http://www.dawn.com/2001/11/12/op.htm#3
Why bomb civilians?
By Eric S. Margolis, Dawn, 11/12
The 21st century went to war against the 11th Century in Afghanistan
last week. The 11th century won.
US warplanes cluster-bombed the usual natives, but the intensive air
attacks failed to dislodge Taliban tribal warriors from positions
north of Kabul.
Osama bin Laden was not found. Hundreds of Afghan civilians were
killed by off-target American bombs. The Red Cross in Kabul was hit
for a second time. US aircraft attempted to assassinate Mulla Omar,
Taliban's leader, but failed and killed his young son and two
brothers. A major, 100-man US commando raid was a failure. Taliban
very likely shot down a US helicopter.
Mass defections from Taliban predicted by Washington's 'experts,
didn't happen. Afghans flocked to join Taliban. Thousands of Pahtun
tribesmen from Pakistan crossed into Afghanistan over the fabled
Malakand Pass to fight the American invaders.
In this same region during the early 20th century, British colonial
troops battled two notorious Islamic devils, the Osama bin Ladens of
their day: the ferocious but elusive Fakir of Ipi, and that scourge of
Victorian imperialism, the 'Mad Mullah,' who led 20,000 wild Pashtun
holy warriors down the Malakand to drive the infidel 'farangi' from
Peshawar and the lands of Islam. Peshawar was only saved by British
warplanes and artillery.
America's new Afghan allies, the Northern Alliance, a motley,
Russian-created force of former communists, opium dealers, bandits,
and unwarlike tribesmen, struck ferocious poses for gullible western
TV teams, but failed to advance an inch. Meanwhile, the US bombing of
Afghanistan's main cities created many thousands more refugees at a
time when four million Afghans are starving.
Not exactly a proud week for American arms. Operation Ultimate Hubris
was off to a poor start.
At the Pentagon, spokesman Rear Admiral John Stufflebeem admitted with
exasperation that Taliban "are proving to be tough warriors."
Arrogance and ignorance are a deadly combination. Unfortunately, they
are often hallmarks of US foreign policy. The Pentagon brass and
President George Bush should have read a book about Afghanistan before
launching a war against a fierce nation about which few in Washington
know anything.
Blinded by rage and the need to avenge the frightful crimes committed
on September 11, the US charged into Afghanistan with no plan of
action, and no exit strategy. Washington has every right to bring
terrorists to justice through police and intelligence operations. But
not to launch a general war against Afghans who had nothing to do with
attacks on America.
Who will replace Taliban? The Northern Alliance's Uzbeks, Tajiks, and
Hazaras are feuding. When Tajik forces last ruled Kabul, they battled
Uzbeks and Pashtuns, killed tens of thousands of civilians, and left
the city in ruins. The late Tajik warlord, dashing Ahmad Masoud,
assassinated on Sept. 9, was fawned on by the western media and hailed
as 'the lion of Panjsher.' If he was the Lion of Panjsher, then I'm
the Lion of Kabul. Masoud was hated by most non-Tajik Afghans as a
traitor and long-time collaborator with the Soviets, Russians, and
KGB. I recall vividly when he abandoned the jihad and went over to the
Soviets.
The Uzbek leader, Rashid Dostum, a former communist warlord, is a
blood-thirsty criminal, mass murderer, and Washington's new best
friend. Dostum unleashed his feared Uzbek-Mongol 'jawzjani' militia
against Kabul in an orgy of slaughter, pillage and mass rape.
Washington's main Pashtun ally, Abdul Haq, was captured by Taliban
last week and promptly executed.
To end the rapine and chaos, Pakistani intelligence helped create a
force of religious seminarians, or Talibs, many of them orphans left
from the struggle against Soviet occupation that killed 1.5 million
Afghans. Taliban defeated the Northern Alliance and brought order -
albeit a harsh, medieval order, to Afghanistan - but a traditional
tribal order no different from the rest of Afghanistan, and many parts
of Iran, Pakistan, and rural India.
Taliban will probably be driven from Kabul. But Taliban represents
Pashtuns, half the nation's population. The Talibs vow to fight from
the mountains, and I certainly believe them. Who will keep a pro-US,
pro-Russian regime in power in Kabul? American troops will likely be
required. How will the American garrison be supplied? Just like the
imperial British invaders, who were twice defeated by the Afghans, US
forces will have to rely on vulnerable land supply lines at great
distances from their depots that cross narrow mountain passes.
The other alternative, air supply of an American garrison in Kabul, is
a recipe for a Dienbienphu-like disaster. The Soviet Red Army tried
everything from carpet bombing to poison gas and biological warfare to
break the Afghans, but failed. Soviet garrisons were isolated and
chewed up, one by one. I was in the field with Pashtun warriors who
were so poor they could not afford shoes. These Mujahideen walked
barefoot ten miles through deep mountain snow with 100 lbs of mortar
shells on their backs, fired them at a Soviet base, and trekked back
under air attack.I suggest the good Adm. Stuffelbeam go read Kipling's
warning to British troops trying to fight their way through ferocious
Afridi tribesmen guarding the Khyber Pass: "Save your last bullet for
yourself."
As it becomes increasingly evident the Sept 11 attacks were planned in
Egypt and Germany, and delivered by Saudis, America's laying of fire
and sword on Afghanistan makes less and less sense. The US should
declare victory and decamp from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Central Asia
before it gets stuck in an aimless, endless war.
Copyright Eric S. Margolis 2001
