Comments on: Jeff Huber http://antiwar.com/radio/2009/03/06/jeff-huber-2/ Interviews of foreign policy experts, writers and activists. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 00:56:04 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Bruce G. Richardson http://antiwar.com/radio/2009/03/06/jeff-huber-2/comment-page-1/#comment-4096 Bruce G. Richardson Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:54:16 +0000 http://antiwar.com/radio/?p=2591#comment-4096 Among the plethora of political and strategic blunders made by the Bush administration and the follow on ploicy of the Obama administration is that both have failed to differentiate between Pashtun nationalsim and Taliban ideaology. Not all Afghans are Taliban and not all Taliban are al-Qaeda. That said, I would argue that the presence of American forces in Afghanistan will insure a continuation of al-Qaeda types flocking to the battlefield. As in Iraq, American troops are the single best recruiting tool for the bin Ladens of the world. The root of this anti-Americanism is of course the Israel/Palestinian imbroglio. Having spent years engaged in Afghanistan research and numerous trips to the country, I can say with confidence that given a withdrawal of ISAF forces from Afghanistan, the Afghans would not tolerate the presence of al-Qaeda operatives. During the war with the USSR, many an Afghan confided that they really did not want the radical Arabs to wage Jihad with them or their presence in their country. The al-Qaeda types were forced upon them by US pressure. With a need for weapons and financial support the Afghans felt thay could not defy Bill Casey's strategy and refuse to allow his Arab recruits participation in the Jihad. Later, the Taliban on numerous occassions presented the US with a quid pro quo for turning over OBL to waiting FBI agents in Pakistsn. Their preconditions were based on the US aiding their desire to UN General Membership and documentation as to the guilt of OBL. In addition, an offer was made to transfer OBL to a third country venue for trial. All such overtures were uncerimoniously rebuffed by the US. Currently, the Afghan community sees the US war on terror as punishment for their decision to aqccept a pipeline offer from the Argentine firm Bridas rather than the US/Saudi consortium of UNOCAL/DELTA. Whatever the truth, there is no military solution for Afghanistan. The solution is for a negotiated withdrawal by ISAF forces, reconstruction aid, western monitored elections, and some military training and support to allow the Afghans to rid the country of the US-supported criminal element which has the country in a economic and humanitarian stranglehold. Bruce G. Richardson Among the plethora of political and strategic blunders made by the Bush administration and the follow on ploicy of the Obama administration is that both have failed to differentiate between Pashtun nationalsim and Taliban ideaology.
Not all Afghans are Taliban and not all Taliban are al-Qaeda. That said, I would argue that the presence of American forces in Afghanistan will insure a continuation of al-Qaeda types flocking to the battlefield. As in Iraq, American troops are the single best recruiting tool for the bin Ladens of the world. The root of this anti-Americanism is of course the Israel/Palestinian imbroglio.

Having spent years engaged in Afghanistan research and numerous trips to the country, I can say with confidence that given a withdrawal of ISAF forces from Afghanistan, the Afghans would not tolerate the presence of al-Qaeda operatives.
During the war with the USSR, many an Afghan confided that they really did not want the radical Arabs to wage Jihad with them or their presence in their country.
The al-Qaeda types were forced upon them by US pressure. With a need for weapons and financial support the Afghans felt thay could not defy Bill Casey’s strategy and refuse to allow his Arab recruits participation in the Jihad.

Later, the Taliban on numerous occassions presented the US with a quid pro quo for turning over OBL to waiting FBI agents in Pakistsn. Their preconditions were based on the US aiding their desire to UN General Membership and documentation as to the guilt of OBL. In addition, an offer was made to transfer OBL to a third country venue for trial. All such overtures were uncerimoniously rebuffed by the US. Currently, the Afghan community sees the US war on terror as punishment for their decision to aqccept a pipeline offer from the Argentine firm Bridas rather than the US/Saudi consortium of UNOCAL/DELTA.

Whatever the truth, there is no military solution for Afghanistan. The solution is for a negotiated withdrawal by ISAF forces, reconstruction aid, western monitored elections, and some military training and support to allow the Afghans to rid the country of the US-supported criminal element which has the country in a economic and humanitarian stranglehold.

Bruce G. Richardson

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