Taliban Defined
By Anwaar Hussain
Some have romanticized them, others have idolized them, and yet others have abhorred them. All have feared them, however. Over the years, the Taliban have acquired an image of mysterious allure and danger, until the truth about them now hardly matters.
Here is the situation.
A leading religious politician, who is also a sitting partner with the government in power, has called the recent killing of Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsood as martyrdom (hint: the politician’s name starts with Fazal, ends at Rehman and can hardly breath because of thick folds of fat around his overfed frame). Then some say that the Afghan Taliban, at least, are fighting a war of liberation against the occupiers and are therefore heroes rather than villains. And then there are some strategists and media men who further fog up the lens by saying that there are bad Taliban but there are also some ‘good Taliban’ out there. And that these ‘good Taliban’ can be talked with.
Not withstanding the fact that the aforesaid is a lot of balderdash, the end result is that whereas pigeonholing the Taliban in a particular group would have been a rather simple task, it continues to elude the branding. The situation remains pretty confusing for a lay reader.
After being sired by the United States, mothered by Pakistan, midwifed by a clutch of Middle Eastern entities and wet-nursed by a whole bunch of vested interests, the Taliban had fought another war of liberation in the past. That one was against the then USSR. The senseless savagery of their devastating rule in Afghanistan in the aftermath of that war of liberation still echoes in the region.
The fig leaf on the so called ‘war of liberation’ that these gents are fighting over in Afghanistan will be lifted soon after the departure of the Coalition forces. The melee that will ensue for capturing Kabul will be as bloody as the inside of a Kandahari pomegranate. This time around, after they have defeated the clay footed Johny Bravos of the Coalition forces, the only improvements that one can expect is that perhaps the limbs will be chopped a little closer to the hands and feet and the women will still be flogged but with an officially issued stick of defined measurements, not just any stick.
And of them being Martyrs for any cause, or there being something called ‘good Taliban’ among them as some jokers suggest, the less said, the better. Were it not for ordinary human decency, one would have wished these clowns to have the Taliban’s long blunt knives hover just above their jugulars. And after a drone took out the knife wielder, one would have then liked to ask them whether that was a good Talib or a bad one or a martyr. After such incidences, these jesters are known to instantly develop an extra spring in their gaits while fleeing from places wherefrom the word Taliban is spoken.
So what is the truth?
The truth, perhaps, is far simpler. And that is that they are in fact nothing more than religiously inspired killers, ones who kill for the cause, fearless in business of death and ready to sacrifice themselves for that elusive, yet oft promised eternal glory. Religion is the golden shoe with which they have been beating everyone senseless thus far.
The Taliban are a group of people that reveres gods of death, murder and vengeance. Some do not trouble themselves with worshiping any thing beyond their own ability to cause mayhem and butchery. Their strength comes from surprise and from their complete disregard for the rules of honorable combat. They, by their nature, betray those whose trust they have gained, kill women and children on whims, and strike terror into the hearts of an average decent human being.
Raised from childhood in the arcane schools of murder, where they learn to use their stealthy knives to mortifying effect, they serve the will of their lords in whose pay they remain until death. In their pursuit of an indefinable Caliphate, they long to usurp governments and sovereigns. They cling to their strongholds in far corners, dispensing rough and ready justice in remote villages and distant valleys. Their targets are the government’s local agents, the armies sent out to wage wars against them, clergy that does not toe their line and supporters of all the aforementioned entities. For them killing is not just a business tool but also a construct with which to spread terror, perpetuate chaos and preach their dark gospel.
What must be borne in mind however is that while murder is a part of their existence and legend, it is not the reason of their being. They are the fanatical followers of a cult that believes that theirs is the only straight path to enlightenment and all other thoughts, faiths and sects are wrong and wicked. They fervently believe that their god will prevail over all others and those who do not welcome the ‘true’ faith will be punished, either by them now or by their deity in the hereafter. But as that time is yet to come, the Taliban will remain ready in the meanwhile to kill and die at the command of their Emir.
The Taliban combine deadly skills with an absolute belief in the holy nature of the carnage they inflict. As devout followers of a central Emir, they know their cause is correct and their actions are approved by their Emir. For this reason, recruitment is mostly done from illiterate, poverty ridden classes assuring them the ultimate pleasures of a promised heaven. Opportunities are also open to common rogues and thugs who wish to wash off their lifelong misdeeds with glorious martyrdom. Just like the assassins of the past, the recruits are encouraged to use hashish freely so they can occasionally enter paroxysms of joy by hallucinating glimpses of afterlife in paradise. The more hardened ones are urged to take opium to help them achieve warm feelings of contentment and wellbeing.
