Why the Taliban is back in Afghanistan

Below is an article by Ahmed Rashid for the BBC. I would encourage you to read it:


"Afghanistan: Taleban's second coming

By Ahmed Rashid
Guest journalist and writer Ahmed Rashid on why Afghanistan is facing a resurgent Taleban movement.

Taleban fighters are able to attack, then melt away into communitiesNearly 400 Afghans have been killed in an unprecedented offensive by the Taleban, in a bid to pre-empt a major deployment by some 6,000 Nato troops this summer in southern Afghanistan.
From just a few hundred guerrillas last year, Taleban commander Mullah Dadullah now claims to have 12,000 men under arms and control of 20 districts in the former Taleban heartland in the southern provinces of Kandahar, Helmand, Zabul and Uruzgan. There is also a strong Taleban-al-Qaeda presence in the eastern provinces bordering Pakistan.

Why - five years after the Taleban and al-Qaeda were smashed by US forces - is Afghanistan facing a resurgent Taleban movement that is now threatening to overwhelm it?
Even though the country now has a legitimately elected president, government and parliament, there have been major failures by the international community and the Afghan government in their inability to provide troops, security and funds for reconstruction and nation building to the Pashtun population in the south.

Security vacuum
Neither Nato, nor the American forces they are replacing, have offered an honest assessment of their successes and failures during the past five years.
Afghanistan has received far less funds for reconstruction than almost all recent nation building efforts such as the former Yugoslavia, Haiti or East Timor

Here is a checklist of failures in the south that the US, Nato, the UN and the Afghan government should be discussing and rectifying:
Washington's refusal to take state building in Afghanistan seriously after 2001 and instead waging a fruitless war in Iraq, created a major international distraction which the Taleban took advantage of to slowly rebuild their forces.
US-led coalition forces were never deployed in southern Afghanistan in sufficient numbers, even though this was the Taleban heartland and needed to be secured. Apart from a US base for 3,000 troops in Kandahar and a couple of fire bases, for four years there was virtually no military presence in three of the four provinces. US forces failed to secure even the major cities and highways in the south. The growing security vacuum in the south was steadily filled by the Taleban.

The rise in attacks come as Nato boosts its troops in the country
Afghanistan has received far less funds for reconstruction than almost all recent nation building efforts such as the former Yugoslavia, Haiti or East Timor. The lack of security in the south meant that UN development agencies and western and Afghan aid organisations could not provide sufficient aid and reconstruction. Nor was there ever adequate funding by western donors, especially for rebuilding the vital agricultural sector. The West's refusal to invest in agriculture on which 70% of the population depend, led to a massive return to poppy production by destitute farmers in the south, which quickly spread to the rest of the country.
Drug smugglers and cartels now offer much greater incentives to Pashtun farmers than aid agencies. The best functioning extension programmes for farmers are operated by opium traffickers who provide improved varieties of poppy seeds, fertilizer, improved methods of cultivation, banking and loan facilities and organised large scale employment during the poppy harvest. Compared to 2001 when poppy cultivation was at a minimum, southern Afghanistan now needs to develop an entire alternative economy costing billions of dollars in order to replace the drugs economy.

The drugs economy has fuelled massive corruption among government officials, undermined the authority of the government and funded the Taleban. The failure to reconstruct the south has led to widespread public disillusionment, increasing sympathy for the Taleban and anger at the Afghan government. Drugs money has allowed the Taleban to acquire new weapons, provide salaries to fighters and larger sums to suicide bombers.

Corruption
For the past five years President Hamid Karzai has tolerated Pashtun warlords as governors, police chiefs and administrators in the south. Most of these warlords were discredited and defeated by the Taleban in the 1990s, but were resuscitated by US forces to help defeat the Taleban in 2001. Unlike Northern Alliance warlords who tended to defy President Karzai's authority, these Pashtun warlords were friends of the government and helped secure the Pashtun vote for Karzai in two Loya Jirgas and two elections in 2004 and 2005. Despite pledging loyalty to President Karzai these warlord-governors became visibly corrupt, by their open involvement in the drugs trade, cutting deals with criminal gangs and the Taleban and showing supreme incompetence in dealing with development issues. For the majority of southern Pashtuns, the corruption of these warlord-governors unfortunately symbolised the intentions of the Kabul government.

There have been a spate of suicide car attacks
Kabul refused to change these warlord-governors, until forced to do so by Nato countries, who refused to deploy their troops until they were removed. Thus Canada, Britain and the Netherlands played a major role in forcing the resignation of the governors of Kandahar, Helmand and Uruzgan - the provinces in which their troops are now being deployed.
Kabul's offer of an amnesty and safe passage home in 2003 to non-belligerent Taleban living in Pakistan was a sensible attempt at reconciliation, but it was badly handled. The Northern Alliance leaders refused to accept any reconciliation with the Taleban. Overtures to the Taleban were handled secretly by the American and Afghan intelligence, instead of being done openly with international support and guarantees of protection for returning Taleban and a separate aid programme to rehabilitate them. Pakistan refused to help persuade the Taleban to return home, while Washington refused to put any pressure on Islamabad to do so. The reconciliation drive has been a failure.

