Afghanistan, a country with a culture completely different to the West, but one which the West feels compelled to change.
Over the past months I have read so many accounts of why the UN is in Afghanistan I became completely confused at times. But having read this article by William Engdahl, he reiterates some of my own thoughts.
The US have a tendency to invade countries for spurious reasons but Engdahl states they are in Afghanistan to restore and control the world's largest supply of of opium for the world heroin markets and to use the drugs as a geopolitical weapon against opponents, especially Russia. The control of the Afghan drug market is essential for the liquidity of the bankrupt and corrupt Wall Street financial mafia.
You could argue - why then did the British military attempt to destroy all the poppy fields when they initially arrived in great numbers two years ago? I suggest that was an error from the Westminster politicians who, through utter incompetence, decided the action would impress the public. After all, aren't drugs in our society a problem? What this did do was completely alienate our troops from the local Afghanis whose warlords decided to make life for them as difficult as possible.
How often have we heard our politicians say the reason we are there is because of the Al-Qaeda threat to our islands? If Engdahl is to be believed, Al-Qaeda, for all practical purposes, does not exist in Afghanistan. Even in neighbouring Pakistan, the remnants of Al-Qaeda are scarcely to be found.
Afghanistan now has a puppet government, courtesy of the US, who ignore the Afghan style of government which is locally based rather than centralised. The US wants a central government in Kabul. The recent election, in which 10 British soldiers died and many more were seriously injured, has been shown to be a farce so, in order not to lose face, the US pressurise their placeman, President Karzia into calling a run-off, which will be held on 7 November.
Afghani warlords will never accept control from a central government in Kabul.
This is not only a costly mistake in terms of money, men and politics, but a complete error of judgement, particularly as President Obama appears to intend to wait until Afghanistan settles its election before decideing to send in more troops.
The Taliban now know the tactics the UN troops will use to ensure this second election goes ahead and they will be well prepared - how often does your 'enemy' get a second chance at killing you?
We must also be well prepared for more body bags to be returning to the UK, more soldiers spending the rest of their lives with horrendous injuries and more families left grieving forever.
Or will we finally waken up to the fact that our politicians are perfectly happy to see our young sacrifice their lives in our names, for their political posturing and the lies they attempt to convey regularly to us.
What is it going to take for the more of the public turn against the deployment of our armed forces in this country? Are we slowly becoming immune to the sight of coffins slowly being driven through the streets of Wootton Bassett or is it because the coffin doesn't contain your son, daughter, husband, father?
We must all take responsibility for our military services and not leave it to ignorant politicians to play with their lives.
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21 comments:
you'll know as soon as the people of Wootton Bassett stop turning out for the dead. I bet when they started this they had no idea it was going to lead to this prolonged agony! Although why we are surprised, when the Afgans kicked out the Russians, I don't know.
Spot on about our gung ho politicians, it appears that there is more credibility for being a war monger than is given to peace mongers
Dram, I don't think the good folk of Wootton Bassett will stop turning out until there are no more coffins returned.
They have a far greater sense of responsibility to their countrymen than politicians.
Oh indeed, look back in history - warmongers are damned but they usually get more page space than peace keepers.
General Jack D. Ripper: (On Clemenceau) "He said war was too important to be left to the generals. When he said that, 50 years ago, he might have been right. But today, war is too important to be left to politicians."
Dr Strangelove and uncannily apt.
I'm intrigued at the notion that the US want the Opium trade kept going. It's hard to imagine that, but hey what do I know?
What I do know is that throughout the last couple of hundred years or more, people from Europe have been going to four corners of the earth and trying to change the way that people live to make it reflect a Western European culture. Along the way they have stolen all manner of goodies from the people in the places they went. Of course they did some good too, but small by comparison to the bad.
Where they were tiny populations they simply overrode them completely (USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia), and where there were big populations they used vast forces and superior weaponry.
I can't think of anywhere they have gone where they didn't leave a trail of misery behind them (along with a little good). India perhaps is not so badly affected, and took to occupation a bit better.
If you force people to live your way, and give up their way, it's not unreasonable to think that it will come to no good. We wouldn't much care for it, would we?
Afghanistan is no exception. They won't live the way Gordon Brown says they should. Recalcitrant maybe, but that's the way it is.
I think that we Scots should say thank you to the people of Wootton Bassett for coming out and showing respect to our countrymen as well as their own.
That suddenly clicked with me Tris when I watched Question Time the other week. There was a question about Afghanistan and once the panel had spewed their cassettes, the audience were asked if they wanted to question further.
