Turning The Clock Back To 2001 - CIA, Others Prepare A New Resistance Against The Taliban
On September 9 2001 Ahmad Shah Massoud, the commander of an anti-Taliban front in north Afghanistan, was killed by two suicide bombers. Massoud, an ethnic Taijik, had fought against the Soviet occupation, then against rival warlords and finally against the Taliban. Massoud and the groups under his command controlled less than 10% of Afghanistan. They were financed by U.S., French and British secret services. (In the late 1990s Amrullah Saleh, Massouds intelligence chief, received CIA training.)
After 9/11 the CIA and U.S. special forces met with Massoud's allies, gave them lots of money to hire more fighters and supported their march on Kabul with massive airstrikes. Two month later the Taliban gave up, went home or retreated to Pakistan. The U.S. installed the various warlords and criminals who had fought under Massoud as the new government.
That was a mistake. It had been the utter criminal behavior of those warlords that had led to public support for the rise of the Taliban in the first place. To install the warlords who looted the country as government guaranteed that the Taliban would come back.
By 2006 the Taliban were back. Since then they have regained control of more than half of Afghanistan. Despite the enormous amount of 'western' firepower the U.S.and its allies applied they found no way to prevent the reestablishment of the Taliban's rule. Finally President Trump negotiated a ceasefire with the Taliban that would allow a retreat from Afghanistan without taking further casualties.
Yesterday the last U.S. soldiers left Kandahar airport, once the largest U.S. base in south Afghanistan:
The United States has completed its withdrawal from Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan, once the second largest military base in the country for US forces, officials said Friday.Kandahar province was the birthplace of the Taliban and has in recent months seen intense clashes between the resurgent militants and Afghan forces.
US airstrikes were launched from the base just last week to help Afghan forces push back a major Taliban offensive.
“They have not officially handed over the base to us but I can confirm they left the base on Wednesday,” said Khoja Yaya Alawi, a spokesman for the Afghan army in Kandahar.
“They have handed over all the facilities to Afghan forces,” added Massoud Pashtun, the director of Kandahar Airport.
The retreat from Afghanistan does not sit well with the CIA and other secret services. They know that the Taliban will soon overwhelm the Afghan government and again rule the country. But they want to keep their foothold in Afghanistan to continue their meddling and to act against various presumed enemies be they Iran, Pakistan or China. There is also the drug business which makes for some nice off-the-books funding.
They now think about turning the situation back to September 2001 and to have a do over:
Western spy agencies are evaluating and courting regional leaders outside the Afghan government who might be able to provide intelligence about terrorist threats long after U.S. forces withdraw, according to current and former American, European and Afghan officials.
...
Among the candidates being considered today for intelligence gathering is the son of Ahmad Shah Massoud, the famed Afghan fighter who led fighters against the Soviets in the 1980s and then against the Taliban as head of the Northern Alliance the following decade. The son — Ahmad Massoud, 32 — has spent the last few years trying to revive the work of his father by assembling a coalition of militias to defend Afghanistan’s north.
Afghans, American and European officials say there is no formal cooperation between Mr. Massoud and Western intelligence agencies, though some have held preliminary meetings. While there is broad agreement within the C.I.A. and France’s D.G.S.E. that he could provide intelligence, opinions diverge on whether Mr. Massoud, who is untested as a leader, would be able to command an effective resistance.
Why the hell do the 'western' secret services want an 'effective resistance' against Taliban rule in Afghanistan? Why can't they, after more than 40 years, at least for once stop messing up that country?
Massoud junior was educated in Iran and Britain:
After finishing his secondary school education in Iran, Massoud spent a year on a military course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. In 2012, he commenced an undergraduate degree in War Studies at the King's College, London where obtained his bachelor's degree in 2015. He obtained his master's degree in International Politics from the City, University of London in 2016.
Sandhurst and Kings College may give a good education when one prepares to be a high level poodle for the former empire. But it does not qualify to lead anyone in Afghanistan. Unlike his father Massoud junior has never fought in a war or even against a competing warlord. He has zero street cred.
Still, some 'western' officials want to support Massoud in the new civil war he envisions:
Now, various allied governments and officials have different views of Mr. Massoud and the viability of his movement. The French, who were devoted supporters of his father, see his efforts as full of promise to mount a real resistance to Taliban control.David Martinon, the French ambassador to Kabul, said he has watched Mr. Massoud closely over the last three years, and nominated him for a trip to Paris to meet with French leaders, including the president. “He is smart, passionate and a man of integrity who has committed himself to his country,” Mr. Martinon said.
Washington is more divided, and some government analysts do not think Mr. Massoud would be able to build an effective coalition.
Despite that someone is secretly financing him:
In recent months, Mr. Massoud’s rhetoric has grown tougher, lashing out at [President Ashraf] Ghani during a recent ceremony in Kabul, and his efforts to secure international support more aggressive. In addition to reaching out to the United States, Britain and France, Mr. Massoud has courted India, Iran and Russia, according to people familiar with his pursuits. Afghan intelligence documents suggest that Mr. Massoud is purchasing weapons — through an intermediary — from Russia.