After being routed in 2001 the Taleban found a safe sanctuary in Balochistan and the North West Frontier province of Pakistan. They have been able to set up a major logistics hub, training camps, carry out fund raising and have been free to recruit fighters from madrassas and refugee camps. The Taleban have received help from Pakistan's two provincial governments, the MMA, Islamic extremist groups, the drugs mafia and criminal gangs - while the military regime has looked the other way. Al-Qaeda has helped the Taleban reorganise and forge alliances with other Afghan and Central Asian rebel groups.
Thus the current Taleban resurgence is a reflection of the failure of policies by all the major players in Afghanistan - the US, Nato, the UN, the international community, the Afghan government and neighbours such as Pakistan.

All these problems will have to be addressed honestly and frankly, before Nato and Afghan security forces will be able to defeat the Taleban. "

This article is important and explains much of what is going on in Afghanistan today.

HarleyDad

Beautiful Lake Constance with Austria in Background

Sunrise on the Bodensee

Lightshow on the Bodensee

Red Lake in Switzerland

Emily in the Morning

Dinner at the Bad Horn

Clock tower in the evening

Church at Horn

New Moon over St. Gallen

A Small Chapel in which to Give Thanks to Christ for a safe trip.

Swiss cat in the window

Appenzel hotel

Temperature globes in Appenzel store

Futbol game.

Flags at Appenzel

Fields of Gold in Switzerland

Emily in the Daytime

Beautiful Lake Constance

New Friends that I met in Appenzel

Swiss countryside

HarleyDad Returns

Well, HarleyDad is back.

I was on a mission. Needed to visit a Harley shop in the Zurich area. Saw a great chopped Harley for 100,000 CHF. Since I did not have that much Swiss currency on my I settled for a Swiss Harley T-Shirt. Sure it has the Swiss dealer's name on the back but the shirt--turns out it was made in Milwaukee. So much for the fine Swiss craftmanship I expected. I want to rent a motorbike and cycle through the Alps for three days or so. Perhaps I can add that dream to my wants list that is now so long that it extends from Ozarklandia to Texas.

And speaking of travel. You want to live dangerously, fly international these days. It makes a Harley trip look positively safe.

On this trip I rode cattle car in a 110% packed plane. The airplane restrooms with these amount of people soon approached the level of a road side toilet in Russia, China or India--but the airline's is not as clean. As for the passengers, learn to love the person next to you for believe me it is shared personal space. The plane was so cramped that no one in tourist ( a true second class )could put their computer up or work) However I do recommend it for people working on Yoga (you will find yourself in some interesting positions). It is also fine for meditation or prayer for patience. And if the person in front of you reclines his or her chair , then you do the same or your space is halved. Soon all chairs are at recline except for the poor guy or gal at the end of the line.

The movies are second rate. And guess where the old copies of Cheers and other obsolete TV are --on the airline. Is it me or is someone crazy who does the entertainment? I could give my 13 year old daughter $20 and she could buy better entertainment off the cut rate box at our local grocery store. Perhaps the airlines want us to take up a collection.

And then there is the food. But we shall not speak of it. The only good airline food is the pizza that American serves on their international flights. It seems that someone did something right once.

Then there are stewards and stewardesses. They can be villains or heroines. It seems like the pressure brings out the best in the good and brings out the worst in others.

How about a questionnaire given to passengers allowing them to rate service , movies, food etc. Guess why there are no questionnaires--because the airlines do not expect to make any changes and do not want to wade through the gripes. It is somewhat like handing out questionnaires to inmates in U.S. prisions. Airline travel is obviously like prisons, it is there to punish not to improve the flying inmates.

Oh, by the way, you are an inmate. See what happens if you get up to get your bag before the bell rings, or you do not bring your seat to full upright position for the landing or you leave your seat belt off. You Harley riders that do not wear helmets are not going to like what they will threaten to do and your tatoos will not help you when you meet the wrath of an overworked stewardess.

If the airlines can not make money at 100% occupancy then no one can.

I had to clear customs and this was no small feat . At DFW it took 2 hours. There were 14 customs people for the small group of internationals and 3 for the large group of US citizens. I found this to be symbolic of the way the government handles things. Everything for the foreigners and nothing for the citizens. Ah, I have it, we will just make the foreigners citizens and that will solve it all. Now why didn't Congress think of that. Oh, that's right, they did.

Once I picked up my luggage the whole area became gridlocked with carts. After an hour of being pushed and trampled with carts. I was mercifully waived through with my two international t-shirts and three boxes of chocolates. I was just glad that my wife and children were not present. It was ugly, really ugly.

Then you recheck your bag. Then you go through inspection again. And out comes the computer. I do not understand why the x-ray machine can see through my bags but it can not see through my computer bag. They do not ask me to turn it on.