There was a chap in the front row. He was Afghani and came from Helmand. His words were something like "Why did the Brits destroy the poppy fields when that's our only income? All they did was push us into the hands of the Taliban and create hatred for themselves." (Words similar to these).
Of course there are other reasons such as oils, minerals etc but it was interesting to hear the opium trade mentioned by someone I respect as a good documenter of that part of the world.
I'm not too clued up on India but they have systems copied from ours and which are still fit for purpose. Younger Indians want their own identity though and rid of the Empire.
Somehow we'll have to think a way to do that Tris. The time isn't now though.
QM what telepathy! Earlier this evening I was googling that very saying (for the author) so as I could use it in the post, but couldn't find it.
My technical skills aren't great and I wasn't quite accurate, but thanks for it now.
The single best move we could possibly make in Afghanistan is to start buying the Opium direct from the farmers.
It's just about the only thing that grows well there.
There's a world shortage of Opium (as I understand it)
It would instantly establish meaningful and worthwhile relations with the average Afghani. They would get better rates than they get from the criminal network - we'd get cheap medicinal opium - which has a worldwide market.
The Taliban would become starved of income as the drug trade appears to be what's financing them.
It's win, win, win.
This in combination with using intelligence to spot terrorist training camps that threaten us. And using of special forces and precision bombing to eliminate them would remove the need for troops on the ground - which has been an insane idea from day one.
Sadly there are people in power and who have absolutely no interest in actually solving the situation.
Excellent idea Wyrd, but as you know, it's far too sensible and our politicians won't touch it.
Some people only think opium = street drugs but forget there are so many other uses for it.
True it's the only item the Afghans have to barter with in order to survive yet the West wants it and will seemingly do anything to ensure they get it.
And in cynical mode I might be prepared to bet that the bodies start getting shipped in elsewhere. Less people get the idea that Wootton Bassett is appearing too often on the TV and in the press and start asking thier elected reps pertinent and impertinent questions!
By the Looks of the Pakistan / Iran / Afgan border and district fighting we'll be deploying more men soon........I'll go back to an old question to you SR, do you think conscription will come in soon? After the next GE (on a limited basis - of course).
I personally think we should follow the sage advise of my old in law (India / burma war veteran) and get out before we get in deeper.
The stated reason from the government for the invasion i.e. the fight against terrorism was a palpable nonsense from the start.
Are we to assume that there are terrorist training camps all over Afghanistan?
Are we to assume that no other country would allow terrorist training camps on their territory?
If terrorist camps are operational in any other country are we going to attack innocent inhabitants in order to deter those giving sanctuary to terrorists?
History has shown that those who carried out the worst atrocities were not trained in Afghanistan. Indeed, the mainly Saudi-Arabians who attacked the twin-towers were trained in the USA. I don't suppose there's any chance of invading the USA, is there?
I remember seeing troops in the streets of London prior to the Iraqi invasion. This was solely designed to frighten the populace into believing an attack was imminent and thus nullify the protests regarding the invasion. Unbelievably, the person responsible for this deceit is being touted as the European President.
Now Dram, that hasn't occurred to me. Mind you, they'd be at a loss really because they'd have to use one of the small RAF bases such as Coltishall or wherever. Up here I know the people of Scotland would behave the same as Wootton Bassett.
Dram, I'll have to ask around about conscription. I'll get back to you.
I do know the army don't want it. They're far too busy and don't have time for training masses of people who don't even want to do the job.
But I will ask.
Of course not Brownlie, because we know they're not interested in 'terrorists'. Their only interest is financial. Let's face it, after they get what they want out of a country they then start selling the ex-enemy arms etc.
Wyrd:
It's a brilliant idea. My mum suuggested it about 5 years ago. It was clever then, and it's clever now. Simple, but as SR says, they'll never go with it....
The London government would recognise a clever idea unless it appreared in a brown envelope.
It's another idea to offer your MP Tris. I'm tempted. At least I know mine will reply as I haven't had a word from the last politician I contacted.
If that's the same one we talked about Subrosa, I'v heard nothing too.
I might have a word about that. As it happens I will be talking to his PA/Researcher later today on other business, so, if there is time, I'll bring that up. Good idea!
Please do tris, it's not good enough these folks can't at least send an acknowledgement email.
Thanks for the link Canada Guy. I've read that post on your blog but I'll go and read it again.
Do hope others do too.
Thanks subrosa!
Canada Guy, are there any other Canadian blogs which have any interest in Scotland or the military over here? You're only my second link although I know I've readers from your land.
Sorry subrosa, I can't think of any, though I'm sure there's some out there!
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