The real adventure for the Taliban is not the defense of their ideology, whatever that may be. On the contrary, they instantly transport into a heightened state of excitement when a real threat comes against those they serve. While they rarely pursue adventure for the sake of adventure, some Taliban are exceptions to the rule. They use the constant danger of adventuring life as a way to hone their killer instincts and associated skills.
The Taliban are masters of the art of terror. In this pursuit, their tools remain surprise and stealth, barbarity and cruelty, cunning and underhanded tactics. Along with other weapons, they carry these tools wrapped in a blood soaked pennant of faith. As a group, therefore, their absolute recklessness and amorality makes them as dangerous as a pack of mad dogs. So fearsome is this combination of skills and tactics that they are now one of the most dreaded groups of criminals ever.
From foot soldiers to the higher ranks within the Taliban organization, the career path weaves through a pattern of a kind unimaginable by ordinary human beings. The higher the attributes of wiliness, hatred, abject brutality and ever-readiness for massacre, the greater are the chances of promotion. Specially gifted ones relish the particular cruelty of adding treachery and shock to routine slaughter they are sent out to commit. The more paranoid a killer, the higher he stands chances of rising in the Taliban’s rank hierarchy. Those who succeed in all these traits are ultimately chosen as the leaders. This can clear up why it took so much of time to find a successor to Baitullah. The potential candidate had to prove his credentials beyond doubt.
The pitiable foot soldiers of this organized guild, having been brainwashed into this madness through constant religious sermons since childhood, soon turn into zealots who kill at the pleasure of their leaders. Consequently, bound by divine spells, they turn into freaks who see no significance or method in their madness beyond the inherent pleasure of killing. The earlier this happens, the quicker they get into the race for leadership of their cadres.
The chief aim during training is to instill in the trainee the idea that though murdering in any way is useful and dreaded by the victim, it must also be done in a way that terrorizes the general populace. Through constant sermons, the recruit is convinced that the Talib is an executioner who kills out of a holy principle, that he kills not out of lust but for divine ideals. By the time the lines blur in his mind, his Emir has a slayer that is both professional and fanatic and is willing to kill for the cause of his Emir at a moment’s notice.
From the aforesaid, a few conclusions can safely be drawn;
1. There are no good or bad Taliban. There are just Taliban and they understand only the language of force.
2. There is no de-programming the zombies now. The only solution to the problem lies in rolling a military steam roller from end to end over the entire FATA and then taking immediate steps to drain the swamps of poverty and neglect that have accumulated over there for some decades now.
Perhaps no one has ever explained better than Voltaire the dangers inherent in extremist ideologies of any kind. He once said, “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities”.
We all need to check our premises.
Anwaar,
Bravo. You said it without mincing words.
Indeed Taliban are subhuman, in league with Carthagenians of Hannibal and Mongols of Changez Khan and Halaku Khan era.They are in affinity with Knights Templar of Crusades, as religion has been misused and abused on both occasions.They butcher with impunity and unleash a reign of terror considering themselves the only righteous group this good earth has ever cradled. What they don’t realize is the fact that they commit most heinous crimes under the umbrella of their version of religion. They kill and maim playing that well known psychological game: ‘Mine is better than yours’. God, if they are religious then who is irreligious. The human race would have been wiped out from this tiny planet long ago if their version were in vogue.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:10 pmAnwaar:
Your description of the Taliban seems genuine. But keep in mind the “result” of the Taliban is not much different than the “result” brought by American military forces….. in the initial stages of bringing “peace & stability” to regions US troops are sent. The motivational means is different: US troops are sent because the religious god is money.
A couple of years ago, I joked to a friend that if Bolivia found oil…. within weeks the US would send “military advisors” to Bolivia…. and that if the Bolivian government would not let US oil companies takeover, then Bolivia would be put on the narco-country list…. and extreme financial presssures would be applied until Bolvia succumbed to US control.
Sure enough, withing three weeks of a major oil find in Bolivia…… US troops were sent to preserved the peace. If Bolivia didn’t give up its financial sovereignty, then the US would probably arm the opposition, turning Bolivia into Nigeria, Somalia, or…. just pick a broken country.
Yes, America is smart enough to have an unseen hand…. creating plausible deniability. The stated US goals are always peace, democracy, and stability. If the US doesn’t get its way, we start secret wars. If US foreign policy actually promoted democracy, then why would the US install a Musharraf in Pakistan? Is it coincidence that Karzai of Afghanistan is a former oil company executive?
Once the US gets its way…. and controls the economic levers of a country…….. then and only then, will the US permit “peace.”
In a single factory in the US, 1 billion rounds of 5.56mm M-16 small arms ammunition is produced EACH year! The factory has been operating for more than 50 years! Do the math…….. that is a lot of bodies to bury.