Have the 'western' services learned nothing during the last 20 years? What is the purpose of financing a resistance against the Taliban? What please is their desired end state for Afghanistan and is that even theoretically achievable?
We may not like the way the Taliban will rule Afghanistan. But they have proven to be the only force that is able to create a somewhat stable and peaceful environment for the people in that country.
Why can't we just leave it at that?
Posted by b on May 14, 2021 at 17:51 UTC | Permalink
thanks b.... that is like asking the intel agencies to roll over and die - not a bad idea in itself given how they have grown to such a large and dominant role in western gov'ts, but also an unlikely thing unless something comes along to change direction of how western gov'ts work at this point...
the cia needs to be taken down.. not sure how that happens though..
and it has never been explained to me why having the taliban rule afghanistan is such a horrible thing... instead the west are always looking for some western educated person to lead, so that they can ultimately control the direction of the country... it ain't working, but they will continue to try.. installing dictators is the preferred way of the west..
Posted by: james | May 14 2021 18:12 utc | 2
Posted by: james | May 14 2021 18:12 utc | 2
... the cia needs to be taken down.. not sure how that happens though.
We all know how it ended last time when someone said they would "splinter the CIA into a thousand pieces and scatter it into the wind."
Posted by: One Too Many | May 14 2021 18:17 utc | 3
Afghanistan was very cool for travel in the 60's and 70's.
Then things changed.
Posted by: Duncan Idaho | May 14 2021 18:23 utc | 4
Afganistán is a mess. Time will tell if the Talibán can eliminate the meddlers - my money is on home team.
Meanwhile back at the ranch it looks like the Isrealis are working themselves up to implement their own Final Solutión.
Posted by: c | May 14 2021 18:28 utc | 5
@4 Duncan Idaho - What a tragedy. It's sad to see the country used as a battlefield for foreign intrigue. Here is some footage of Afghanistan for the 70s. It looks like it was a neat place to travel. Sad what has been going on for so long.
Posted by: lex talionis | May 14 2021 18:34 utc | 6
In 2001 the so called Northern Alliance of Massoud received support chiefly from Iran, Russia and India. The USA, UK and France played at best a marginal role if any at all. The USA did more or less ignore Afghanistan between 1991 and 2001.
Posted by: m | May 14 2021 18:34 utc | 7
Yeah James....taking the Company down didnt work out so well for the last guy. It would have to be resistance on a mass scale with bullshit detectors and intelligence...in short all out covert war. Congressional hearings dont do anything.
I rather doubt the Company and all the minions that feed of the teet will be leaving. It may be more a question where they circle the wagons. There is far too much at stake.
---Pecking at the Silk Road
---Beachhead to Persia
---Dope
---MIC trillions$$$
---Poking the Bear in the 'Stans!
---Minerals
---Prolly a buncha other stuff
Posted by: Chevrus | May 14 2021 18:41 utc | 8
Organization like CIA is not homogeneous, persistent, learning organism. It is morphing, degenerating bureaucracy populated with ever larger number of newcomer clowns that, when facing a problem, look around and ask "hey, how did my predecessors solve this? by financing anti taliban force? great! it worked once (not really, but who cares :) we'll do it again, its easy, and we don't even need to sell it!"
Posted by: Abe | May 14 2021 18:42 utc | 9
Which reminds me: wasn't there that crazy woke chick in CIA promo video everyone was laughing about weeks ago? There, a newcomer clown.
Posted by: Abe | May 14 2021 18:49 utc | 10
I know this is OT, but this article needs to be front and center for world consumption; sorry all for the OT.
IT’S APARTHEID. NAKED, UNABASHED APARTHEID
No more wishy-washy doublespeak about "clashes" between Israeli forces and the Palestinians they're brutalizing and expelling from their homes. No more pretending "both sides" have equal power. The evil of apartheid is staring us in the face—call it by its name.
BY SERAJ ASSI
MAY 13, 2021
https://therealnews.com/its-apartheid-naked-unabashed-apartheid
Posted by: vetinLA | May 14 2021 18:58 utc | 11
With at least 10,ooo contractors in Afghanistan the U$A isn't leaving. It's more theater for the American " I don't give a f###" masses.
Posted by: vetinLA | May 14 2021 19:03 utc | 12
i didn't say how to do it, or how it was going to happen.. only that it needs to happen.. alternatively it looks like it - cia - might actually take down the usa, which would be ironic or not depending on how one looks at this.. it was an inside job - 9-11, and etc. etc... and the inside job seems to have worked out for the banking, military and oil complex.. until something in all this changes it will be business as usual and no one ought to be surprised.. other countries working on a new financial order that dethrones the us$ is paramount.. although it seems like a slow process, it seems to be happening.. might take another 20-40 years, but i kind of doubt it the way things are going here.. more like 10 or 20 is my read.. but i am an optimist..
