Afghan chaos growing Options

[ghostgovt]

Here's a little covert action mystery to add to some Afghanistan chaos.

http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen...67-21775e4673d9


Afghan bounty hunters 'sold' my husband to U.S., Canadian says

Former Montrealer held at Guantanamo prison; wife denies terror links, U.S. ties him to Ressam

James Gordon
The Ottawa Citizen

Monday, July 11, 2005

A former Montreal resident currently detained at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, was sold by bounty hunters to the United States for $5,000, the man's Canadian wife claims.

In a sworn U.S. court affidavit obtained by the Citizen, Karina Dereshteanu said Canadian officials told her about the deal long after her spouse, Algerian-born Ahcene Zemiri, was handed over to U.S. troops in Afghanistan in late 2001.

"I do not know what these bounty hunters may have told the Americans, but it cannot be true," said Ms. Dereshteanu. "I can attest to the best of my knowledge that my husband was not a member of the Taliban, al-Qaeda or any other type of terrorist or radical group."

The document confirms for the first time that Mr. Zemiri remains jailed due in part to his connection with Ahmed Ressam, a Montrealer thwarted en route to a planned terrorist attack at the Los Angeles International Airport. Mr. Ressam was caught in 1999 as he attempted to cross the B.C.-Washington border in a car packed with explosives. He was convicted on terrorism charges in 2001.

In court documents unveiled last year, Mr. Ressam said Mr. Zemiri was a close friend whom he asked for help while planning his foiled strike.

Mr. Ressam's 2001 court testimony alleged Mr. Zemiri gave him $3,500 and a video camera to use as "camouflage," and did so knowing it was to be used for a "job" in the U.S. Mr. Ressam also requested grenades, a pistol and a silencer.

[Marine]

July 11, 2005 - Monday :: Welcome. Subscribe to receive newstories.

Huge quantity of hashish seized in Paktia
By Ilyas Wahdat
GARDEZ, July 11 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Police claimed capturing 3,890 kilograms of hashish in the Ahmadabad district of the southeastern Paktia province on Monday.

Paktia's deputy police chief Colonel Ghulam Nabi Salem told Pajhwok Afghan News the narcotics was hidden in a roadside ditch. This is the largest quantity ever seized in the province.

On May 24, security officials had alighted 3,225 kilograms of seized narcotics in presence of government officials and a large number of people.


jh/mhh/amm/dk

[ghostgovt]

South Asia News

Taliban claim six Afghan policemen killed in attack on checkpoint
Jul 12, 2005

Kabul - The ousted extremist Taliban regime on Tuesday claimed to have killed six Afghan policemen in the southeastern province of Logar, after attacking a security checkpoint there.

Speaking by telephone from an unknown location, Mufti Latifullah Hakimi, Taliban spokesman, said that the rebels attacked the police checkpoint in Pul-e-Alam, the provincial capital of Logar province on Monday night.

He added that two of the Taliban fighters were seriously injured during the armed clash.

Afghan officials were not immediately available to comment about the incident.

The Taliban, who were toppled by the international military coalition led by the United States in late 2001, have recently increased their military attacks against Afghan and U.S. troops, mainly in the south and southeastern regions of the country.

[Marine]

July 13, 2005 - Wednesday :: Welcome. Subscribe to receive newstories.

Belgian F-16 jets fly into Kabul for poll security
By Najib Khilwatgar
KABUL, July 12 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Four F-16 jets belonging to the Belgian contingent in the NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force deployed in Afghanistan flew into Kabul on Tuesday.

International Security Assistance Force's Air Force Commander Brigadier General D. Van Laethem said the aircraft would help boost security for the September elections. The jets could quickly reach the farthest sweeps of Afghanistan.

Earlier, the Dutch contingent chipped in with as many planes to strengthen the peacekeeping force's headquarters in Kabul.

The four planes would be formally handed over to the ISAF command at a ceremony here on Thursday, Laethem said, adding they would remain in Afghanistan for six months.