Does it really matter whether the soldier is wearing a US uniform? Does it really matter that the motivation is the god of money? Does it really matter that the US gives the ammo to an “opposition group of freedom fighters” or simply hires “contractors” ?
Are you aware that there are more contract killers…… “security personnel” in Iraq and Afghanistan….. than actual uniform soliders? Do you really believe these “private security forces” are just doing food and fuel supply?
The US has these contract security people stationed in nearly every country in the world.
Draw the connection: even without formal combat war…… 1 billion rounds are shot each year by US forces and US surrogates.
When Spain sent conquistadors to the Americas, they always sent a priest to convert the non-believers…….Religous passion combining with military troops…… to steal the gold.
Now the US is that powerful nation, controlling militarily weak nations and their governments. The US always seems to find an excuse to keep troops in an area for decades…….. once it makes a singular military footprint.
The US is the only nation in the world that has 100s of military bases in foreign countries.
You know, maintaining an empire is expensive. If ANY nation were to discover and unlimited source of cheap energy….. the US would find a way to bring “democracy” to that nation.
So yes, the Taliban have been merciless… so were the Khemer Rouge and Pol Pot. Senseless killings abound…… but the US hands are not clean.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:12 pmA wholesome, brilliant description of the evil that engulfs this unfortunate region. I have yet to read a more accurate, more telling description of these Yahoos anywhere else.
Salutes Mr. Anwaar.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:34 pmRegarding the second post:
Debate by use of flanking historical “moral equivilencies” is a bit unfair and deals from the bottom of the deck. Pakistan is dealing with an insurgency-based destabilizing force which is threatening their citizens. The post identifies the threat and engages threat assessment.
LCDR Tammy Swofford, USNR also sends up the salute to this outstanding Air Force officer.
Standing at attention, and in rank with you, Sir!
LCDR Tammy Swofford, USNR,NR
September 17th, 2009 at 12:49 amAnd if only I could type! smile
Saluting again, Anwaar!
LCDR Tammy Swofford, USNR,NC
September 17th, 2009 at 12:51 amWhich sentences in the kuran or hadith help/cause/encourage/justify/glorify the taliban and the taliban mentality? Muslims must carry out a publicly highlighted discussion of this issue. Why are muslims leaving the fight against the fascists (the islamically caused fascists) to the non-muslims? Is it because of cowardice or ignorance or piety or opportunism? Tendecy towards violence and towards glorification of violence is actually a strong indicator (or even proof) of cowardice.
September 17th, 2009 at 2:01 amOnce again Anwaar you tell it how it is. You’ll never be a Politician. To greater or lesser degrees other religions have their Taliban counterparts. Fundamentalists from the U S Bible Belt or Zionists from Israel. Even amongst the “Enlightened” R C’s the Inquisition and its adherents still exists.
Religion and the ridiculous belief in non existent Gods are nearly always, if not the cause, certainly the reason, for intolerance. But don’t ask me how to rid us of this scourge.
Education is the only way, but even then only if it is free from religion.
September 17th, 2009 at 2:21 amMore proof that this entire region is a s*** hole that is not worth the life of one coalition soldier. It would probably be best used as a nuclear test site. This diseased part of the planet should be left to stew in its own juices and perhaps in several centuries it might be able to join the rest of the planet.
Praise Allah!
September 17th, 2009 at 4:16 amExcellent cutting through the miasma of media hype to reality. Thank you.
September 17th, 2009 at 5:25 amPosted on the BC @
http://baltimorechronicle.com/2009/091609Hussain.shtml
I like your direct style. Like that you relate Taliban to crude religious beliefs which are also common in the US. It’s my opinion that religions–on balance–have hurt civilization and stupidly caused wars for the last 700 years. We can all do better.
Best,
Marc Cherbonnier
September 17th, 2009 at 5:41 amActually this not something new what is happening in this region (FATA). History of this area clearly depicts that these people have been illiterate, cruel, slaughtering, attacking & conquering each other for no reason, some time for revenge or ejecting opposite tribes, mercilessness , humiliating women and unlawfulness and rights violation remains their culture. In fact they are Pillagers, warriors not Islamists, Islam spiritual leaders have never visited those areas (FATA) like other Muslim Cities in the world, where people living peaceful enlightened & liberal life and contributing in developing scientific world.
They are remains of HALAKU KHAN AND Changer khan and due to their strategic location they were never were accessed by any modern rule therefore their Changaizism and Halakuism remains intact.
As historically they were only dreadful warriors and nowhere near to peace or Islam, and they had no vision or mission & living in stone age, so they were used by ISI/USA against USSR in Afghanistan and vice versa recently by other stack holders against Pakistan with different brands.
