An Afghan-American speaks

[ciphergoth]

Mindless link propogation: katyha posted this, and I thought I'd propogate it. Excellent stuff.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2001/09/14/afghanistan/index.html

We're flirting with a world war between Islam and the West. And guess what: That's bin Laden's program. That's exactly what he wants. That's why he did this. Read his speeches and statements. It's all right there.

Comments

are we sure this isn't a pen name?

[hbergeronx.livejournal.com]

I googled around in an attempt to find out- it seems there is a Mir Tamim Ansary, who has written a series of elementary-school level books on a vast variety of subjects- at least one reviewed to be poorly written... see here (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1575729229/qid=1000920346/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_1_6/107-9713776-8382128). It concerns me how fast this little snippet was passed around, appearing simultaneously on a number of third-tier web publications and as a chain letter emailed widely. From snippets of the other text I've seen- and again, these are only impressions, this is a mediocre writer using the fact that they are half-Afghani to propel a droll career in writing. How this person has insight into Bin Laden's program or agenda is beyond me.
I'm just as concerned, perhaps more, than the next person that the USA make an effort to behave ethically in the world. I'm always suspicious of the motives of a writer. But just because a source is "independent" or "alternative" does not make it more accurate or useful.

Re: are we sure this isn't a pen name?

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

I don't think he's trying to persuade us on the basis of his writing ability, or (more than incidentally) by his origin; I'd be surprised to learn that any of his assertions about life in Afghanistan aren't true. He's making a case for bin Laden's possible motivation, the most plausible I've heard posited so far.

Re: are we sure this isn't a pen name?

[hbergeronx.livejournal.com]

I doubt his ability to comment on life in Afghanistan since in other interviews the last I think he's been there is 1973(? late 70's?) when he left as a teenager. I strongly suspect that is pre-Mujahadeen, pre-Taliban. His assertions are not derived from experience. His knowledge of the motivation of Bin Laden is no better than yours or mine, IMO. Bin Laden arrived in Afghanistan in the late 80's, IIRC.

correction

[hbergeronx.livejournal.com]

Bin Laden arrived in the early 80's.

Re: are we sure this isn't a pen name?

[booklectica]

I agree. I think it's a well-written article, but it's the content that's important, and I don't see any reason to disbelieve his basic assertions.

I found this on an lj antiwar community, from http://www.gandhiinstitute.org/ - by the grandson of Gandhi.

We saw some people in Iraq and Palestine and I dare say many other countries rejoicing over the tragedies at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. It horrified us, as it should. But let us not forget that we do the same thing. When Israel bombs the Palestinians we either
rejoice or show no compassion. Our attitude is that they deserve what they get. When the Palestinians bomb the Israelis we are indignant and condemn them as vermin who need to be eliminated. We reacted without compassion when we bombed the cities of Iraq. I was among the millions in the United States who sat glued to the
television and watched the drama as though it was a made for television film.

Thousands of innocent men, women and children were being blown to bits and, instead of feeling sorry for them, we marveled at the efficiency of our military. For more than ten years we have continued to wreak havoc in Iraq ? an estimated 50,000 children die every year because of sanctions that we have imposed ? and it hasn't moved us to compassion. All this is done, we are told, because we want to get rid of the Satan called Sadam Hussein.

Now we are getting ready to do this all over again to get rid of another Satan called Osama bin Laden. We will bomb the cities of Afghanistan because they harbor the Satan and in the process we will help create a thousand other bin Ladens.

sour grapes?

[hbergeronx.livejournal.com]

I can see at least one reason to doubt his basic assertions: sour grapes. His father was apparently a government official of some rank in the government and was, from the sounds of it, fleeing Afghanistan just before the arrival of Soviet troops and subsequently the Mujahadeen. He might have had his otherwise pleasant teenage years shattered by war, and is (rightfully) upset. But it does not make his words any more convincing. He resorts to bland allegory to a demonic figure (Hitler) and asserts that there is no popular support for the Taliban. I for one, feel that perhaps the Taliban might have popular support in Afghanistan, and at minimum have a right to operate their country as they please, if they in fact do have popular support. I am vociferously against german and american christian missionaries acting under the guise of aid/relief workers trying to sow christianity there. He also suggests that Bin Laden has "a billion soldiers". If they are talking about the righteous expulsion of western profiteers and puppeteers, yes perhaps- it is akin to the Indian expulsion of British Colonialism. But as a political movement, Islam is not one voice and will never be one voice- to raise the spectre of a united Islam under Bin Laden, and all we have to do is drop a few bombs in the desert, is tantamount to invoking a boogeyman.
Further: if Bin Laden really does think that he can win the war, if he believes he is righteous, then why deny his involvement? He can hasten the war against Islam faster by sowing less doubt, no? And who's to say a united islamic front against the west is a *bad* thing?
You cannot want the removal of Bin Laden and be anti-war at the same time. Being against taking action is tantamount to accepting things as they are, no? And for all the brainpower at bat, why is it that I hear only two voices- pro and anti war? Is there no sensible middle ground? alternative?