There are currently 8,300 peacekeepers form different nations deployed to Afghanistan. NATO, US and Afghan forces are in a bid to secure the first post-Taliban parliamentary vote

[ghostgovt]

http://www.dawn.com/2005/07/12/top16.htm
July 12,2005


Oil supply to Afghanistan disrupted

By Ibrahim Shinwari

LANDI KOTAL (Khyber Agency), July 11: Oil supply to Afghanistan was disrupted on Monday when dozens of oil tanker owners parked their vehicles at Torkham border, citing security reasons inside Afghanistan. The move was launched after a scuffle between Afghan government officials and oil tanker drivers in Latha Bund area, near Kabul. A tanker driver said their vehicles were not allowed to proceed to Kabul by the Afghan officials posted at Latha Bund on the pretext that the route was not suitable for heavy traffic.

However, when drivers insisted on opening the route, the Afghan security officials abused and thrashed them, he alleged.

[Marine]

Department of Defense Fact Sheet

U.S. Defense Leaders Views on Afghanistan
March 16, 2005



Following are highlights of progress and challenges in Afghanistan as outlined by U.S. military leaders.

Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Gen. Myers is in the U.S. Central Command region this week, where he has visited Egypt, Iraq and Afghanistan. Approximately 20,000 U.S. troops are serving in Afghanistan.

• Afghanistan is making good political progress.
• The country has a president, a constitution, and parliamentary elections are scheduled for the summer.
• Women are playing a greater role in the country's political and economic life.
• Afghanistan's leaders are optimistic they can address the problems that still confront their nation.
• The Afghan government has established good working relationships with its neighbors, especially Pakistan.

• The Afghan army is a unifying force for the country.
• Units are composed of all ethnic groups from around the country.
• Twenty-two thousand soldiers in the Afghan National Army have been trained and deployed.
• Increased economic activity in Afghanistan is a sign of the country's growing security and stability.

• NATO is playing an important and growing part in stability operations in Afghanistan.
• NATO commands the International Security Assistance Force in and around Kabul. That force is expanding to the western portion of the country.
• NATO will establish four additional provincial reconstruction teams in western Afghanistan.

• Opium cultivation remains a huge problem.
• Leaders are pleased with the level of cooperation they have received to confront the drug problem – the day of the chairman's visit Afghan forces seized more than 2,000 pounds of heroin in an operation near Jalalabad.

• The search for Osama bin Laden continues.
• Operations in Iraq have not detracted from this priority.

Combined Joint Task Force 76 Transfer of Authority: Maj. Gen. Jason Kamiya, commander of the Vicenza, Italy-based Southern European Task Force (Airborne), will lead Combined Joint Task Force 76 during the upcoming year. Maj. Gen. Eric T. Olson led Combined Joint Task Force 76 in Afghanistan for the past year. Following are highlights of his views on the country's progress.

• The number of violent contacts between Coalition forces and enemy fighters in Afghanistan is declining.
• Insurgent activity has decreased, and the number of former Taliban fighters willing to be part of the solution instead of the problem has increased.
• Afghan security forces are operating much more freely in areas that used to be very violent.
• Nongovernmental and international aid organizations are much more willing to go into many areas in Afghanistan.

• A more secure environment has enabled reconstruction to move forward.
• There are now 19 Provincial Reconstruction Teams (PRTs) in Afghanistan helping with economic development and reconstruction.
• The PRTs work closely with Afghan government officials, and are readily accepted by the Afghan people.
• Many of the projects underway will have positive long-term effects on Afghanistan's economy – the projects will grow and provide jobs and opportunity for the Afghan people.

• Challenges remain to ensure the insurgents are eliminated.
• There must be conditions that deny terrorists the use of Afghan territory.
• Keeping the pressure on the enemy, improving the police force, and continuing to strengthen the army will help.


http://defendamerica.mil/downloads/factsheet_20050316.html

[Marine]

NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

July 11, 2005
Release Number: 05-07-07


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


AFGHANISTAN: TONS OF MUNITIONS COLLECTED; IED SUSPECT CAPTURED

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Afghan National Police officers turned in more then 1,000 rockets and other munitions to U.S. forces near Ghazni on July 7 after having collected them from around the region.

In addition to the rockets, police collected more then 400 mortar rounds, more than 200 recoilless rifle rounds, 150 machine gun rounds, 75 rocket-propelled grenades and four anti-tank mines. Ninety-five percent of the munitions were reported as serviceable and one quarter were still in their original packing materials.