Posted by: james | May 14 2021 19:13 utc | 13
The NOrthern Alliance was kept in business by India, Iran, and Russia. M. K. BHADRAKUMAR (https://www.indianpunchline.com/) was responsible for much of the legwork to keep the alliance going.
Posted by: phodges | May 14 2021 19:17 utc | 14
Mr. B
Many many countries have experienced periods of dissolution at the center and chaos everywhere else at one time or another.
The cure has always been administered by a ruthless efficient man who destroyed the pretenders to the legitimate authority and made himself one.
It happened in China, in Iran, and partly in Afghanistan.
There is not reason to expect Afghanistan will escape that fate.
In Muslim states, there obtains a profound disagreement on what even constitutes the criteria for a legitimate authority to be so organized.
The medieval criterion was very simple - enforce Sharia.
With that criteria, any cruel, barbaric, ruthless, mean tyranny could be accommodated.
The Taliban, in practice, were not just upholding Sharia - which has no stipulations against education of girls or women working at trades or a number of other occupations.
Taliban were also following a Revolutionary Agenda - which was to go back and live under tents in order to recapitulate the Pure Islam of the Age of the Prophet (just like so many Jews go to Israel to live the Pure Jewish Life).
In my opinion, the Taliban Emirate II will come to pass, but like all the Arab Dictatorships, will suffer from continuous instability.
Posted by: fyi | May 14 2021 19:20 utc | 15
I beg to differ with you B, but I really think Iran would do a great job of managing Afghanistan... and be much better i.e. more enlightened in the way they run the place versus the Taliban. I don't like the idea of the Taliban being in charge again. And, by the way, I think the whole idea of a US retreat is designed to create a new front on Iran's East for Iran's mullahs - to distract them, and bleed them away from Iraq and the Levant. But, having said that, I do think if Iran was given a carte blanche they could clean up this mess. They speak the language and know how to deal with the disparate tribes in the region. Plus, eradicating Opium is to Iran's advantage (given the huge volume of addicts in Iran). It's been Iran, NOT the West, that has paid the heaviest price for Afghanistan record opium production.
Posted by: Ayatoilet | May 14 2021 19:24 utc | 16
Ayatoilet
Iran cannot govern Afghanistan - that is a Sunni polity that does not want the Shia.
If the Afghans convert to Shia, then may be.
Posted by: fyi | May 14 2021 19:42 utc | 18
The immediate benefit to the CIA is the heroin trade and resulting money, as well as polluting the Central Asia Stans and Russia with the heroin.
Long term, the US desires the mineral riches of Afghanistan, worth, some say, well over 13 trillion dollars, many of the minerals strategic. They also want to keep China away from those minerals.
Afghanistan is a keystone for US covert and overt operations containing and destabilizing all the neighboring nations, especially China and Iran. They also, because of CSTO, can create problems for Russia who has military alliance with the Stans.
So, short term, mid term and long term, the US will never leave Afghanistan.
The pullout is political. The military and the CIA never will leave.
The civilian rule of the military is an illusion.
Posted by: Red Ryder | May 14 2021 20:06 utc | 20
Please name a nation that the U$A has withdrawn its military forces from after establishing military bases, other than Vietnam. Still in Germany, Japan, Newfoundland... 800 military bases... Welcome to the Dollar Empire.
Afghanistan is an unsinkable aircraft carrier for the U$A and NATO in Eurasia to challenge China, Russia, Iran and BRI. Is U$A’s complete withdrawal happening? There is a huge gap between rhetoric and reality.
Various intelligence agencies that let their populace be monetary enslaved and looted, and financial frauds continue are failed entities and have zero CREDIBILITY.
Do these intelligence or military chiefs work in the best interest of their nations or of the world financiers/Financial Empire? Is the purpose of the U$A military & agencies to defend the nation & people or act as mercenaries for the Financial Empire? After leaving their chief position, most of them join the FINANCIAL sector.
David Petraeus joined KKR (Bilderberg), George Tenet (Allen & Co), John Deutch (Citi), James Woolsey (Lux Capital), Jonathan Evans (HSBC), Tommy Franks (Bank of America) ... Which firm did Colin Powell join?
No need to take them down. Just pray that they’re are out of LUCK. What happens when they’re out of luck? “In God We Trust”
Posted by: Max | May 14 2021 20:25 utc | 21
Is anyone not curious to know how Ahmad Massoud Junior managed to attend the military college in Sandhurst and then obtain a bachelor's degree in War Studies at King's College in Britain? Who paid for his accommodation while he was living and studying in Britain? I doubt that Sandhurst is run as a public institution.
While we're on the subject of who paid for Massoud's studies and boarding, we should ask also who's paying for Alexei Navalny's daughter Daria to attend Stanford University in California, a private university.
