An Interview With The Taliban (The Enemy Of NATO)

Last week the BBC had broadcasted an interview with Taliban forces in Afghanistan. The report from David Loyn proved very controversial amongst Members of the UK Parliament because it provided exclusive access to what the Taliban was thinking and how its forces mobilised against the British army in Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan.

Newspiece such as these are great to see as it gives a different story to what the government are spinning. The BBC & ITN provide better news coverage and independent analysis compared to many global news agencies including faux news and chicken noodle news. The public needs proper news not propaganda.

If you have 15 minutes to spare please watch the full report
Windows Media Player: The Taleban interview to the BBC

UK Commons leader Jack Straw has defended the BBC's decision to broadcast an interview with a Taleban spokesman. The report had been "informative" and "good" and it was "important to see the nature of these people", he told MPs.

"The difference is that in Taleban-controlled territory, anybody who steps out of line is killed.
"We are a democracy, and we are fighting for democracy in Afghanistan.

The Conservative defence spokesman Liam Fox called that "obscene", and the Daily Mail reported the views of the father of one British soldier who thought the BBC has acted irreponsibly, "undermining the war effort".

So much for promoting independent reporting!

This brings me to my second point. Why did we attack Afghanistan and demand a regime change? Yes Al-Qaida was based in Afghanistan and they were harboured by the Taliban who were then in power in Afghanistan but in the months leading up to the Septmber 11, 2001 attack, it is reported, the Taliban "outlined various ways bin Laden could be dealt with. He could be turned over to the EU, killed by the Taliban, or made available as a target for Cruise missiles." The Bush administration did not accept the Taliban's offer.

Washington and London’s desire to eliminate al-Qaida was wrongly combined with seeking regime change in Kabul - a goal the Security Council never authorised. A propaganda campaign demonised the Taliban so as to justify their removal as a victory, even though Osama bin Laden might not be found. We have very short memories. Didn't the British and US praise the Taliban after they defeated the Russians? So much so that the UK government of that time invited the Taliban to the party political conference and told the world that these are our new friends. In the US the Taliban were invited by the government and met oil companies (who had vested interests in Afganistan). How quickly friendships end! Now We have put warloads in control of the Afganistan and the cuntry is suffering. All that was required when the Taliban was in power was invetsment but it never materialised from the world.

The Taliban and their followers are simple people. The Guardian newspaper published an article where, two aid workers with long experience of working there, describes how under the Taliban security was better than it was before or after. In many regions they were flexible and pragmatic: humanitarian aid flowed, and girls' education continued in "home schools".

The Taliban was able to regroup by arguing that Afghanistan was getting nothing from its new occupation. The drug barons used their money to stir up opposition. The failure of aid policies to make a big difference in southern Afghanistan and increasing corruption in the government and the national army, are spreading the power base of the Taleban.

The trucking companies, who backed them first in 1994 when they emerged to clear illegal checkpoints on the roads, are now backing them again. This time the checkpoints are manned by Afghan government soldiers, who demand money at gunpoint from every driver.

"People were fed up with having to bribe governors, and other authorities. We rose up and saved almost the whole country from the evils of corruption and corrupt commanders. That's why people are supporting the Taleban again now." said Taleban official spokesman, Mohammed Anif.

But all know the story of Afghanistan's past victories over the British. Engraved in their collective folk memory of Afghanistan's warrior history are tales of the defeat of the British in 1842 and 1880 along with the defeat of the Russians in the 1980s.

Further reading:
BBC: Travelling with the Taleban, 24 October 2006

BBC: Afghan quick guide

BBC: Afganistan: Losing the drugs war

BBC: Afganistan: Key players

BBC: Afganistan: rbulent history

BBC: Afganistan: In graphics: Harsh realities Afghanistan at-a-glance

Speaker Of the Truth: Afghanistan and the war against drugs

Guardian: America's pipe dream A pro-western regime in Kabul should give the US an Afghan route for Caspian oil George Monbiot, October 23, 2001