The same forces who are demolishing them, had preserved and promoted them in the past and even helped them to establish their rule in Afghanistan.
They are newly branded as Talban otherwise their atrocities are the same as before, when there was no Pakistan on the world map.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:20 amThey still have their well wishers and justifiers in Pakistani power with different names capitalizing Taliban’s brutal acts and violations; they should not be honored but mortified instead.
I like the way you described Molana’s appearance. In fact it is more horrible & disgusting behind the scene which has to be brought on canvas so that this TOPI Drama /dogging innocent people, comes to an end.
September 17th, 2009 at 10:42 amReference post 8 by Frank:
The problems of this sordid area are not worth the life of one coalition soldier? But then who will clear the mess created by the US in 70s? Other sons of a lesser god? Or because coalition soldiers are more equal? I beg your pardon, but then all of us have to jointly sort out this scourge, our prejudices or the dislike of the unlike notwithstanding.
September 17th, 2009 at 12:31 pmTaliban are facing worst time these days, their leadership has systematically been killed on both sides of the border. US is not going to spare them anymore.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:21 pmWe,Pakistanis,Americans,Saudis,Iranians and Indians!!!! have created these monsters.We have to destroys them. Inidians will howl but think again.
Anwaar the roller is gathering the required steam..Just wait a little. The Swatis are doing it in their own style.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:48 pmO Swat..
Dear Anwaar
Your article says nothing but the truth about Taliban. It is excellent.
You invited comments but some commentators used the opportunity to let out their steam that has nothing to do with Taliban. I must comment on those irrelevant comments.
Doug Shipe said:
“But keep in mind the “result” of the Taliban is not much different than the “result” brought by American military forces….. in the initial stages of bringing “peace & stability” to regions US troops are sent. The motivational means is different: US troops are sent because the religious god is money.”
Doug, you wish to bash America, you are entitled to do. But do not compare Americans with Taliban. Americans do not cut throats of human beings and hang bodies on tree. Americans do not bomb girl schools as revenge because girls are being educated against Taliban beliefs. If Americans would be enemies of Muslims, Islam would never be the second largest religion in America after Christianity as it is now, and Islam is growing in America very rapidly without hindrance.
G.Vishvas said:
“Why are muslims leaving the fight against the fascists (the islamically caused fascists) to the non-muslims? Is it because of cowardice or ignorance or piety or opportunism? Tendecy towards violence and towards glorification of violence is actually a strong indicator (or even proof) of cowardice.”
Vishvas, are you aware Government of Pakistan, a Muslim country is fighting and eliminating the Taliban and almost every day, many of them are killed? But you cannot see it because you are, probably, blind with prejudice against Muslims.
Tom Edgar said:
“Religion and the ridiculous belief in non existent Gods are nearly always, if not the cause, certainly the reason, for intolerance. But don’t ask me how to rid us of this scourge.”
Tom, you do not believe in the existence of God. May be, you believe your brain came into existence out of the blue by random chance or by accident. You are entitled to your belief. You should also hear what scientists say about existence of God.
Please visit this site to learn from science that the world could not come into existence without a Supreme Intelligent Designer.
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/6562/apologetics/designun.html
Anwaar, Thank you again for your article.
September 17th, 2009 at 11:50 pmDear Anwaar, as usual this is a beautiful writeup no doubt. But should you not go a bit further and elaborate the ’cause’ of this unfortunate state of affairs?
“Raised from childhood in the arcane schools of murder, where they learn to use their stealthy knives to mortifying effect, they serve the will of their lords in whose pay they remain until death”- and thanks to whom?
Until the root cause is eliminated do you think a military roadroller will be successful? I doubt it. Look at history, even very recent history. America in Vietnam, America in Iraq, in Kuwait, in the UAE (yes, UAE – just watch! Let them not tow the Anglo-American line and ‘poof’ they are gone. They are virtual slaves as it is.
No my friend, until the root cause is eliminated, this is not going to stop – ever; and the poor illeterate soul will continue to die, either at the hands of the Anglo-American troops and drones, or the Talibs. Die they/we all will – unless the root cause is eliminated. How? Perhaps Nature will have to roll.
Doug Shipe says it all, and Pervaiz Alam sums it beautifully and unambiguously!
September 18th, 2009 at 5:01 amDear Anwaar,
I always enjoy reading your straightforward military style viewpoints and analysis of complex geo-political issues.
I too dislike and hate those who commit murders, train suicide bombers, kill innocent people and terrify citizens.
On this account, Taliban are the number one culprit.
