🚀 go-pugleaf

Brian Daily wrote:
> http://www.newswire.co.nz/main/viewstory.aspx?storyid=326760&catid=33
>
> British forces in Afghanistan have defended their decision to call in US planes
> to drop 500lb bombs on Taleban fighters in a town in Helmand province.
>
> Witnesses say there were many civilian deaths and injuries but UK forces said
> there was no evidence of any.
>
> Civilians in Nawzad told the BBC that aircraft dropped at least three bombs,
> destroying shops and a school.
>
> British forces have been protecting the district government headquarters in
> Nawzad for a month.
>
> British commanders said they had been under constant attack for the past two
> weeks and the Taleban fighters were close to overrunning the base when the US
> air strike was called in.
>
> British troops said the school was being used by the Taleban to launch mortars.
>
> There are reports of anything from 25 to 200 people being killed but the BBC
> reports it is almost impossible to verify as the fighting is continuing.

When one considers the attrocities being committed by British
war-criminals against the Afghan people, and contrasts and *compares*
the blood-thirsty Brits to the Taliban, one would have to question the
stated motives behind this war:

----           -------              ---------

The Economist (Oct. 28, 1995)

Ah, peace

"HOW happy I am," runs a Pushto couplet posted over a doorway in a
Taliban office in Kandahar, "that now I have seen the coat of Muhammad
Omar."

Muhammad Omar is the founder and leader of the Taliban movement which
arose in Kandahar province last year, cleansed the region of its
quarrelling factions and went on to gain control of the south-western
half of Afghanistan.

In the ancient royal city of Kandahar, presided over by the battered
blue dome of the tomb of Afghanistan's first king, the Taliban are
overwhelmingly popular. They have displaced the chaotic mujaheddin who
took over the city from the communist government in 1992 and then
divided it between four commanders, who began bickering among
themselves. In the general atmosphere of lawlessness, wild young
ex-guerrillas did as they pleased. So many checkpoints extorted money
from travellers to Herat or Pakistan that trade became almost
impossible.

Few of these bandit-mujaheddin wanted to fight the Taliban, with their
reputation for holiness, and the militia imposed its authority with
little bloodshed. The Taliban rapidly disarmed the bandits and cleared
away the checkpoints. Today, guns are rarely seen and traffic flows
busily.

Since the Taliban captured Herat in September, also with little
bloodshed, the flow of goods from Iran has increased. Hundreds of shiny
Japanese cars bearing "UAE Export" licence plates and barrels of cheap
Iranian oil now sit on the Pakistani border, waiting to be smuggled
across in due course.

The Taliban have brought not only peace, but also an able
administration. Government buildings, schools and hospitals are being
repaired, often with the help of the the United Nations and western aid
agencies, which have arrived along with the new found security.
Refugees are returning and people are rebuilding houses and shops.

The puritan excesses of the early days are subsiding. The Taliban
leadership is moderate, essentially favouring the traditional Islam of
rural Afghanistan. Anyway, many of the young hotheads in the militia
have gone off to try to capture Kabul.

Women were initially kept out of the bazaars. They are now allowed in,
although they must wear the all concealing burqa. It is unlikely they
will be allowed to work in public places. Girls were sent home from the
schools, but, following requests from their parents, their schooling
will no doubt be resumed, though separately from boys. Football, once
banned, is now allowed.

The religious students in their 20s and 30s who are the backbone of the
movement have welcomed into their ranks like-minded mujaheddin from
various political parties, or former government men. A fair number of
Pakistani religious students from the Pathan border region have joined
the Taliban. Pathan tribes on both sides of the border have always been
involved in Afghan politics.

The Kabul government has accused Pakistan of supporting the Taliban.
Despite denials, Pakistan's preference for the Taliban is obvious, but
it is unclear whether it is providing advice, money or weapons. The
Taliban have plenty of captured weapons, and they have received large
donations of money from Kandahari businessmen.

Taliban officials in Kandahar are confident that Kabul will soon fall
to them. They say they will apply military pressure until government
supporters see the light and join their purer Islamic brethren. Then,
say many Taliban, they want Muhammad Omar to be president.

Copyright, The Economist, October 28th 1995



>
> The commander of the Helmand taskforce, Colonel Charlie Knaggs, said there was
> no evidence of civilian casualties and the force used was necessary to protect
> his troops.