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svero
9th April 2003, 09:49 AM
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Reviving-Taliban.html

From the above article--> (there's more if you read it)
"KANDAHAR, Afghanistan (AP) -- Before executing the International Red Cross worker, the Taliban gunmen made a satellite telephone call to their superior for instructions: Kill him?

Kill him, the order came back, and Ricardo Munguia, whose body was found with 20 bullet wounds last month, became the first foreign aid worker to die in Afghanistan since the Taliban's ouster from power 18 months ago.

The manner of his death suggests the Taliban is not only determined to remain a force in this country, but is reorganizing and reviving its command structure.

There is little to stop them. The soldiers and police who were supposed to be the bedrock of a stable postwar Afghanistan have gone unpaid for months and are drifting away."

It gives one misgivings about celebrating Saddams departure. While everyone is happy to see him go, Saddam being gone is really only an improvement if he is replaced with something better, and if Afghanistan is any indication of the kind of commitment to nation building we'll see, the future bodes poorly for Iraqis.

richardm
9th April 2003, 09:59 AM
It's not going to be a quick process in Afghanistan, but they're trying:

Afghan President Hamid Karzai says disarming warlords and rebuilding the national army will be priorities during the next year.

...

"Lack of full security and stability" would hinder the attempt to rebuild the country after 23 years of civil war, he added.

Curbing the power of the warlords has been a chief concern of the Karzai administration as it tries to extend its influence beyond the capital Kabul.

It is thought however that few provincial chiefs will be willing to co-operate when the process of disarming and demobilising tens of thousands of militia men begins next month.

...

Japan and the United Nations have pledged $125m to fund the programme while international peacekeepers say they will also play a role.

Germany has promised to help reform the police force.



Source (http://www.afghannews.net/news.php?topicid=1444)

Tony
9th April 2003, 10:02 AM
Blame the UN, they are the ones responsible for afghanistan.

ZeeGerman
9th April 2003, 10:03 AM
Originally posted by svero
It gives one misgivings about celebrating Saddams departure. While everyone is happy to see him go, Saddam being gone is really only an improvement if he is replaced with something better, and if Afghanistan is any indication of the kind of commitment to nation building we'll see, the future bodes poorly for Iraqis.

The difference: Afghanistan has nothing to offer - except opium and who is interested in that? Criminals.
Iraq otoh has oil and lots of it. Not that I'm saying this war was about oil but both the US and the UK will definitely make sure that they gain some control over the oil. Because of this, the interst in stable conditions is high, so some efforts are to be expected.

Zee

svero
9th April 2003, 10:04 AM
Well maybe it's not fair to look now? maybe it will take longer. Still.. is it getting better or worse? I was under the impression that the Taliban were finished and now they're reforming. Seems like a regression of sorts. And I really hate those anti-kite limb chopping religious nuts.

9th April 2003, 10:06 AM
Originally posted by ZeeGerman


The difference: Afghanistan has nothing to offer - except opium and who is interested in that? Criminals.


According to The Master Plan (cue spooky music), Afghanistan will provide pipeline access to oil in the Caspian Sea.

c0rbin
9th April 2003, 11:36 AM
The difference: Afghanistan has nothing to offer - except opium and who is interested in that? Criminals.
Iraq otoh has oil and lots of it. Not that I'm saying this war was about oil but both the US and the UK will definitely make sure that they gain some control over the oil. Because of this, the interst in stable conditions is high, so some efforts are to be expected.

Nothing happens overnight. Stability is something that people will have to work at--and keep working.

blackpriester
9th April 2003, 11:40 AM
But Luke, you don't need lots of stability for an oil pipeline unless you expect sabotage ;). You need more of a complex order to be set up for the drilling operations ans well maintenance that we're gonna do in Iraq.

Smalso
9th April 2003, 03:27 PM
WTF? I thought the Taliban was defeated; a thing of the past. The people of Afghanistan are free, don't you know?