Coalition forces transported the weapons to a nearby base for destruction.

"We are seeing district and provincial governments across the country prepare for the National Assembly Elections in September. Part of that process is vetting candidates who want to run for seats in the parliament," said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Mike Fenzel, deputy commander of the Coalition's Regional Command East. "But in order to be favorably considered as a candidate, former warlords, fighters, and citizens with caches of weapons have to demobilize and demilitarize to even be considered. We've watched a steady flow of weapons and ammunition being turned in and collected by the Afghan National Police around our area of operation, all as part of the democratic process. These are very clear signals that democracy and security are taking hold in Afghanistan."

Elsewhere in Afghanistan, U.S. Soldiers patrolling near Qalat captured a man believed to be responsible for the detonation of an improvised explosive device that was triggered as their convoy passed July 7. The detonation caused no injuries or damage.

The man believed to be responsible for the attack was being questioned.

U.S. forces pursued a second individual believed to be involved in the attack but were unable to apprehend him.
http://www.centcom.mil/CENTCOMNews/News_Re...se=20050707.txt

[Marine]

Civil Affairs Soldiers help Afghans help themselves
By Spc. Cheryl Ransford, 17th Public Affairs Detachment

The goal of the reconstruction process in Afghanistan is for the people to be able to stand on their own. In Khost province, the Civil Military Operations Center (CMOC) is pioneering a way to speed up that process.

Reconstruction is still occurring, but in Khost, the Afghan people are learning how to facilitate the projects through their own government’s resources, said Sgt. 1st Class Edith Horn, a member of the 412th Civil Affairs Battalion and head of the Khost CMOC.

The 412th CAB is an Army Reserve special operations unit from Whitehall, Ohio.

“When we first arrived in Afghanistan, the people in the village would constantly come to us asking for schools and other projects to be done. Then we would take the request and make it happen,” Horn said.

Now, the CMOC is helping the people understand how to use tools in place throughout the country for those kinds of requests. The Afghan government is made up of ministries and departments that handle everything from road construction and repair to medical facilities and schools.

“While most CMOCs and (Provincial Reconstruction Teams) are still handling the requests themselves, the people of Khost are learning to rely on their own government,” she said.

The process was slow to start, but now it has taken hold and the people seem very happy with the help and support they are receiving from the CMOC team.

Being able to work with and help the local population has been a rewarding opportunity for Staff Sgt. Randel Harris, of the 551st Military Police Company, who works with the CMOC team as a trainer for the local police force.

“They are very willing and eager to learn how to help and protect themselves,” he said. “It is a wonderful experience to see them be able to rely on themselves. You can see on their faces how happy they are to be a more independent people.”

While the people in Khost are happy to be more independent, they still need help with procedures and are glad the CMOC team is available to provide this assistance.

“The people come to us, and they are happy to be able to receive the help they need to file the paperwork properly with the ministries and departments,” Horns aid. “We help gather information and assist them in preparing the information for the ministries.”

The CMOC team is also teaching the local citizens how to get land rights and permission to build, as well as finding qualified teachers for new schools.

“The people are excited to be able to do the work themselves,” Harris said. “Even though it’s something new to them, they are learning the process quickly and not requiring as much help as they did in the beginning.”

Once the ministries or departments have the requests, the head of the organization checks with the CMOC about actually completing the projects. For instance, if someone comes in with a request for a school, a road and a well, the CMOC personnel advise the villagers to select the projects that will help the village most.

“In this instance, if there are already several wells, we will focus on the schools and the roads,” Horn said. “The schools are important because the children need to learn so the future of Afghanistan can continue to improve, and the roads are important because without roads the people can’t get to the stores and the economy in the village will not grow.”

The biggest part of the CMOC mission now is to get the ministry heads to work with the city-planning director, who is appointed by the governor, Horn said. “Right now, we are holding bimonthly meetings with the city planner and the ministry heads,” she said. “The ministries state their interest and priorities for what they want done in the village.”

The most important part of the Civil Affairs mission in Khost is that it focuses on the people, Horn said.

“The best part of what we are doing now is that the mission is about what they want for their villages, districts and country, not about what we want,” she said. “It’s great to see the people of Afghanistan stand up for what they want.

