tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721411678679262554.post3927169446790967305..comments2023-07-26T04:02:28.934-05:00Comments on Political Beast: THE SHAM ELECTIONS IN AFGHANISTANAjaz Haquehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161750705000560630noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721411678679262554.post-14352932989491230982009-09-07T18:58:58.723-05:002009-09-07T18:58:58.723-05:00Mike, you make excellent observations. Indeed the ...Mike, you make excellent observations. Indeed the Muslim countries have not taken the lead in helping the West either in Iraq or Afghanistan. The probable reason for that is, U.S. did not consult any Muslim countries before attacking Iraq. This does not mean they approved Saddam Husein's methods, indeed many detested him, but no nation has right to attack another at will. Only when things starting going wrong in Iraq did the U.S. approached Muslim countries for help, but then it was too late.<br /><br />Pakistan has borne the brunt of U.S. policy in Afghanistan. It played a crucial and an active role in defeating the Soviets in Afghanistan. However, after Soviets left Afghanistan, the U.S. not only packed up from there leaving behind a vast array of arms and missiles in the hands of Mujaheddin, it also slapped economically crippling sanctions against Pakistan, which made many Pakistanis ask - Is this the result of cooperation with the U.S.? It is only recently that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has openly acknowledged the blunder of treating Pakistan in that manner. The current war also pushes Afghan Taliban into Pakistan from time to time, creating havoc and destabilizing that country<br /><br />U.S. invasion of Afghanistan was seen by most Muslim countries as justifiable because of Al-Qaeda's home base in that country. However, once the invasion was successful, many expected that U.S. and NATO will quickly move from war towards reconciliation and building works and economic development in that impoverished country. <br /><br />Taliban were completely routed at that stage and no longer had a critical mass to be a significant threat. But Bush era's policy of continued partnership with Northern Alliance rather than building bridges with all major ethnic groups turned a vast segment of Pashtun (the majority ethnic group) population against the U.S. Also, air attacks on civilian population and CIA's brilliant scheme of allowing Afghans to freely grow poppy again (hoping this will win them over) has had disastrous consequences. Taliban have risen again from the ashes and are more powerful today than they were immediately after the invasion. They have free flow of cash from poppy crops to buy arms and equipment. Each air strike like the one last week, produces hundreds of new Taliban recruits.<br /><br />As I had suggested in one of my earlier posts, the need is to bring Taliban to the table and make them part of the political process. Unlike Al-Qaeda, they have no agenda or fight with the West, except for wanting foreign troops out of Afghanistan. A political process that brings them into fold will speed that up and enable foreign forces to leave sooner rather than later. Some Taliban leaders including Mullah Omar have recently indicated willingness to talk, but hard headed Pentagon policy makers keep talking about "killing the Taliban" and that is no way to start a dialogue. The British are already talking to local Taliban commanders and it is time the U.S. started talking to Taliban's national leaders.<br /><br />It is time to bring this brutal war to an end and bring peace and reconciliation to Afghanistan.Ajaz Haquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05161750705000560630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1721411678679262554.post-91032270206324915652009-09-07T09:00:27.006-05:002009-09-07T09:00:27.006-05:00I am sure your observations are correct but I stil...I am sure your observations are correct but I still feel the election in Afghanistan was still better than that in Iran. After all, no decision has come out of Afghanistan. True, the principal candidates have shady backgrounds, or questionable acts in their pasts, that seems to be true of most politicans everywhere.<br />I agree that Afghanistan has severe problems to overcome and that the western nations in truth do not know what to do.<br />But, where is the help being offered from other Islamic democracies? Where is the input from Indonesia, Eqypt (I know questionable democracy) or even Pakistan?<br />In truth are there any Islamic democracies that can be an example to Afghanistan?<br />I agree that we westerners are influenced by what we do not understand, women having no rights, lack of education, a life style out of the Middle Ages with the exception of the AK47 and the RPG.<br />Where or whom can the west go to for answers? Why haven't the other Islamic nations taken the lead? What should happen next?Mike's Common Sensehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11949258529522268892noreply@blogger.com