Posted by: Jen | May 14 2021 20:40 utc | 22
...
After finishing his secondary school education in Iran, Massoud spent a year on a military course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. In 2012, he commenced an undergraduate degree in War Studies at the King's College, London where obtained his bachelor's degree in 2015. He obtained his master's degree in International Politics from the City, University of London in 2016.
...
David Martinon, the French ambassador to Kabul, said he has watched Mr. Massoud closely over the last three years, and nominated him for a trip to Paris to meet with French leaders, including the president. “He is smart, passionate and a man of integrity who has committed himself to his country,” Mr. Martinon said.
Washington is more divided, and some government analysts do not think Mr. Massoud would be able to build an effective coalition.
...
Perfect!
Mr Massoud has studied war and has a Master's Degree in International Politics from the City, University of London in 2016...
...aka formal 'qualifications' in NewSpeak of the Think Tank variety.
The Christian Crusaders seeking a mouth piece to defend yet another FUKUS clusterfuck in AfPak were probably falling over themselves to recruit Massoud Jr.
Anyone want to bet a million bucks that Massoud can't lie his face off without Blinken?
The icing on this artificially-coloured/flavoured confection is that the Racist Supremacist Yankees "do not think Mr. Massoud would be able to blah blah blah."
So, plenty of ambiguity cuteness before the renewed murdering in AfPak gets off the ground?
The Christians are relentless in their See Something > Own Something time warp.
Posted by: Hoarsewhisperer | May 14 2021 20:46 utc | 23
From the Contras forward, the CIA has protected narcotics traffic in the U.S. for a cut of the profits and their support in the imperialistic enterprise. Why has the Afghanistan war lasted so long? It is no war. It is a profit center for the CIA's narcotics trade.
Posted by: Bluetooth | May 14 2021 21:05 utc | 25
Why the hell do the 'western' secret services want an 'effective resistance' against Taliban rule in Afghanistan? Why can't they, after more than 40 years, at least for once stop messing up that country?
Because they don't want Saudi Arabia the Taliban to send 19 crazies to the USA with boxcutters again. The "homeland" has been 100% safe since the USSA has occupied Afghanistan!!!
Posted by: K_C_ | May 14 2021 21:06 utc | 26
Posted by: One Too Many | May 14 2021 18:17 utc | 3
Definitely part of the reason, anyway. I've read some interesting stuff about the depletion allowance and the inter-woven interests of Texas oil men and the CIA with a nexus in Dallas, as well. We all know that every incoming president is shown the events publicly available in the Zapruder film from a different angle on their first day in office.
Posted by: K_C_ | May 14 2021 21:14 utc | 27
The American Empire relies on two interacting facets- maintaining the dollar as the world’s reserve currency and the world’s strongest military, which is used to threaten and when necessary, bomb and destroy any country that dares block US imperial ambitions. Since 2001, US taxpayers have provided the Pentagon with $14 trillion + an additional $7 trillion to support ongoing wars/strategic debacles in Afghanistan (longest war in US history), Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen, from which they have derived little imperial rent. After expending so much financial and human capital, the Pentagon is incapable of extricating itself from these conflicts, as doing so is an admission of failure and by extension military weakness. This is why there so much push-back on Biden’s plan to evacuate all US troops from Afghanistan. We are seeing the continuing decline of late-stage American capitalism, which has progressed to the point where the very survival of the American Empire requires constant debt monetization (aka money printing) to prop up financial markets, Pentagon and support ongoing wars. This is becoming increasingly tenuous as this orgy of money printing and debt is threatening to derail the dollars role as the world reserve currency. As the economic vise continues to tighten, we expect to see US foreign policy become even more reckless and dangerous.
If Russia is really involved then the only reason possible is to contain the inexorable rise of China in the region.
The real reason Putin supported the American intervention in Afghanistan after 9/11 was because it didn't (and still doesn't) have the power and the resources to hegemonize the entire Heartland alone against Chinese pressure. The anti-terrorist narrative was a mere façade.
Afghanistan is that little dark cloud on the horizon that shows the abyss that separates the Soviet Union from the Russian Federation, and why Putin has frequently pointed the fall of the USSR as the historical event he would avert if he could go back in time. It also explains why Putin, besides all the insults and humiliations the West has been imposing on the Russian Federation, still tries to be gentle and patient with it (i.e. has to swallow his pride and go on with the standard diplomacy).
On french TV, Massoud junior, 2-3 weeks ago
affirms that late father’s vision of a decentralized country on the model of Switzerland is as relevant today as it was twenty years ago. In his view, this model is the only one capable of finally bringing peace.
Yes, in Switzerland as in Afghanistan, you can keep your military guns and practice on Sundays with alumni!
UK Master's Degree don't worth the paper. As b. said, Massoud has zero street cred.
