Channel 4 documentary / 48 minutes / 2007
An excellent report from Afghanistan. Not very cheerful, but it will give you some insight of what is like over there.
Once again it that British openness and honesty that makes this report so special and valuable.
This is not about terrorist propaganda, this is not about free speech, this is not about radicalizing the public - it’s about the truth.
American politicians, American media and most parts of the so called American public simply "sanitize" reality to they don’t have to face the ugly truth: their own soldiers and mostly innocent people die in this stupid war on terror.
Don’t look away! This is your war. You decided to invade Afghanistan and Iraq - now stand up to it and face the blood.
This is the 21st century - you won’t be able to hide such videos and censor images - like the return of your own dead soldiers.
But America has learned from the Vietnam experience - and all side are making HUGE efforts to keep the TV screens clean. Because shocking images can make people change their minds - but cool 3D animations with heroic videos - but no blood or gut hanging out - do not offend …
With the bold prison attack the Taliban scored big time. But I still believe that smarter NATO tactics and a LOT more support for the normal Afghan People this is still winnable.
BBC News: Trimmed French military is no retreat
There are two very odd things regarding European integration: Britain’s unwillingness to accept that it is part of Europe and France’s odd military status in NATO.
Finally the later will be fixed soon - after almost 40 years since Charles de Gaulle pulled out of NATO.
France has long been fighting side by side with their other western allies - but they were never officially part of the team. Sarko finally wants to put an end to that charade and join the team as a full member.
He also wants to shake up the military establishment and bring the troops into the 21st century - just like the Brits did several years ago.
Germany still hardly makes an effort to improve it’s military.
And all the big European ideas about a quick reaction force and all these stupid dreams never really gotten anywhere.
Europe still depends on NATO and therefore on the US and Canada.
More? Military of France @ Wikipedia
Expanding NATO is a good thing. Expanding NATO to get new cannon fodder for war that has hardly anything to do with NATO is a bad thing.
When America attacked Afghanistan after 9/11 NATO stood behind the US of A and pledged it’s support with troops and money.
It was understood that America would take the military lead and the Europeans would do the whole nation building stuff (together with the brave Canadians and Australians) - like they did in Kosovo.
But instead of finishing the job in Afghanistan the Americans rushed off to fight another little war in Iraq and dropped the ball. Suddenly the rest of NATO found itself in the hot zone.
Once again Bush showed is incompetence building alliances and offending his allies. And still Afghanistan doesn’t get the support it needs to rebuild the country and provide security - and some European countries should do more … it’s not all the Americans fault …
I am all for making Afghanistan a better place and fighting the Taliban. I also agree that Germany and so many other NATO members have to do more.
But let’s not forget: the NATO mandate was to support the rebuilding efforts in Afghanistan and provide some policing. It was expected that the Americans would continue their war on the Taliban.
But what happened? America went to Iraq and allowed the Taliban to remerged. They also ignored warnings from Afghans and the international community that the US sock puppet Hamid Karzai does not have the backing and power to push serious development in Afghanistan ahead. Instead corruption, drugs and local warlords succeeded. The Taliban are back and more and more locals support them instead of ‘their’ government.
Also the international rebuilding efforts were uncoordinated and wasteful. Not the kind of results you want to have to convince the locals that western democracy is better and improves the lives of the poor Afghan people.
The US loves to shift the blame to NATO for it’s own failures. While the rest of NATO is going through a tough realization of their shared failure. Loosing Afghanistan is not an option they say - but most countries lack the political will and commitment to make it work.
Very sad.
When the USA liberated (and this time it was such a thing) Afghanistan from the Taliban I considered this a good thing. This was actually religious fundamentalism gone mad and very bloody.
The Afghan situation can certainly be blamed on America’s lack of interest after the Soviets left the country and the Taliban used their military power - once provided by America - to terrorize this poor country.
But nevertheless - giving this country a chance to get back on it’s own feet was and still is a good cause. And some fighting was to be expected. The Europeans, Australians and Canadians thought a bit of the Taliban would be still around and annoying. Once again politicians committed troops to do the nation building thing without really thinking about it.
Now several years latter and many dead soldiers and Afghan people the Taliban are a serious threat - again.
Canadians, British, Dutch and Australian troops have been involved in fierce fighting - while German, Italian and French troops stayed save and away from bullets.
Frau Merkel loves posing with the troops, but not committing them to the fight for a good cause.
Although NATO asked Germany several time to commit some combat troops to the fights in the south Frau Bundeskanzler Merkel has successfully avoided supporting OUR allies.
Yesterday it was finally announced to send a combat unit to Afghanistan where already 3.000 German troopers are busy building roads, schools and bridges. Here comes the joke: it’s only a small unit - 250 fighters … and they are replacing 350 Norwegians in the safer north of the country.
Although I believe in Pacifism and not in Militarism - but the Taliban won’t go away, by being nice. If the wars in Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan have taught us anything it’s this: you can’t do Nation Building without security on the ground. And that means confrontation and sticking your head out and catching bullets. People will die.
BBC News: NATO plans more Afghan resources
On one side I am really pissed off that NATO has to clean up America’s act in Afghanistan - since most resources have been sent to Iraq. But I think it’s worth the risk to TRY to make Afghanistan a normal country after several decades of war - even by using force to secure the country against the Taliban.
But I have to say that NATO has to try harder - look at some of the troop contributions stated in the BBC article. Austria just three (3!!!) fucking soldiers? Switzerland (not part of NATO) has two - wow! I am sure the Taliban are really scared of your mighty army knifes?
Germany has been unwilling so far to engage in any serious combat - they have focused mostly on rebuilding. The brunt of the fighting has been done by Canadians, Dutch and Americans (click links for some YouTube war porn).