The Taliban, Osana bin Laden, the Middle East and US involvement therein 202 -- The Autograph Book

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Date Posted: 04:37:53 09/14/01 Fri
Author: FK
Subject: The Taliban, Osana bin Laden, the Middle East and US involvement therein 202
In reply to: bell 's message, "The Taliban 101" on 23:03:38 09/13/01 Thu

My new blanket disclaimer:
Not knowing anything about this subject...

Osama bin Laden

Osama bin Laden worked with the CIA since the early 80s in establishing his Maktab al-Khidamar network, which raised money and recruited jehadi (the so-called Afghan Arabs, est. 10,000 strong) to overthrow the secular Democratic Republic of Afghanistan (which I would presume, but don't know, was democratic in name only). America poured resources into the 80's war against the Soviet-backed regime in Kabul. Bin Laden and his mojahedin were armed and trained by the CIA & MI6, as Afghanistan was turned into a wasteland and its communist leader Najibullah left hanging from a Kabul lamp post with his genitals stuffed in his mouth. I've no doubt that the current resistance factions in Afghanistan will seize their opportunity to take power when/if the Taliban is defeated. So it goes.

Osama bin Laden was a joint asset of the CIA and Pakistan's Inter-Service Intelligence, which the Afghan Northern Opposition, Russia and India insist still supports and controls him and his current operation. The latter is supported by groups/governments in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates... all three loyal US and British clients regimes and recipients of Anglo-American military protection and largesse. So if Bush is looking for harbours to indiscriminatly bomb, he knows where they are located (well... someone in the room can probably point to them on a map for him). He also knows where they are not: Syria, Libya and Iran. All three, favorite enemies of the US government which are likely to be attacked, are not only not linked to bin Laden in any conceivable manner, but instead are vocal opponents of him and his activities; and are in fact potential victims of the same. I'm not sure about Iraq, I have heard recently (ie since the WTC attack) that they have directly supported Bin Laden; and, unlike every other Arab/Non-Arab nation in the world, I haven't heard an official condemnation of the attack from their government.

I don't think Bin Laden ever liked the United States, its values, or its presence in the Middle East. However, his primary goal in the 70s and 80s was getting the Soviets out of Afghanistan. He probably saw both the US and the USSR as decadent, irreligious and evil forces attempting to dominate the world, but he knew that he could get US support for his fight against the atheist/communist state the Soviets established after they invaded Afghanistan.

Once the Soviet Union collapsed he turned his attention to the remaining enemies of Islam, both within the Arab world (ie moderate Arab regimes) and outside of it (ie the US and Israel). It's important to note that the US knew who Bin Laden was and what his aims were when they allied with him.

When a calculated and unsavory alliance like this comes back to bite the US government in the ass, it's referred to, in CIAspeak as "blowback". It happened with Hussein, it happened with the recruitment of the Nazi spy network, it's happened many other times, and it will happen again.

Bin Laden is referred to as a "guest" of the Taliban, but I suspect something in that word is lost in translation. They are and have been harbouring a known terrorist, make no mistake about it; they are culpable. There are members of the Taliban who've been in favor of allowing Bin Laden to face persecution, but their voices, never very loud, grew silent quickly.

Atlantic Monthly Online reprinted the article "Blowback" from May of 1996 about the situation in Afghanistan. If you see any discreptancies between what I wrote from my limited knowledge base above and what is written there, the error is, of course, mine.

Celebrations in East Jerusalem

Again, a really great Atlantic Monthly article reprinted from September 1990, "The Roots of Muslim Rage".

Like everyone, I found the pictures of the young (and some old) Palestinians in refugee camps celebrating America's misfortune to be very disturbing. However, unlike most Americans, it doesn't really suprise me or perplex me. I could definetely envision such a scene in the United States of America, among people who are far better off, celebrating a war victory against those godless communists or those damn sand monkeys, burning a flag or two. And make no mistake, this is a war victory for some people; a victory in the holy war.

Middle Eastern hatred of the United States is not just something that happened. The military presence and the foreign policy of the US is a constant source of antagonism to Arabs.

As I see it, the United States' two main interests in the Middle East are oil and support of Israel (not necessarily in that order). In regards to the second point, I feel their support is justifiable because A) Israel is the most liberal democratic state is the Middle East B) there are many Jewish people in America who feel strongly about their religion and heritage C) no one else seems to support them. I firmly believe that Israel would be beset upon like a carcass to wolves without American support. Israel owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to the US, just like many nations before them.

Having said that, my opinion is the minority in the Western world and is virtually non-existent in the Palestinian community.

In any event, what has happened has created an opening for the West to recast some of our relationships with the Arab world. Especially with countries like Iran, Syria, and Pakistan that are moving away from radicalism and realizing they want to have friendly relations with the West. Hopefully, the US/NATO actions in retaliation will keep these doors open rather than radicalize even more people. It's also important to remember that any "War on Terrorism" will require support in Arab world.

By refusing to understand how groups opposed to the US feel, we shut off potential ways to resolve conflicts, instead muddling about until the escalate to the level we saw on Tuesday. Simply condemning young Palestinians in the street for celebrating, without also asking "why do they hate us so much?" can only lead to further boodshed.

What kind of religion is that?

A pretty conventional kind of religion. Misinterpreting the Koran as justification for unspeakable acts is no different from those throughout history who have misinterpreted the Bible to do the same.

There are six million Muslims living in your great country by their own choosing, and their religion is not one of violence. Nor is the Islamic Fundamentalist movement one of faith, in my opinion. Most of them are nationalist fanatics, who use religion to add a phony layer of righteousness to their violent actions.

For an Arab perspective on current events, here are some English Language Middle Eastern Newspapers:
Jordan Times (Those who choose to lump all Arabs together should click on this just to see front page picture of Friday's edition)
Dawn (Pakistan)
Jerusalem Post
Middle Eastern Times (Egypt)
Arab News (Saudi Arabia)
Gulf Times (Qatar, the greatest Q acro word ever!)

I must say that I've found a couple of posts on "the mbs of our lives" to be rather disturbing. The one advocating the genocide of several races in the Middle East was particularly offensive, but I keep hoping that that was a joke to which the humor has just eluded me.

Also disturbing was a post on another board that we were invited to visit which seemed to say that justice would be the death of one innocent civilian "over there" (the term is my own), for every innocent civilian who died in America. That is not justice. That is vengeance, and a particularly gross and inhuman brand at that. I hope that the person who wrote this is merely caught up in the emotions of the past few days and will think better of their thoughts at a later date. I also hope that that person knows that if justice is really slaughter of innocent civilian for slaughter of innocent civilian, the United States is far, far, far ahead of the score with various second and third world nations around the globe. I further hope that the above didn't sound too sanctimonious, though I suspect it did.

I can certainly understand why this would be difficult; but when patriotism sweeps you up in the coming troubled times, let it be in a positive form. Think of the wonderful things the US has used its power and wealth for; the Marshall Plan, entry into WWII. Think of the wonderful freedom and opportunity the United States offers. Think of the wonderful common values that most Americans share. When a tear runs down your cheek during the national anthem, let it be a tear of joy, not a tear of hate.

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Replies:

Thank you bell & FK -- Su, 08:35:08 09/14/01 Fri
- Yes, thank you. -- Logan, 12:48:47 09/14/01 Fri
Reply -- Logan, 14:05:16 09/14/01 Fri
Forgotten History: 303? -- Mugs, 21:01:25 09/14/01 Fri