Having said that, I believe that you should not stop there. You should also condemn those who have created this monster at the first place, fed and clothed it, financed it and left it unchecked, when USSR was defeated and Afghanistan was in tatters.
My second question, which you hopefully would answer soon, is that who is now financing Taliban, giving them most modern weapons of mass destruction and providing them latest information. I would not be surprised if India and Russia are doing this dirty work as a revenge of USSR’s destruction and destabilize Pakistan. USA may also be involved in this dirty trade. After all, USA companies are well known for supplying ammunition to both sides in any conflict or civil war since the First World War. USA arms found their way to Hitler, Franco, Khomeini, Vietcong, Congo rebels and many other insurgencies.
I am sure that the best way to kill the Taliban beast is to drain the arms supply roots. I am amazed that Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan use latest model jeeps, motorcycles and other means of transportation. Until and unless this uninterrupted heavy flow of arms and transport equipment to Taliban is not stopped, there will not be an end to the war in Afghanistan or conflict in Waziristan.
I am sending you the links to my latest You Tube videos about Taliban. I hope that you would like these.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo961rJAM2M&feature=related
Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRkF40tnsZw
Part 2
Kind regards
September 18th, 2009 at 6:29 amBashy Quraishy
Chair-Advisory Council-ENAR – Brussels
Chair-Jewish Muslim Co-operation Platform – Brussels
Senior Advisor – COJEP International- Strasbourg
Mobile; 0045 40 15 47 71
Phone; 0045 38 88 19 77
http://www.bashy.dk
I agree the Talib concept was nurtured by US money and backing from that religious zealot, General Ziaul Haque, way back in the ’80s. These talibs must be in their 20s and 50s.
The new talibs have been nurtured secretly by the ISI during Musharraf’s reign. These talibs were being used to run a Kashmir liberation strategy.
The Pakistan talibs are the younger lot – but since liberation of Kashmir is no longer an objective, what are their aims now ?
I think we need to study these talib groups separately and then devise a counter-strategy, separately for each group.
But most important of all is to also terminate their finances and to close the madressahs where they are taught their murderous philosophies.
This needs concerted action by the Pakistan government, the Pak Army, and civil society.
September 18th, 2009 at 9:04 amThe civil society opens its purses all too readily in the name of Islam and 90% of these funds end up with the fanatics. The fault lies with all of us that these madmen flourish.
_____________________________________________
Excellent and to the point. The unfortunate fact is that majority of the “Faithful” are under “hallucinating glimpses of afterlife in paradise.
The main fault lies in the Deobandi school of Islam, which propagates the most archiac, brutal and outdated interpretation of Islam, which these cold blooded killers follow. This madness will only stop when the so called “Guardians of the faith” themselves realize the serious folly and renounce this brand of Islam. Abu Dhabi has already taken steps tp open the the minds of people with the lectures being held this Ramadan in that Emirate under the crown prince, HH Sh Mohammed Bin Zayed’s sponsorship.
September 18th, 2009 at 2:06 pmOne commentator references “the result brought by U.S. military forces….” Perhaps it would be good to reflect on the following:
It was shortly before eight a.m. that the last helicopter departed the rooftop of the American embassy in Saigon on 30 April 1975. In less than three hours, the first tank of the NVA forces crashed through the gates of the presidential palace. Shield gone, boundary displaced.
To replace a disliked shield with no barrier at all seems foolish. The American shield is disliked. What is your solution? Serve it up.
It is always easy to reflect on perceived follies of intervention. Where is the reflection on how a deliberate inactivity and a complete cordoning of U.S. assets and wealth would effect the world stage today?
Bring all our troops home today. Yank the billions of dollars of U.S aid, close all agencies and charities benefiting other nations and bring all of our talent home. We will then export all your talent back to you. You will need it. Yeah, I think I could live with that. America could survive with it. But can you?
I find it distasteful that things are always cast into the mold of the world against America, the seeming source of all evil, possibly even responsible for the last bad meal your wife cooked. Ludicrous. Absolutely.
Tammy Swofford
September 18th, 2009 at 4:11 pmTaliban should be abolished from their roots. Their roots are madaris. Madaris should be converted into modern schools. Also Taliban version of teachings and teachers should be banned.
September 18th, 2009 at 4:15 pmTo Tammy Stafford.
This specific discussion was about Taliban. I hope you agree with me that America in late seventies and eighties contributed hugely in resurrecting that Hydra.
I quite agree with you that US is blamed and made a scapegoat for anything happening under the sun, of course sometimes unduly. But then that is the mantle that a leader has to adorn. So be of good cheer and take it as it comes.
The shield you spoke about is good if used with caution and as long as it does not trample down a nation or another group’s self respect. Also, allow me to say that all your actions are not altruistic either; raiding Iraq for WMDs is a case in point.
