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| Afghanistan | |
| Afghans demand withdrawal of NATO and US troops | |
| 2008-06-10 | |
| The American and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) troops should leave Afghanistan because they are responsible for creating unrest in the country, Afghan leaders said on Monday. “The real factor behind the unending war and instability in Afghanistan is the presence of foreign troops. They must leave the country and let Afghans establish a government of their choice,” said Afghan representatives at a one-day seminar entitled, ‘The Afghan imbroglio: problems and the way to peace’. Former jihadi commanders, political leaders, religious scholars, intellectuals, tribal elders and those who have served in previous Afghan governments attended the seminar.
The declaration also favoured a dialogue among all Afghan groups and factions to put an end to fighting in the strife-torn country. It also called upon the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to play its due role in bringing peace to Afghanistan. Commenting on the ongoing reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, the participants of the seminar said billion of dollars were being wasted in the name of rebuilding “but there is nothing visible on the ground as more than 80 percent of population is still living below the poverty line”. Muhammad Zaman Muzammil, the organiser of the seminar and former member of the executive council of Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA), said the “Western style of democracy” was not going to serve the purpose in Afghanistan. Lamenting the failure of foreign troops and the Afghan government in restoring peace, Muzammil said the number of military operations had mounted to 4,500 in 2007 compared to 150 in 2001. He said the Karzai-led government was seeking help from foreigners instead of its own people, and that the Afghan imbroglio was not only posing threat to the country but also to Pakistan, Iran and other countries in the region. Former Afghan premier Abdul Samad Hamid and Rostar Taraki spoke via telephone from London and France respectively, and also called for the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. Zaman Muzammil told Daily Times after the seminar that such events would also be organised in Kabul and other countries. | |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 We can withdraw, if we take out every bit of modern technology in the area. Crazy bedou with nukes aren't so scary if they have to transport their second-hand bomb by donkey or camel back. No airlines, no ships, no cars. No TV, cell phones, nada. Refrigeration? Don't think so. We need exactly nothing from Afghanistan, so we give nothing. Technological blockade, enforced without exception for any reason. Enjoy the 7th century, ya morons. Send up a smoke signal or something when you wake up and decide that the ticket ain't worth the price. |
| Posted by: mojo 2008-06-10 16:05 |
| #7 And where was this one day seminar held, pray tell? In Kabul, or perhaps in Karachi or even Islamabad? Swat, maybe? Who sponsored this seminar whose organizer belongs to what sounds like a jihadi group? What exactly is the poverty line that more than 80% of the population lives below, and who defined it to be at that level? What percentage of the population lived below that same poverty line in 2001, the apparent Year of Perfect Peace? Since when do Pakistan and Iran feel threatened by the situation in Afghanistan, which they continue to happily stir up? A lovely little piece of propaganda, this article, but it raises all sorts of interesting questions. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2008-06-10 14:00 |
| #6 "troops should leave Afghanistan because they are responsible for creating unrest in the country" Oh how they long for those good old pre-9/11 days when all was well and stable in the land of milk and honey. They would do well to remember what brought us there in the first place: an Afghan "government" hellbent on jihad that allied itself with Osama bin Laden. "there is nothing visible on the ground" Nothing is visible because the terrorists keep bombing schools and cell towers and kidnapping foreigners who are trying to build roads. "more than 80 percent of population is still living below the poverty line" The key word is "still". This group of bandits is disappointed that all these foreigners have visited and there's not enough loot to show for it. Far be it from their oil-rich Islamic brothers to help them out or an "Allah helps those who help themselves" culture. "the Afghan imbroglio was not only posing threat to the country but also to Pakistan, Iran and other countries in the region" Dream on, fellows. Pakistan and Iran are vulnerable for their own crap in their own nests, much as the Taliban and you crapped in yours. It's not all about you. |
| Posted by: Darrell 2008-06-10 12:54 |
| #5 The only real mistake we've made in Afghanistan is not legalizing the poppy crop. If we'd done that it would have all been over years ago. |
| Posted by: Iblis 2008-06-10 12:14 |
| #4 We did make a crucial mistake early on. We should have erased every existing and ineffective systems of government and replaced them with modern ones. We should have created a military government with one westerner working side by side with an Afghan for two years, only slowly letting him take over while the westerner watches. At the same time, schooling his replacements in government. On top of that, we should have given them a constitution, that would be in force for 20 years before it could be changed. All unemployed adult males would work for the government in reconstruction teams working for minimum wage. Their wages would be sent to their families. Women left behind would be organized into town councils and would set up a town market and micro bank. All children would be in school. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-06-10 08:39 |
| #3 Not a bad idea if "foreign troops" includes Paks, Soddies, etc. |
| Posted by: Spot 2008-06-10 07:54 |
| #2 Lamenting the failure of foreign troops and the Afghan government in restoring peace, Restore? When has Afghanistan ever known peace? If it ever happened they'd have a war over who was responsible for the peace. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-06-10 07:25 |
| #1 I agree. Withdraw and then make Helmand look like the Moon. Jihad Watch has posted some shocking material on our nominal allies in Afghanistan and Iraq. I am getting cynical. |
| Posted by: McZoid 2008-06-10 05:16 |