Posted by: Assurancetourix | May 14 2021 21:52 utc | 30
so it is either let the u.s meddle or afghan affairs or taliban, which have historically been a proxy for the pakistani government. unfortunate that afghans can't decide for afghans.
Posted by: f | May 14 2021 22:05 utc | 31
Have you wondered why the Dollar Empire (NATO) maintains these many military bases... It is becoming obvious that it wants to control the global arteries (distribution) through sea, air & land. These military bases are control, choke and check points for its global DOMINANCE.
The Financial (now Dollar $) Empire first acquired money power (world reserve currency) and gained the ability to control global oxygen supply. Then it acquired control over energy supplies by pricing them in its currency, there by gaining control of the international blood supply (energy). Now it wants to control the global ARTERIES to control that blood supply. What next...
All the rhetoric of the Financial Empire leaving a nation are just theatrics. When did it leave a nation, other than Vietnam. Has it left Syria? Why is it in Germany, Japan, Italy and South Korea? Don’t these nations have administrations? “Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.” Got shame?
China & Russia are leading the DE-DOLLARIZATION. Russia is leading the pipelines game. Both are challenging PETRODOLLARS. What next?
Posted by: Max | May 14 2021 22:33 utc | 32
Both are challenging PETRODOLLARS. What next?
Posted by: Max | May 14 2021 22:33 utc | 32
----
They're not really though, are they?
Get back to us when international finance starts denominating large loans in Rubles or RMB/CHY.
Although there's been an increase in the use of RMB/CHY for international credit, it's use is still miniscule compared to the use of the Dollar for such purposes.
And as for the Ruble?
Even Russias don't want rubles
Posted by: Triden | May 14 2021 23:08 utc | 33
Triden | May 14 2021 23:08 utc | 33
What % of Russia’s energy contacts are in non-$, since Jan-2020? Are Russian oil and gas providers actively modifying their existing contracts away from the US$? What is the currency breakup of those contracts? What is the US$ % in Russia’s net reserve?
How big is the Chinese Yuan futures market for oil & gas? In which currency will China pay Iran for its resources? How much currency swap contracts has China done? How many countries in those swaps? This will tell you about the large loans from China & Russia? China is happy to move its earned US$ to other nations, thereby converting them into ASSETS, not fake bills. It doesn’t want to hold US$ anymore. What is China’s NET US$ position?
From the EU:
“Member states should promote wider use of the euro in relations with third countries in field of energy, including in contracts within the framework of bilateral and multilateral international agreements,...The Commission calls on member states to include in their intergovernmental agreements with third countries a model clause, developed by the Commission, related to the use of the euro as default currency”
Posted by: Max | May 15 2021 0:22 utc | 34
The medieval criterion was very simple - enforce Sharia.
With that criteria, any cruel, barbaric, ruthless, mean tyranny could be accommodated.
Posted by: fyi | May 14 2021 19:20 utc | 15
This is an EXTREMELY simplistic view. It is like saying that any greedy thief without scruples can be a CEO of a major corporations. While, as we all know, there are additional requirements as well.
And as for the Ruble?
Even Russias don't want rubles
Posted by: Triden | May 14 2021 23:08 utc | 33
Ruble is floating, so the exchange rate reflect market balance. Inflation and interest rates are quite predictable. Russians who have a choice increasingly keep their money at home.
As an economy, Russia has a problem of dealing with surplus of payments (smaller than the surplus of trade) when keeping money abroad has severe risks, as witnessed by Venezuela that was mercilessly robbed. The solution is to minimize the exposure by reducing foreign debts, so sanctions like "limitations on trade in Russian bonds" are increasingly vacuous.
The second solution is to clip the trade surplus a bit with export taxes.
Posted by: Piotr Berman | May 15 2021 0:34 utc | 35
Actually it would probably be better for Afghanistan if the puppet child sex slaver Quisling warlords fight the Taliban openly now,and are overwhelmed and destroyed, rather than let them remain as a fifth column to be resurrected at a future date.
Posted by: Biswapriya Purkayast | May 15 2021 0:46 utc | 36
Of course there's an exchange rate, there's always an exchange rate. But have you taken a look at it?
https://www.xe.com/currencycharts/?from=USD&to=RUB&view=10Y
Theres been a very steady decline, (ie: great for anyone that wants to exchange dollars for rubles, but few do, hence the decline) over the last 10 years (the max historical data contained at that link)
"Russians who have a choice increasingly keep their money at home."
Lol, seriously?
Has anyone told the Cypriots yet?
Posted by: Triden | May 15 2021 0:52 utc | 37
What % of Russia’s energy contacts are in non-$, since Jan-2020? Are Russian oil and gas providers actively modifying their existing contracts away from the US$? What is the currency breakup of those contracts? What is the US$ % in Russia’s net reserve?