No one can deny the US’s well honed talent and technological advancement. Today’s world is indebted indeed, but it is indebted in the same way as it was during different time periods, to Chinese, Egyptian, Indian, Babylonian, Sumerian or Persian Civilizations. In those days Europe perhaps was using a square wheel.
Today you reign supreme. We have no hard feelings for that. Your advancement is ours too; it was nurtured by humanity as a whole. But you have to play the role of a scapegoat, destined for you by our racial unconscious.
I hope, no hard feelings.
September 19th, 2009 at 12:01 amPervaiz Alam,
No hard feelings. I merely retain healthy respect for freedom of expression. There is the need for us to enter the intellectual ring of fire and come out with the smell of the smoke on us.
Regarding our entrance into Iraq, and these are my own opinion:
*We did not adequately consider the sociometrics on the ground.
*We created a political vacuum after the toppling of Saddam. As soon as the borders became porous Shi’a were trekking toward Karbala and Najaf from Iran, and the Iranian Shi’a majority was cheering along the sidelines. What a deal! A rise of the Shi’a who had languished since the 16th century. What a rumble!
*We did not make a grand entrance into the Grand Ayatollah chain of command, which might have somewhat put the damper on cleric Muqtada al-Sadr a bit quicker and prevented flanking destabilization. We disregarded a vibrant and existent chain of command.
*We did do what the Commander-in-Chief promised he would do after 9/11: Hunt those who sought to harm innocent Americans on sovereign soil. Our troops have been both shield and magnet. For that, I honor my own.
*We have undoubtedly done many things right for which we will never receive aknowledgment.
But in the final assessment, this is not the 1980′s. This is the 21st century and we are situated on the timeline allocated to us. One of the distinct deficits I have noted within the Muslim community is optic nerves wired to the back of the head. I think you know what I mean. There needs to be a bit or rewiring to face forward, square the shoulders, and seek viable solutions to what is looking us square in the face today.
I cannot change yesterday. I can impact tomorrow.
V/R Tammy
September 19th, 2009 at 9:09 pmIt becomes increasingly apparent that all the forces engaged in all of the conflicts on this planet were ( as you say ) sired by colonial forces and have been used, re-used, labeled, and re-labeled to suit the public relations needs of these very same powers. That is to say, where they originate from is a fairly fixed reality, whereas what they represent at any given moment – not so much. Just this weekend ( because conversations in this country are once again becoming dangerously close to reality ) three more “terror” suspects have been rolled out in a pathetic attempt at re-ignited fears of “Al-Qaida” training camps in Afghanistan.
Of all the evidence proving that the Taliban ( or anyone in Afghanistan ) had nothing to do with the attacks of 9-11, it’s difficult to point a better singular example than the discovery of 100 tons of nano-thermite being the actual cause of the World Trade Towers’ destruction: http://ow.ly/j51I
Since planes, box-cutters, or any amount of caves in Afghanistan could not have had anything to do with this reality, we find once again that these people are just another in a long line of scapegoats and misdirections to prevent the people of this world from focusing on the real enemies of humanity.
What is also quite apparent however is that in the prolonged madness of the war against the USSR and this war against US occupation, these forces – all over the world – have become adept and comfortable with being subject to, and subjecting people to all kinds of atrocities and horrors. Decades of mind control and violence have turned these once pawns into uncontrollable “packs of mad dogs” and clearly – not even their handler’s have any say in their actions anymore. The self fulfilling prophecy of these groups has finally come to fruition, conveniently right when the colonial forces have run out of money, manpower, and will to engage them.
This can’t come as a surprise to anyone paying attention. The fact that we as a species cannot face the fallacies that comprise the non-civilization we live in on this planet means the endless cycle of death and suffering that we witness daily and have become numb to, just continues unabated. As a result ( and from lack of options ) these uncontrollable fanatical groups have come to believe in and rely on their own power and righteousness, and once that threshold has been crossed, true reasoning becomes extremely difficult if not impossible.
The entire world is responsible for this reality. The fact that the world allowed these people ( whatever they were before ) to become the focal enemy of a blatant and ridiculous lie put them in the position to fight with any means available, or to lay down and die. It is quite obvious the path they have chosen and in a world that refuses to deal in factuality or reason, it’s hard to imagine what choice they really had in what they have become. As you point out, these people were uneducated and poverty stricken to begin with as a result of the previous decades of violence, and as unspeakable and unforgivable as their actions are, it is certainly understandable how it happened. There was no place on this planet for these people to turn to receive any fair or reasonable hearing or redress, and the monsters they have become are the monsters they were being portrayed as anyway. The entire world accepted the United States’ preposterous explanations and justifications for the millions of tons of bombs dropped on these people, and their reaction isn’t very surprising.