“Watching them grow … is a beautiful experience.”



http://www.socom.mil/Releases/ca_soldiers/civil_affairs.htm

[ghostgovt]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200507/s1413689.htm

But Greens Senator Bob Brown says Australia should send civilian aid to Afghanistan, not troops.

Senator Brown says it is a travesty that the deployment was not debated in Parliament.

"Particularly with increasing reports now coming from Europe that the US wants to reduce and withdraw its forces from Afghanistan, Australia shouldn't be a convenient substitute for George Bush's domestic foreign policy," he said.

Professor Amin Saikal, the director of the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies at the Australian National University, has welcomed the Australian deployment but says it is not enough.

"I think that Australia's contribution is a welcome development but I think it is very small and I think it will not amount to more than a token contribution," he said.

"Given the scale of instability in Afghanistan at the moment, I doubt very seriously that 150 SAS troops would be able to make more than a symbolic contribution."

[ghostgovt]

http://www.kuna.net.kw/Home/Story.aspx?Lan...=en&DSNO=752004


Number two man at Pentagon says violence on the rise in Afghanistan, Iraq

WASHINGTON, July 14 (KUNA) -- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Richard Myers on Thursday said violence will rise as elections in both Afghanistan and Iraq come nearer.

"We will see an increase in violence," said Myers.

Not before September elections in Afghanistan take place or the drafting of the Iraq constitution and the feeling that all parties in Iraq have a place in the new government can violence be expected to lessen, he said.

Myers, who is soon to retire from his post as the second most powerful man at the Pentagon, told reporters at the State Department Foreign Press Center that "political progress" will bring forth peace and the gradual downsizing of 135,000 US troops in Iraq and around 30,000 US troops in Afghanistan.

Recently the United States rejected a call from China, Russia and other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, including Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan where the United States has military bases, to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. In the past two weeks, the US military suffered one of the worst blows in Afghanistan when 16 US soldiers were killed after their helicopter was downed in a mountainous region of the country.

Two more US soldiers were killed after they were dispatched to search the helicopter crash and one US solider from that rescue team is still missing. Myers, who called the spike in deadly attacks a tragedy, said that focusing on the attacks does not show the overall progress in the country.

[Anita Garcia]

The Afghan Resistance Re-Launches A Vast Offensive
12 July 2005
By Franoise Chipaux, Le Monde


In the euphoria of the success of the October 2004 presidential election, American as well as Afghan officials gave up the Taliban as virtually vanquished. Six months later, the "students of religion" and their allies have violently refuted those forecasts.

The traditional spring offensive has proved to be one of the most deadly in the four years that have followed the overthrow of the Taliban regime.
Far from being in disarray, the opponents of the new regime in Kabul have reorganized themselves, and fighters from different Arab countries, present in the region for many years, have gone back into service.

All these opponents have divided the Afghan theatre among themselves into four regions - East, South-East, South, and Center-North-West - to organize the fight. Perhaps the newest aspect of this campaign is the degree of organization it has achieved, its management, choice of targets, etc.

The decapitation Sunday of ten policemen in the Helmand province, which occurred after several other incidents of the same type, again proves the radicalization of the movement.

[emphasis added]http://www.militaryproject.org/article.asp?id=619

[ghostgovt]

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle...bcontinent&col=

Bombs explode at Afghan election office, two police hurt

15 July 2005


KHOST, Afghanistan - Two bombs exploded in quick succession at an election commission office in restive southeastern Afghanistan, injuring two policemen, officials said on Friday.

The first blast late Thursday destroyed the office which was based inside a mosque in Khost city, they said, adding that the casualties occurred when another went off nine minutes later as police reached the area.

“A bomb explosion destroyed the election registration office in Khost city last night. When police secured the area a secondary explosion wounded two police,” provincial deputy police chief Mohammed Zaman told AFP.

The electoral office has been set up inside a large mosque located near the provincial police headquarters, residents said.

[Marine]

July 15, 2005 - Friday :: Welcome. Subscribe to receive newstories.

Former Taliban commander surrenders in Khost
By Abdul Majid Arif
KHOST CITY, July 14 (Pajhwok Afghan News): A senior former Taliban commander surrendered to the government in the southeastern Khost province, officials claimed on Thursday.

