built up, and even abolished some autocratic laws, like passing a law that did not allow members of the royal family to hold political office. Women had the right to vote educate themselves, to work, to own property, to drive cars, etc. The aristocracy was intact until 1973, an open aristocracy which fought elections in an open and democratic way, respecting the different factions of Afghanistan's population. All this changed after the King's cousin and a former Prime Minister, having personal ambitions threw the pebble in the lake that caused more ripples than he could imagine, changing Afghanistan forver, and, for the worse. Daoud Khan overthrew His Majesty's government in 1973, making himself president, abolishing the kingdom for a republic. This period of instability and semi autocratic republican period lasted until 1978. In 1978, Communist elements in the Military overthrew the Daoud Khan government installing a "socialist republic" in the communist style. Daoud Khan was killed by the Soviet and Afghan communists. Because the coup was unpopular and most afghans were not committed communists, there was a surge in fighting against the new government in Kabul. Thus, as treacherous communists that these military rebels were, they turned to the Soviet Union for "help against reactionary elements fighting the Revolutionary government". This help came int he help of troops. Thus the Soviets overran Afghanistan in less than 2 weeks. The test came in that the Soviet army fought insurrections, rebellions, and guerrilla warfare for the next decade. After 1989, the Soviet Union had to withdraw, since its casualties were too high and Soviet power was diminishing, which eventually led to its downfall.

Thus Afghanistan went from bad to worse. The last of the Soviet puppets was Dr. Mohammed Najibullah, a fervent communist, who won in free fairly open elections. As president, he had trouble in fighting revolts and other fundamentalists; large sections of the once professional Afghan National Army due to low morale and low pay defected for money to the warlords that gained more and more power. Eventually a coalition of warlords took over Kabul in 1996 and Pres. Najibullah and his brother were brutally killed ending his evil marxist regime, replacing it with an Islamist one just as brutal. From this period, the Taliban started taking over large parts of Afghanistan, making the new President Rabbani flee to neighboring Pakistan. Thus the Taliban originally a student movement composed of some members of the heroic Mujahideen that fought the Soviets took over. These people were backwards, barbaric in every sense, most were illiterate, and respected nor had any culture worth speaking of. These bucnh of bandits controlled Afghanistan until 2001, when the US forces decided to bomb them. During their rule women had to stay home and could only go out with a male family member or husband; could not drive, teach or get an education, and did not have any rights. Television was banned and only sports was allowed; later this was banned too. Thus during the Taliban era, what few technology and culture that remained was wiped out. The Taliban was also responsible for blowing up a national monument 2,000 years old, a statue of the Buddha, since they considered "un-islamic". These barbarians were never able to conquer the whole of the territory as a national hero and opposition leader, Ahmad Shah Massod leader of the Northern Alliance (now National Alliance) controlled the northern provinces, these mostly Tajiks and other minorities rather than being members of the big Pashtun tribe. Now normalcy has returned...but there is much to be done yet. Television is legal and been promoted again, as is radio and music, as is education for men and women, and women rights. President Hamid Karzai, a Pashtun noble, has done so far an excelent job since his country is a shambles and the country is broke. He is also a firm supporter of his Majesty, who is due to return in March 26, 2002, after 28 years of exile in Italy. Although Kabul and some other cities are adecuately protected by international troops (German, English, American, etc), the provinces and country side as well as border or interior towns are unprotected and attacked by bandits and opportunists. Thus the Kabul government of Karzai and the international troops have to quickly set up a National Army and train them in modern norms, as well as incaculate the values of patriotism to King and country. Another problem is that Afghan sectors want to call a Loya Jirga or a National Assembly, traditionally called in times of crisis. The problem is that this will lead to indecition and separatism just as before; the Karzai regime needs to stay longer than the mandated 6 months in order to bring about positive change. Thus Afghanistan needs a liberal sort of autocracy where civility will be imposed on the Afghans where more than half of the population never lived under his Majesty's regime nor ever knew of any civility. Thus Karzai ruling with the power of the King, in the name of the King is the only way forward. This is the only way that the Karzai government will survive and that civility will remain as the norm in Afghanistan. Thus we agree that the United States helped the Northern Alliance and bombed the Taliban, as this has led to a change of regime for the better. May the monarchy be restored, by the grace of God! Long Live H.M. Zahir Shah!

To visit the King's website and express your support: http://www.ifrance.com/zaher-shah//index.html/Indexx.html