Until we can change the context of our perception of reality, the perpetual arguments over false “sides” will continue ( in a vacuum ) ad infinitum, and will never reach a conclusion. There is no justification for the unimaginable death and suffering that has occurred on this planet, nor can there be any “just” retribution for it. There is also no excuse for the fact that we allow the conversations to be minimized to who is “right” or “justified” in killing whom. Were we to face the actual truth and meaning of existence, no one would harm or kill anyone, ever. If these individuals at any point in their entire lives had been treated as beings of value and not demonized from birth, it’s unlikely that they would have chosen the direction that they have.
It is this conversation that we must change, and that cannot happen as long as the puppet master’s continue to direct and dictate the conversation. These driving forces – not only their many corrupted foot soldiers – are the ones we must find a way to expose and strip of their control, before the true humanity that I know exists on this planet can have the freedom and opportunity to thrive, as truly intended by God.
Your Brother Always,
September 21st, 2009 at 8:14 pmReally, Bill. Give it a rest.
“It has become increasingly apparent that all the forces engaged in all of the conflicts on this planet were (as you say) sired by colonial forces.”
There has in fact, been a vibrant international eco-space in existence ever since men with wooden ships figured out they could trade one item of perceived value for another item of possibly greater value. These activities have accelerated since the sea lanes of commerce were firmly established. The eco-space activity is determined and has been determined for centuries by treaties, and lesser memorandum(s) of agreement between nations. So while on the one hand there may be a public hostility toward American interests abroad the greater irresistible aspect of players wishing to dabble within the international markets cannot be discounted. As I write this American businessmen are hammering out deals on water resource acquisition and allocation with men such as Gaddafi who is willing to belly up to the table with a billion and spare change. Think: the Okapi Pipeline. http://www.bluemajestic.net
Will a few entrepreneur businessmen add to their wealth funds? Of course. But will the local economy be stimulated by employment opportunities in a region sorely lacking in opportunity? The manipulation of the eco-space is financial benefit which can trickle down to the lowest levels, in some cases. So do we innately hate the engineers with Ph.D’s, the administrators and planners with MBA’s while at the same time wildly embracing the underclass for no better reason than their poverty? Poverty does not make for saints any more than wealth makes for sinners. Thou treadest closely to Marxism, Bill. It has been shown not to work. But a healthy and vibrant eco-space which is supported by governments with only a dusting of corruption is a workable model.
“…three more ‘terror suspects’ have been rolled out in pathetic attempt at re-ignited fears of ‘Al-Qaida’ training camps in Afghanistan.”
Possibly you have not been tracking the flow of Eid-al-Fitr zakah offered up with felicitations to terror organizations. Oh Happy Day!
With all the carping about not finding WMD’s in Iraq we should return to the basics: the WMD within the asymmetrical battlespace is a carbon carrier of approximate 180 pounds weight. Just like drug mules, the mules of al-Qa’ida are equally dangerous to humanity.
“The entire world is responsible for this reality.”
Bite me.
Tammy Swofford
September 22nd, 2009 at 1:18 amReferring to comment 7 and Zionists as Jewish religious fundamentalists or zealots, there are about 14 million Jews worldwide, fewer than 40 percent in Israel, and of the figure worldwide, but 20 percent may be considered Orthodox in observance. Prior to the rise of the Third Reich, ancient attachment to the Holy Land, the presence of an indigenous Jewish population, and, in the 19th Century, a far underpopulated landscape and opportunity in agriculture opened the door to an agrarian Zionist movement. Persecution of the Jews in Russia plus Polish pogrom helped push early Jewish immigration to Israel, a process aided by the sale of land to Edmund James De Rothschild and his creation of vineyards and assorted businesses, which not coincidentally drew Arab labor into the region as well.
The demise of the Ottoman Empire, the post-WWII business of the standing European powers transferring their mandates into new chartered states, the remnant of European Jewry, and the persecution leading to eviction of about 800,000 Jews Arab counties following Israel’s chartering again installed a population sufficient and motivated to sustain a Jewish nation.
For militant cousins across the Islamist Front, the Jews and Israel have provided a kind of magical crystal, an ultimate and especially dark prize in the globalized sweeps of destruction and fear amid a covetous competition for power on the dismal terms adopted for the unearthly ends imagined or merely leveraged.
September 22nd, 2009 at 3:58 amIt would be easier to respond to your comment Tammy, if it had anything to do with mine. However, since you bring up the vibrant trade routes, bear in mind that for over five hundred years the preferred items of perceived value were the slaves that built the colonial powers to which I refer, and which you and I are obviously a part. No doubt you would consider these slavers as a few of the entrepreneurial businessmen that added to their wealth funds, however I view it as an astonishing and consistent example of man’s inhumanity to man, and his subsequent inability to face and take responsibility for his own actions.