Availing the amnesty announced by President Hamid Karzai, Mullah Sadiq, cut off ties with the ousted student militia and pledged to support the government in its efforts to bring lasting peace to the war-hit country.

Mullah Sadiq had fought against the Soviets under the command of Jalaluddin Haqqani, who later joined the Taliban and rose to a ministerial slot in the regime. He remained district administrative chief of Orgun and police chief of the Ismailkhel and Gorbaz districts of Khost during Taliban era.

Khost deputy intelligence chief Naqibullah Esmati told Pajhwok Afghan News Mullah Sadiq was living in the Miranshah area of Pakistan, who returned and accepted the amnesty announced by President Karzai.

Earlier in May, another Taliban commander Abdul Malik Zulfan, involved in attacks against government and US forces in the province, had surrendered to the government.

Several Taliban leaders and activists, including some senior ones, have severed links with the militants and accepted the government-backed reconciliation efforts to play their role in reconstruction of the country.


Jh/by/dk

[Marine]

July 15, 2005 - Friday :: Welcome. Subscribe to receive newstories.

Gold trade in Herat slumps amid clampdown on drugs
By Ahmad Qureshi
HERAT CITY, July 14 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Gold trade in the western Herat province has slumped by 50 percent in the wake of a clampdown on drug smuggling to Iran in return for illegal bullion supplies from the Persian Gulf country.

A representative of the Herat Jewelers Union, Haji Qurban revealed on Thursday they had sold eight tons of gold last year. "But only two tons have been sold so far this year and the total annual sale may not exceed four tons."

"Previously families coming to Herat from Iran used to bring huge quantities of gold, but the practice has now been curbed in large measure. Some jewelers then also carried opium to Iran, where it was traded for gold," he told Pajhwok Afghan News.

A goldsmith, Humayun Nasiri had a similar view: "Much of the precious metal found its way to Afghanistan in return for drugs smuggled to Iran. But the clandestine swap is no longer possible because of beefed-up border security.

Each of the 120 jewelry shops in Herat, according an estimate, sold up to 200 grams of gold on a daily basis last year. However, the sale level has now slumped by half due to the tight security at the Afghan-Iran frontier.

Smuggling to Afghanistan from Iran was another reason for the declining demand for the Afghan variety of gold, Sarwari reasoned. Last year, per gram Iranian gold rates soared by 590 afs and the 18 percent increase inflicted a huge loss on the country's wobbly economy.

In order to arrest the gold market's downhill journey and minimize dependence on foreign currencies, he sought government's support for the Jewelers Union. Sarwari believed the problem could be resolved if the government inked accords with foreign countries on regulated gold trade.


sh/r/amm/mud

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4557

[Marine]

Pajhwok Afghan News


Pajhwok Afghan News is Afghanistan’s premier independent news agency providing daily coverage of news from across Afghanistan.

From its beginnings as a special program to provide daily news coverage of Afghanistan’s historic Constitutional Loya Jirga in December 2003, Pajhwok was established in April 2004 with headquarters in Kabul and bureaus and correspondents throughout the country. Today, Pajhwok provides high quality daily news and features in Pashto, Dari, English and Urdu to an Afghan and international audience.

The name “Pajhwok” means “echo” or “reflection” in both Dari and Pashto. It was chosen by Pajhwok’s journalists after an intensive search to find a name that reflects the mission of the agency and embraces national unity.

Pajhwok’s daily reports provide vital information that informs local, regional and international debate, builds trust among communities, and strengthens local democratic institutions. With advanced training in international professional standards and a focus on covering issues most important to Afghans, Pajhwok’s journalists have gained wide renown for covering political reform, economic development, human rights, and other controversial issues.

With Pajhwok, Afghan audiences gain a deeper understanding of events affecting the country than they would from foreign stories tailored only for Western audiences.

Through its subscription service, Pajhwok reaches Afghans through most major media. Over 50 radio and independent television stations such as Afghan TV, Tolo TV, Radio Kilid, Arman FM, Good Morning Afghanistan, Radio Free Europe, Voice of America, the BBC, and the nationwide Bakhabar network broadcast Pajhwok’s reports throughout Afghanistan.

