The recent history of Afghanistan should elicit our compassion, not assault. In 1979, 85,000 Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan, which proved to be the Soviet Union's Vietnam. The Afghan mujahadin fighters protected their homeland against the Soviets with the help of Islamic militants from throughout the Muslim world. President Carter contributed $30 million in U.S. covert aid. Working through the Pakistanis, we eventually dumped billions of dollars in cheap Russian and Chinese armaments throughout Afghanistan in the 1980s. By the Reagan years the mujahadin were receiving $250 million a year to oppose the Russian escalation to 115,000 troops. The mujahadin pushed back the Soviets, reportedly killing 15,000 to 35,000 soldiers in the process, and contributing to the eventual downfall of the Soviet Union.
After the Russians pulled out, Afghanistan was left with millions of live land mines scattered throughout the country. The Afghans have undertaken the largest mine removal operation in the world. So far they have removed 200,000 mines and unexploded ordnance from their homeland. As well as being crippled by war, mines, and drought, Afghanistan is the third poorest country on earth. The superpowers have given the Afghans billions in "aid": arms, mines, and mine removal.
The Taliban (literally "religious students" or "seekers of truth") is not a political party, army, or random splinter group. They are an extreme fundamentalist Islamic movement. They have outlawed music, theater, TV, movies, books, soccer, drinking, photography, as well as schooling, professional work and medical access for women. The Taliban is typical of governments that rise to power in desperately poor, war-torn countries.
Afghanistan is not the only place in the Middle East with terrorists. The U.S. CIA supplied, armed, and trained 3,000 Algerians, 2,000 Egyptians, and hundreds (or thousands) from Yemen, Sudan, Pakistan, Syria and other Muslim states to fight the Russians in Afghanistan. Our unwelcome interventions in Palestine, Iran, Iraq and other countries in the region make much of the Middle East a safe harbor for these U.S.-trained terror experts.
By declaring war, some think we can throw justice and due process out the window and bomb Afghanistan, rather than pursue through legal means those who committed the crime. The 9/11 terrorist network must be apprehended, given a fair trial, and sentenced accordingly. In addition to killing thousands of Americans, the 9/11 terrorists attacked U.S. multinational corporate interests. Through due process, Timothy McVeigh was sentenced to death for his act of terrorism against America. His act was murderous, but he was no threat to the stock market, or banking interest rates.
A law just signed by President Bush, euphemistically called the Patriot Act, has brought our democracy to a new low. For instance, it gives Attorney General John Ashcroft the power to label environmental and social activists "terrorists," and to act to suppress direct actions against oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the destruction of old-growth forests in the Pacific northwest, or drilling in the oil reserves along our coastlines. These nonviolent "crimes" can carry penalties ranging from five to thirty-five years imprisonmentÑincluding the seizure of assets belonging to any organization accused of such "crimes"Ñwhether committed before or after the law went into effect. (Earth First! is one of the groups on the FBI list of "terrorist" organizations.) It is worth remembering that Hitler rose to power legally by convincing Germans to give up their civil liberties after a terrorist bombed one of their federal buildings.
If the Bush Administration's campaign is to be successful, it must have an alternate government sympathetic to its interests installed in Afghanistan in place of the Taliban. The Bush Administration's oil interestsÑincreased access to central Asian oilfields and a pipeline to bring that oil through AfghanistanÑrepresent the kind of conflict of interest that would disqualify any U.S. judge from sitting on a case. Bush is directly aiding the Northern Alliance, an anti-Taliban mujahadin group that even the U.S. government has acknowledged to have a long history of involvement in terror campaigns. Bush wants to stop terrorism by continuing to arm, train, and provide "aid" for Afghan terrorists who supposedly are on "our side," just like Osama bin Laden and the mujahadin were supposed to be in the 1980s.
This situation calls for the courage to act firmly, guided by intelligence, experience, and knowledge of and compassion for the many diverse peoples of the world. Kofi Annan, the Secretary of the United Nations, recently received the Nobel Peace prize for working for justice throughout the world while not backing down from oppressive regimes. The United Nations should oversee any investigation and police action that crosses national borders. International terrorism is an issue for the World Court. Demand a criminal justice response, rather than military action, in response to the tragedy of September 11th. Now is the time for justice, not acts of vengeance that will further destabilize Afghanistan and other countries in the region and lead to more desperate acts of terrorism.
What You Can Do
Inform yourself through alternative media; try www.indymedia.org, www.commondreams.org, and KZYX and Z at 88.3, 90.7, 91.5 FM.
Take a stand. Vigils for peace are held: In Ukiah every Friday, 5-6 pm, in front of the Courthouse. In Boonville every Tuesday, 5-6 pm, in front of the Post Office. In Mendocino every first Monday of the month, at sunset, at the Peace Plaque on the Headlands. A peace rally is held in front of the Town Hall in Fort Bragg every Saturday at noon.
Women in Black is a movement, active in over 25 countries, of people who stand in silent vigil to oppose violence. All are welcome to join: Willits, every Friday, 5-6 pm, in front of the Post Office on Main Street (459-3451); Fort Bragg, every first Friday of the month, 4:30 pm, in front of the Town Hall (964-7085).
Parents for Peace meets for education and community action in Ukiah. Call 459-4824, or visit anarchamama@yahoo.com
Contact the Mendocino Environmental Center in Ukiah (468-1660) or the Willits Environmental Center (459-4110) to volunteer, get more information or contribute.
Contribute time, research, or money to the groups above.
Write letters to your elected officials to protest the war.
Copyright Mendocino Environmental Center 2001
Permission granted to excerpt or use this article if source is cited