How big is the Chinese Yuan futures market for oil & gas? In which currency will China pay Iran for its resources? How much currency swap contracts has China done? How many countries in those swaps? This will tell you about the large loans from China & Russia? China is happy to move its earned US$ to other nations, thereby converting them into ASSETS, not fake bills. It doesn’t want to hold US$ anymore. What is China’s NET US$ position?
Posted by: Max | May 15 2021 0:22 utc | 34
-------
Thats a list of questions which you certainly would need to supply answers for, in order to provide evidence for your as yet unproven claims.
I'm happy to wait.
Posted by: Triden | May 15 2021 0:55 utc | 38
Mr. Assurancetourix
Yes, an ignorant comment byban ignorant man.
I have heard this multiple times, e.g. Lebanese Christian Falange supporter on the ideal form of government for Lebanon.
Posted by: Fyi | May 15 2021 1:45 utc | 40
I place the blame for the mess in Afghanistan on historic mistakes and a disconnect between CIA policy on the ground and geopolitical policy calculations made by anti Soviet cold war warriors in government in Washington like Brzezinski.
Remembering that politics is the art of the possible, what more geopolitics? Strategy versus practical tactics.
Hence CIA weapons caravans coming in to Afganistan carried opium on the way back to Pakistan. The CIA and the US media knew and reported that. Much like they knew about two way trade of weapons and cocaine in South America.
The Taliban banned opium cultivation and gave Washington support in the UN following the 911 attacks. Banning opium cultivation impoverished the population.
For a detailed account and the far reaching implications of Washington's series of ham fisted policies and stupid behaviour see Alfred W. McCoy's eye opening new book: 'In The Shadows of the American Century, The Rise and Decline of US Global Power.
Posted by: Paul | May 15 2021 2:04 utc | 41
"Russians who have a choice increasingly keep their money at home."
Lol, seriously?
Has anyone told the Cypriots yet?
Posted by: Triden | May 15 2021 0:52 utc | 37
Nice try. I'm sure there aren't any wealthy westerners moving their funds to offshore accounts as well, right?
Now how about the majority of the Russian population, which are lower to middle class. Are they moving their money to Cyprus as well, or anywhere else for that matter? I'll make it easy for you. You don't know because you don't live here among them as I have since the early 2000s.
A bit of history. Back then it was common to see people on the street exchanging rubles to dollars and vice-versa. They provided better rates than the banks and it was a profitable way to make money. Given the (at that time) relatively recent economic collapse and massive devaluation of the currency, no one had confidence in the ruble and would try to keep as much money as they could in dollars, exchanging them into rubles when they needed to.
Fast forward to today. These money changers are nowhere to be seen despite the loss of value vis-a-vis the dollar shortly after Maidan. Why is that if, as you said @33 "Even Russias don't want rubles"? Well, sad to say, for you anyway, the average Russian doesn't agree with you. There is a far greater level of confidence among the population and, quite frankly, I don't know anyone who is actively moving their money out of Russia or converting their rubles into dollars.
For what it's worth, I am also well acquainted with relatively wealthy businessmen here, though not at what some might call the 'oligarch' class, though that's an antiquated term given the reality these days. Anyway, the majority of these businessmen are actively investing in their current businesses and/or starting new ones. Sure seems like a funny way of moving their money to Cyprus, ain't it?
Posted by: Amengar | May 15 2021 2:25 utc | 42
Nice try. I'm sure there aren't any wealthy westerners moving their funds to offshore accounts as well, right?
----
Well there's none of em movin their fortunes in to Russian Rubles, thats for sure
Posted by: Triden | May 15 2021 2:39 utc | 43
Mr.Paul
Taliban banned opium cultivation during a period of draught.
Who is responsible?
Ultimately the Afghan people and their leaders.
What can be done?
Leave Afghanistan alone.
What could be her trajectory?
Partition into a working part as well as dysfunctional part, like Somalia.
Posted by: Fyi | May 15 2021 2:53 utc | 44
why do people keep on writing articles where they feign fake ignorance?
Have the 'western' services learned nothing during the last 20 years? What is the purpose of financing a resistance against the Taliban? What please is their desired end state for Afghanistan and is that even theoretically achievable?
"Why can't we just leave it at that?"
Ok, pretend to be ignorant and I will educate you. USA/France/Western world have lost the game. They know it and we know it(I do, you seem to be ignorant). So the ONLY option left for them is to cause chaos and to stop countries from developing. Thats what USA has been doing for decades. USA can't win, so it will destroy. Thats the best they can do. See how simple it is?
Posted by: Hoyeru | May 15 2021 2:57 utc | 45
Triden @38
“To ask the right question is already half the solution of a problem.”
— C G Jung
I have already done my share of work. Now you do your half of work.
Here are a few additional questions:
– China is the largest buyer of oil. What did Wang Yi discuss about petroyuans in his March Middle East tour? If the Gulf countries make a decision together to sell oil in Renminbis to China then the Dollar Empire is at a huge disadvantage. BTW, why should they sell oil in the US$ to China?