Readers of Afghanistan’s major newspapers and magazines, such as the Kabul Times, Anis, Hewad, the Daily Outlook, Kilid Weekly and Morsal Weekly also enjoy regular access to Pajhwok’s high quality news reporting.

In addition, private and government institutions, Afghan and international NGOs, Afghans living abroad and organizations working in Afghanistan all rely on Pajhwok for their news about Afghanistan.

Pajhwok is a truly independent organization, staffed, managed and led entirely by Afghan leaders in local media. Working with its partners, including media organizations such as the Center for International Journalism (CIJ), the Kilid Media Group, and international NGOs such as Internews and IMPACS, Pajhwok Afghan News provides the information necessary for citizens to make government more transparent, hold elected officials accountable, and participate more broadly in public life.

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/aboutUs/index.asp

[Marine]

July 15, 2005 - Friday :: Welcome. Subscribe to receive newstories.

Training certificates distributed among 374 policemen
By Najib Khelwatgar
KABUL, July 14 (Pajhwok Afghan News): Training completion certificates were distributed among 374 policemen during the 23rd graduation ceremony held at the Police Training Centre here on Thursday.

The Bon Agreement states, 26,000 National Police will be recruited and trained till 2007 to ensure law and order in the war-ravaged country.

Speaking on the occasion, commander of the training centre Colonel Mirza Mohammad Yarmand said a total of 44,387 officers, soldiers and sergeants had been trained and graduated in the centre so far.

Head of the police education wing at the Ministry of Interior Colonel Gul Nabi Ahmadzai thanked the United States and international community for extending cooperation in training of the policemen. He hoped their help would continue in the days ahead.

He urged the new police graduates to practically demonstrate what they had learned during the training. He asked them to serve the people with full devotion.

Police training centres are operational in seven provinces including Balkh, Kandahar, Paktia, Nangarhar, Kabul and Bamyan over the last two years imparting three-month and 15 days training to soldiers and officers respectively to improve their professional abilities.

Fifty-four police officers have been trained in three-month management course from the province and capital in Police Academy.

http://www.pajhwak.com/en/news/viewStory.asp?lng=eng&id=4556

[ghostgovt]

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/246...2BFCDE72882.htm

Border missiles kill Afghan fighters

Friday 15 July 2005, 14:45 Makka Time, 11:45 GMT

Armed Afghan men were killed at the border with Pakistan
Related:


US-led troops in Afghanistan have killed 24 armed men believed to be part of the Taliban and al-Qaida network, the Pakistani Army says.

General Shawkat Sultan, spokesman for the Pakistani Army, told Aljazeera the men were killed after they launched a missile attack on the US military camp in Bamian, near the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.


Sultan said the US troops notified Pakistani authorities of the attack and the Pakistani Army sent hundreds of soldiers to the area as a precautionary measure.


War widening


The increase in fighting has raised concern that the Afghan war might be widening.

US and Afghan officials have cautioned that the situation could get worse before the elections with foreign fighters entering the country to disrupt the polls.

[heritage]

CNN reported today that "experts" estimate the number of terrorist insurgents at 200,000. Most are in Iraq. Many are going back to Afghanistan via Pakistan.

[ghostgovt]

CNN reported today that "experts" estimate the number of terrorist insurgents at 200,000. Most are in Iraq. Many are going back to Afghanistan via Pakistan.

Not to mention the 100s of 1000s of militants and resistors vs BushForce inside 'all' of Asia as well. Afghanistan will probably become not only the original creator of imperialist resistance but the true nucleus of resistance against the BushConic Pentagon and imperialistic America as seen in their eyes. The sad part is, since Bush placed himself into office, such resistance has grown in huge amounts and is still growing.

Thanks for the update heritage.

[ghostgovt]

A recent quick review of the situtation set forth by the BushCons.

[It is a controversial point to those who believe Afghanistan is a success story and ignore the chaotic narco-state it has become.]

[The only problem is, according to U.S. State Department data, the number of terror attacks tripled in 2004. A recent CIA report says that the number of terrorists is increasing, and Iraq is now a training ground for terrorists, just as Afghanistan was in the 1980s.]

http://www.american-reporter.com/2,675/1.html

Vol. 11, No. 2,675 - The American Reporter - July 14, 2005

On Native Ground
THINK BETTER, WIN MORE: IT'S TIME TO REVAMP U.S. FOREIGN POLICY
by Randolph T. Holhut
American Reporter Correspondent
Dummerston, Vt.

