Libya has been the highlight of the news of late, and it is easy to forget that while it is one of many countries on the brink of history, there are other countries that are still reeling from the effects of their own history. Therefore, I would like to take the time to concentrate on a country which analysts are comparing to Libya after its own news domination one decade ago: Afghanistan.
September 11, 2001, is one of the dates about which anyone alive and able to retain memories at the time can name where they were when the heard about the towers falling. Everyone remembers the horror of hearing about the brutality, the pain of hearing about those who lost loved ones, and the swift patriotism of the aftermath. Ten years later, however, Afghanistan, the country targeted by Bush's War on Terror following the attacks, is beginning to be left out of the news, yet the Taliban is still very much a presence and a problem in the country itself.
The September 11, 2001, attacks
On Sunday, an article in The Boston Globe announced that the Taliban claims to have kidnapped 50 men from the Nuristan province who had just finished their training to join the police. The article states that this is part of the Taliban’s plan to intimidate and attempt to drive out anything and everyone U.S.-affiliated. While this is not the first time the Taliban has kidnapped policemen (the article reports that this has been common in other parts of the country as well), generally the group agrees to release them if they promise not to work with the Afghan government or the police. This time, however, “top Taliban military commanders in eastern Afghanistan” will decide on the policemen’s fate, but only after analyzing the situation on the ground, a move surely raising alarms.
BBC News also reported on the terrorist group’s power, noting that on March 23, the Afghan government shut off all mobile telephone networks in the Helmand province. This followed the March 22 announcement by President Hamid Karzai that Afghan forces are taking over security from the Lashkar Gah coalition. The province only has a one-percent landline penetration, meaning that shutting off telecommunications effectively cuts off all phone service. The Taliban has promised that it will blow up an cell phone towers of companies who do not comply with the ban; thus far, two masts have been burnt down. Of course, since the Taliban uses cell phones as well, this could prove counter-beneficial to the group. In particular, it often uses the mobile network to spread both anti-United States propaganda and many of the pro-Taliban songs.
A recent New York Times article went into detail about the updates regarding the war in Afghanistan. Recently, despite nominal gains earlier, the Taliban has picked up its violence, reportedly after Pakistan chastised commanders’ inadequate activity throughout the winter. The group first killed General Saidkhail, the police chief of the Kunduz province who has rather shady ties despite his ability to enforce change, followed by 30 civilians around a police compound in Imam Sahib, then over more than 36 people in a military recruiting office in Kunduz City. Analysts are still split over what the assassinations and terrorists bombings mean in terms of progress; while the attacks undermine civilians’ confidence in the government, they also mark desperation on the part of the perpetrators.
In another rather confusing, seemingly counterproductive move, American forces are training militias to help with the fighting. Arming civilians: Ideal? Probably not. Necessary for bolstering the official troops? Most likely. The recruits are supposed to be vetted, but the government relies upon them, even putting them on its payroll, presumably making the vetting process a little more lax. If it worked for the American revolutionaries back in the 1700s, why not now? Of course, many of these militiamen used to work with the Taliban. It is surely a risky move, but who better knows the Taliban’s habits? In fact, many of these militiamen are in the same businesses as the terrorists, trafficking drugs and weapons, for example.
Photo Courtesy of davric
Afghan militiamen
The article further reported the use of mines; unfortunately for troops, mine-locating technology still is leagues behind mine technology, evidenced by deaths and loss of limbs while searching for the weapons. Yet again, the tried-and-true is proving prevail.
The Taliban is clearly still in business. Whether it be targeted violence, followed-through threats, or hidden mines, it refuses to let go on their hold in Afghanistan. Was the United States effective in its work in the country? Surely, it was; the Times article reported that, in particular, General Saidkhail implemented countless services for his residents (increased security, the evacuation of the Taliban in man villages once controlled by the group, and improvements to the infrastructure). Yet, as we continue to look towards Libya, and as the debate about the United States’ involvement continues, this is a situation that we should probably keep in the back of our minds.
The group may not be at the forefront of American news any longer; in fact, the country’s time in the headlines became rather short-lived following Bush’s campaign against Iraq and Al-Qaeda. Still, do not let the “glamor” of the revolutions blind you from the often still-bleak conditions of the neighbors.