In the inspection process I am wounded (only a nick to the finger) but does it ever bleed. But the kind people of Homeland Security (or their private company wearing the badges) eventually come to the rescue since I am bleeding all of the place and bring me a bandaid which was the first piece of real assistance I have had all day.

Then despite having a 2 1/2 hour lay over in DFW I rush for my next plane which is also 100% full and am off to Tulsa where I get my car out of hock and head home over the next 2 hours.

Yes, it is just another day at the office.

I notice that the stewards and stewardesses now have a little place that is curtained off where they can go and hide when they travel. Travel at one time many years ago was a pleasant experience . Now it has all the fun and pleasure of being strapped into a dentists chair for a root canal-but is more expensive and takes much, much more time than before. And by the way can I have one of those little tents where I work and I can go hide and get myself back together.

Oh, for the good old days when I travelled business class on Air France, and French meals with real silverware.

I don't think I will be seeing those days again.

Well, if you want to see people as they really are then go to the airports or to Wal-Mart. Today they are the same and no one looks pretty.

The beautiful people evidently have their own jets and would not come near a commercial airport. Airports have become the bus stations of yesteryear.

HarleyDad sure as heck would rather be on a Harley than any airplane!

You can bet your Harley boots on it.

SnapShot Jack shoots first with a picture of Table Rock Lake in the very early morning

"Groovin" a photo by HarleyDad given in a shootout with Snapshot Jack.

The picture of Snapshot Jack.

Snapshot Jack

Some of you have asked about my friend Snapshot Jack. Above is a picture of Snapshot Jack. Snapshot Jack escaped from those seeking him. He flew the coop. Even "Dog, the Bounty Hunter" has been unable to find him. He was last seen with a flock of geese almost in his grasp, muttering something like "birds of a feather flock together."

Also above is one of Snapshot Jack's photos taken at a recent concert. He calls it "Groovin" in Red.

H.D.

The Mahdi

The West knows little about the Mahdi.

Perhaps some have seen the movie Gordon of Khartoum. In that movie and in history, British General Charles “Chinese” Gordon stands against the rise of Mohammed Ahmad known as the “Mahdi.” The “Mahdi” had objected to the Egyptian control of the Sudan and cut off the British garrisons in the Sudan. Gordon who was the Administrator to the Sudan between 1874 and 1882 was eventually surrounded in Khartoum and the British Garrison and Gordon were wiped out after a 10 month siege. The Mahdi was finally defeated at the Battle of Omdurman by General Kitchner in 1898.

Others have heard about the Mahdi through the “Dune” series of stories by Frank Herbert. The stories are built around the central character of Paul Atreides, who lives in a desert world. His followers there proclaim him to be the Mahdi. The name that he adopts is “Muad’Dib” from the Arabic meaning the “teacher of adab” (from the Arab word meaning manners and respect.)

The origin of the concept of the Mahdi is of great interest. The Mahdi does not appear in the Qur’an but does show up by the seventh century.

Both Sunnis and Shiites believe that the Mahdi will appear before the day of judgment and will bring a kingdom of justice. The Mahdi and Jesus will fight against the anti-Christ or Dajjal. It will come as a point of amazement to some Christians that Islam believes in the return of Christ, a war against the anti-Christ or false Messiah, and a Day of Judgment when evil is defeated. Interestingly enough many Muslims also believe that the Mahdi and Christ will cooperate in the overthrow of evil. Later, Christ will settle down, have a family and eventually die after his return. Some Sunnis believe that a grave will be dug for Jesus next to Muhammad’s grave in Medina.

But back to the Mahdi. The Mahdi will be a descendant of Muhammad, through his daughter Fatima.

Sunnis and Shiites believe that his first name will be “Muhammad.” The Mahdi and Jesus are two different individuals. He will be a restorer who will restore the world to a place where Muslims can live in peace and in accordance with the tenants of Islam.

The Shiites give a greater priority to the Mahdi than do the Sunnis. The Shiites believe that the Mahdi is Muhammad al-Mahdi who was born in 868 and is still alive. His father was the 11th Imam, Hasan al-asKari and his mother was Narjis, a Byzantine princess. The 12 th Imam is believed to have gone into hiding when he was five years old and he will return at the end. A loud call from the sky will signal the Mahdi’s return.

Shiites believe that the soldiers of the Mahdi will have the strength of 40. The Mahdi will fight against the “Anti-Messiah or Dijjal and will defeat him. Many non-believers will convert to Islam when these things take place.

Some of the followers of Islam believe the following regarding the Mahdi:

He will be tall and fair-complexioned. He will will look like Muhammad, both facially and in character. Like Muhammad, his father’s name will be Abdullah and his mother’s name will be Aamina. The Mahdi will have have a slight stutter and he will occasionally hit his hand upon his thigh when he stutters. He will be born in Medina and will appear at the age of 40. He will be inspired by Allah.

Understanding the Mahdi is important in understanding the world view of Islam. The world is evil and is under the control of the evil one. To the Muslim, a day will come when right will be restored and when all those in the world will follow the teachings of Islam.

Reflection in evening.

Reflections in Green