– What deals did Russia offer to Japan early this year? Japan doesn’t want to be a junior partner in the Quad!
– If the petrodollars position was strong then the Dollar Empire won’t care about the Nord Stream 2. Why does it want the EU to buy LNG in the US$?
– China is offering $60 billion in loans to Africa. How about the Dollar Empire?
Just take a look at this image of our debt buyers. Please share your analysis. Let’s see if you can analyze correctly.
Look forward to seeing your half of work.
Posted by: Max | May 15 2021 2:58 utc | 46
The golden days of the Western Parasite Class (WPC) have finally come to the end. The helpless hosts will not pay any more blood and treasure. It's too bad, too sad, but history will (perhaps) continue.
'It had been the utter criminal behavior of those warlords that had led to public support for the rise of the Taliban in the first place.'
There is no public support for any one group and this has always been the case in Afghanistan where people of opposite cultures, values, and histories were thrown together to create Afghanistan as the border between Russian Central Asia and British India.
Taliban never had any public support.
Why the Taliban won?
Taliban came to the scene with fresh new & better weapons and lots and lots of (Gulf) money. Saying they had public support is saying ISIS had public support in Syria for paying folks $800-1500 per month while a Syrian soldier or a civil servant was getting barely $120-200 per month.
Why will Taliban not win this time around?
Russia, China, and Iran would be utterly stupid to let Taliban take over absolutely like the 90s.
Pashtuns, contrary to Hollywood propagation, are not good fighters compared to other under dogs. In the civil war of 90s when everyone fought somewhat evenly after stealing Soviet depots, Hazaras and Tajiks took over many neighborhoods from Pashtuns.
Russia, China, and Iran will not let Pashtuns/Taliban to have the monopoly of weapons in Afg post US withdrawal.
If US really wants to get rid of the Taliban they could simply force the ISI to kill that project like they forced them to cut trade ties with Iran. OR they could provide General Dostum weapons and in no time Taliban will be driven to the Indian Ocean.
The sad thing is that the US does not want the Taliban to die. It has kept them alive for god knows what reason.
Posted by: Afgun | May 15 2021 3:26 utc | 48
What the West is doing is called "Controlled Chaos".
1. Nobody is leaving Afghanistan - the CIA has been there since 1979. Why would they leave in 2021?
2. The Opium business run by the CIA (and EU affiliates) and the Afghan warlords returns $billion per month.
3. Afghanistan has so many natural resources that the West cannot hand over to China in their BRI projects.
4. The BRI project has to be destabilized in order to contain China in the new ongoing Cold War 2.
5. Peace and stability in Afghanistan is not in the interest of the masters of the universe.
Yes, we are back to 2001.
Posted by: Nostradamus | May 15 2021 3:48 utc | 50
Triden @43
Way to go with a strawman.
Maybe you can enlighten me as to why the US government found it necessary to recently introduce new sanctions prohibiting financial institutions from purchasing ruble denominated sovereign bonds if no one wants to buy them? Perhaps you may want to have a chat with certain people who would not entirely agree with you, for example someone like Jim Rogers?
In any case this is not the topic of this thread and I don't want to further contribute to derailing it. I would suggest you dispense with the CNN/US propaganda talking points and educate yourself a little bit before continuing to push nonsense narratives.
Posted by: Amengar | May 15 2021 4:15 utc | 51
@ 51 amenger... thanks for yours and max's posts... .. that doesn't look likely given tridens comments combined with his hostile attitude.. and although 5 years doesn't make a trend, the us-ruble chart triden provided has stalled the last 5 years, and hasn't returned to the hi it made in january of 2016... now whether that has anything to do with syria - ukraine, or whatnot, it is true what you and max point to as a sea change in the making here...
Posted by: james | May 15 2021 4:22 utc | 52
and it would explain the need to turn the clock back here in afganistan, and pretty well everywhere else, cause the clock is indeed ticking down in the wrong direction..
Posted by: james | May 15 2021 4:23 utc | 53
Posted by: Fyi | May 15 2021 2:53 utc | 44
OK Fyi,
you ask?
Who is responsible?
Ultimately the Afghan people and their leaders.
What can be done?
I suggest basing the Afghan economy on the traditional staple crop, opium. Value add that at a number of facilities and sell the product on the world market ---- LEGALLY.
I don't think big Pharma would approve THAT.
Posted by: Paul | May 15 2021 6:16 utc | 54
For the first time in the history of polling on the planet, Afghan people believe that their next 5 years are going to be worse than right now. It means they have lost even hope.
Posted by: A | May 15 2021 7:34 utc | 55
You have to wonder about the internal decision making process in spookland. Obviously Afghanistan provides an ideal location for making trouble in central asia for China, Russia and Iran. Ideal, except that the locals don't want them there.