DUMMERSTON, Vt. -- George Galloway, the British MP who was last seen embarrassing the right-wing yahoos on the U.S. Senate committee investigating the so-called UN "oil-for-food" scandal, was absolutely correct when he said that "Londoners paid the price for Tony Blair's decision to go to war in Iraq and Afghanistan."

"Does this House believe that the hatred and bitterness engendered by the invasion and occupation of Iraq, by the daily destruction of Palestinian homes, by the construction of the great apartheid wall in Palestine, by the occupation of Afghanistan ... feeds the very terrorism of Bin Laden and other terrorists," Galloway said in Parliament after the July 7 bombing in London. "Is that really such a controversial point? Isn't that obvious?"

We know the answer to Galloway's question. It is a controversial point to those who believe that the U.S.-led and British supported invasion and occupation of Iraq was the right thing to do. It is a controversial point to those who believe the Sharon government can do no wrong and that the Palestinians deserve to have their houses bulldozed. It is a controversial point to those who believe Afghanistan is a success story and ignore the chaotic narco-state it has become.

The bombs that went off in London on July 7 didn't go off because the Muslim world "hates our freedom." On the contrary, they would love to see more freedom and less U.S. and British support for virtually every autocratic regime in the Middle East.

No, the bombs went off because too many Muslim countries hate the U.S. and Britain because of the actions of the two nations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Conservatives call this moral relativism. Let them, because they are wrong.

Osama bin Laden may not have directly plotted the London attacks, but he made it clear what the game is about. "If you bomb our cities, we will bomb yours," he said in one of his recent videos.

The bombs aren't going off in Stockholm. They're not going off in Geneva. They're not going off in Buenos Aries or Johannesburg. They're not going off in Beijing or Tokyo.

Why? Because the Swedes aren't sodomizing prisoners. The Swiss aren't dropping cluster bombs. The Brazilians didn't level Fallujah.

The Muslim world knows which countries launched an invasion of Iraq under dubious pretenses. They know which countries have committed atrocities. They know which countries support some of the worst dictatorships in the world. Most Muslims seethe silently with resentment and anger. A few, however, want revenge.

The Muslim world hates us for Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo. They hate us for the 100,000 Iraqi civilians killed over the past two years of fighting. They hate us for the 500,000 Iraqis who died of disease and starvation during the decade-long U.S.-British embargo of Iraq after the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

It's time to dispense with the illusions.

President Bush may say, as he did on July 4, that "we're taking on the terrorists abroad so we don't have to face them here at home."

The only problem is, according to U.S. State Department data, the number of terror attacks tripled in 2004. A recent CIA report says that the number of terrorists is increasing, and Iraq is now a training ground for terrorists, just as Afghanistan was in the 1980s.

Invading Iraq didn't keep the bombs from going off in Madrid or London. And it won't prevent the next attack from happening on our soil.

Last September, a report commissioned by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld from the Defense Science Board, a non-governmental agency, came to the conclusion that the United States "should seek to reduce, not increase, perceptions of arrogance, opportunism, and double standards."

That panel also said that "when American public diplomacy talks about bringing democracy to Islamic societies, this is seen as no more than self-serving hypocrisy ... in the eyes of Muslims, American occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq has not led to democracy there, but only more chaos and suffering." It's not a question of diplomacy, they conclude, but "a fundamental problem of credibility. Simply, there is none."

The policies of the Bush administration have made us less safe. They have made us more vulnerable to terrorism. We cannot bomb our way to peace. We cannot impose democracy with guns. You can't expect to wage war and not get attacked in return.

Do you want to see peace? Getting the U.S. and Britain out of Afghanistan and Iraq and Israel out of the occupied territories would be a good start.

Do you want to see peace? The U.S. and Britain should support real democracy, and not merely pro-Western puppets. Support economic self-determination and not the capitalism on steroids that is the WTO.

In other words, the only effective way of dealing with terrorism is eliminating the conditions that produce terrorists. Without ending the cycle of violence, we'll see more days like July 7, perhaps again in this country.

Our current leaders can't see this. Worse, it seems that they don't want to see this.