Not a moment goes by in this country without a glaring example of this, and you’ve just given me several. I didn’t hear you address the 100 tons of nano-thermite, or the false pretense of either of these wars, or the fact that the supposed mastermind is still no where to be found. I didn’t say anything about WMD, but that excuse for annihilating two million Iraqi’s, littering the country with depleted uranium, and leaving burned out husks of poisonous military vehicles for the children to play on was quite evidently a fraud as well, and I’ve yet to hear so much as “I’m sorry” from anyone. A decade of crimes against humanity, and your only response is refer to some academic interpretation of “eco-space.”
Even more preposterous is after poisoning our own water supplies ( and virtually everyone else’s ), you want to use this country’s gluttonous propensity for controlling the resources of others as some kind of selling point for capitalism ( which in case you weren’t on earth last year, failed worse than Marxism, communism, and fascism combined ). I keep waiting for this country to reach a level of hypocrisy that not even it can bear, but clearly we haven’t reached it yet.
Take a look at this video and see what “trickles down” to these poor people who did NOTHING to incur the wrath of this country except be born on top of resources we decided to take: http://bit.ly/4nApUJ
Or perhaps you’ll be moved by the plight of these women who were “liberated” from their husbands: http://bit.ly/hRcLs. We all grieve for widows of war in this country but when have we ever been faced with 1.5 Million of them, and how would this country react to such incredible injustice?
It’s time to start facing reality in this country, and as a result of two hundred years of intentionally avoiding it – there’s plenty of it to face. Calling me a Marxist or suggesting I “bite you” isn’t going to change that. It’s unlikely that I’ll respond again should you wish to continue this diversion, but if the level of conversation remains the same, you can rest assured – I won’t.
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:30 amIt seems to me the subject of discussion on “Talibans” has expanded to such an extent that it has dragged into it many rightly or wrongly assumptions as follows:
Talibans are evils
Talibans are fighting evils.
America is evils
America is fighting evils.
Talibans created by America so if Talibans are evil, then America is evil too
America was wrong to attack Iraq and Afghanistan.
As a man of average intelligence I saw the attack on WTC on September 11, 2001 on TV and it shocked me.
American intelligence community found out that this attack was planned by Al-Qaida blaming Bin Laden and Mullah Omar and they were in Afghanistan sheltered by Talibans. So America attacked Afghanistan to eliminate Al-Qaida and Talibans. So far what America did, any country will do the same.
What mistake America did, was to attack Iraq without any reasons. The vast majority of Americans were against this war. Even President Obama, then a Senator was against this war. President Bush went for it against the wishes of the vast majority of Americans. This does not make America an evil country because an unpopular President went for the war.
The Talibans are now against Pakistan killing innocent civilians through bombings. They are indeed enemies of humanity. They are not only a problem for America and Pakistan but for the entire Muslim world with 1.5 billion human beings. Non-Muslims believe what the Talibans are doing is Islam. This is totally false.
Those who kill innocents, do not follow Islam.
Allah/God says in Holy Quran “If any one killed a person … it would be as if he killed all mankind; and if any one saved the life of a person, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind.” (Quran V: 32). According to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) “Murdering a human being is one of the biggest sins.” He adds: “Be kind to all living beings so that Allah may be kind to you. Allah does not shows His mercy to whosoever shows no mercy to fellow humans.
Adapted from http://members.aol.com/khananis/coexistence.html
Terrorists are in all religions, not just Muslims. If they believed in God, they will not slaughter innocent people. Hitler and all NAZI killers were Catholic Christians. Hitler wrote in Mein Kampf: “I am convinced that I am acting as the agent of our Creator. By fighting off the Jews. I am doing the Lord’s work.” In 1938, he quoted those same words in a Reichstag speech. Question. Would you blame the good religion of Christianity for the action of Hitler, a Catholic Christian terrorist who slaughtered 36 million human beings including 6 millions Jews, all innocent. The lesson here is “no religion teaches terrorism” The terrorists use terrorism to achieve their own evil goals. Read about Hitler’s religion at this site
http://www.evilbible.com/hitler_was_christian.htm
September 24th, 2009 at 5:15 amToday’s Dawn editorial makes an interesting read. Here is an excerpt;
Click here for the full text.
October 7th, 2009 at 12:50 pmAh! Looks like Pakistanis are finally waking up to gravity of the situation. Here is an excerpt from an OpEd in today’s Dawn;
Full text here.
October 12th, 2009 at 7:27 am