Posted by: Johny Conspiranoid | May 15 2021 8:20 utc | 56
James @ 13, cia - might actually take down the usa, <= many Americans feel that has already happened.
Afghanistan is not important to America.. not important to the USA, but it is very important to the Oligarch who harvest the benefit of a taxpayer financed army that protects the private interest of the Oligarch in Afghanistan.
Posted by: snake | May 15 2021 10:53 utc | 57
I've always thought that Afghanistan is less of a country in itself and more a space defined by the point at which the surrounding countries found political control was impossible.
Posted by: Bill Jones | May 15 2021 12:36 utc | 58
Who was/is messing up Afghanistan most: Pakistan or the US? B chooses b and I choose a.
Pakistan can get away with anything in Western eyes: it seems their generals,spies and leaders are held up to some low, infant standard although they have one hand on a nuclear rocket arsenal button and the other on one of their wives throat.
Posted by: Antonym | May 15 2021 13:29 utc | 59
Sahib needs someone to talk to so Massoud and his ilk always find a reception
CIA has long tenure and institutional inertia. It is not an independent power. It is hardly a rogue. More like a working committee employed by your owners.
Posted by: oldhippie | May 15 2021 14:40 utc | 60
Mr. Bill Jones
Yes, I agree for the most part and in the absence of contemporary equivalents of ruthless and efficient and capable men such as the late Shah Abbas of Safavi, the late Nader Shah of Afshar, and the late Agha Mohammad Khan of Qajar.
I think in the American invasion and occupation of Afghanistan we also can see exposed the theoretical and practical limitations of the political philosophies of the Western Christians.
Posted by: Fyi | May 15 2021 14:54 utc | 61
Mr. Afgun
Iran cannot do anything to stymie the restoration of Taliban (and Pakistan) rule in Kabul.
The candle is not worth the game.
My sole hope is for Iran to grant Iranian citizenship to at least the Shia so they can live their lives in peace and in tranquility inside Iran.
Posted by: Fyi | May 15 2021 14:58 utc | 62
Posted by: vetinLA | May 14 2021 18:58 utc | 11.
Why don't we call things what they are?
I insist on it sir. The fascists are winning.
Posted by: David G Horsman | May 15 2021 16:56 utc | 63
David G Horsman | May 15 2021 16:56 utc | 63
In the USA the fascists always win. Always.
Posted by: corvo | May 15 2021 17:06 utc | 64
"What please is their desired end state for Afghanistan and is that even theoretically achievable?"
They don't have a "desired end state for Afghanistan." They could care less about Afghanistan. Their only interest is in maintaining their strategic position.
Posted by: Steverino | May 15 2021 18:11 utc | 65
@ 57 snake.. true... however most don't think of the cia taking down the us. it was a slower, but now a faster moving thing at present as i see it..
Posted by: james | May 15 2021 20:33 utc | 66
Posted by: Paul | May 14 2021 21:31 utc | 28
While I cant disagree with this too much this 'Paul' isn't me.
Posted by: Paul | May 15 2021 21:14 utc | 67
Further to my post @ 41 Here is an excellent article by Prof. Alfred W McCoy. I have a number of his incredible books, one of them is hardly ever mentioned, 'Drug Traffic, Narcotics and Organised Crime in Australia.'
https://tomdispatch.com/the-true-meaning-of-the-afghan-withdrawal/
See Tom Dispatch to read how the CIA tried to ban McCoy's book 'The Politics of Heroin in Southeast Asia.'
Posted by: Paul | May 15 2021 22:07 utc | 68
- The US may abandon the Kandahar (military) base but what about the Bagram air base in northern Afghanistan ?
- Massoud junior is an ethnic Taijik. Perhaps he is usefull to control Northern Afghanistan.
Posted by: Willy2 | May 16 2021 9:09 utc | 69
Willy2 | May 16 2021 9:09 utc | 69
Bagram- => Camp Bond Steel (Kosova) were always touted as a major drug route into Europe. (CIA again). (or possibly also into the Caucus. via Another US base.)
Posted by: Stonebird | May 16 2021 9:52 utc | 70
Talking about drug business, how could an Italian man, Giuseppe Romeo, live in Germany, travel regularly to the Netherlands, Italy and Spain, and manage to transit 40 kg of cocaine from the NL to Milano every week during a so-called year long "lockdown"?
https://www.20min.ch/fr/story/un-important-fugitif-de-la-mafia-remis-par-lespagne-a-litalie-630750525468
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%27Ndrangheta
Posted by: Mina | May 16 2021 10:42 utc | 71
Poppy production in Afghanistan slowed down to a fraction of what it used to be because of fentenal being shipped out of china.
Posted by: Bob | May 18 2021 17:05 utc | 72
The comments to this entry are closed.
"What please is their desired end state for Afghanistan and is that even theoretically achievable?"
Chaos, as it always is
Posted by: Bluedotterel | May 14 2021 18:09 utc | 1