by Keith Locke
It will be a difficult time for the families of NZSAS soldiers injured in Afghanistan and my sympathy goes out to them as they wait for updates on the medical situation of their loved ones.
On the political level, the Taliban raid on the Intercontinental Hotel underlines the failure of the US-led war in Afghanistan. Rather than weakening the Taliban, the war has allowed them win recruits by presenting themselves as a patriotic force fighting the foreign invader.
Eight Taliban fighters were able to successfully enter what was, at that time, one of the most heavily defended locations in Afghanistan. A large number of governors, mayors and other officials were staying there, prior to a conference on NATO handing over certain responsibilities to the Afghans.
The response of the Afghan police was not inspiring. Noor Mohammad, who was in the hotel, said “We heard shooting and we saw the police dropping their weapons and running from the area.” He said: “How can they fight against the Taliban? No way, I don’t trust them at all.”
No wonder the eight Taliban were able to hold out for six and a half hours. Police running away may also explain what I just heard on the radio, that the SAS, who arrived in a “mentoring” role “had no choice but to get involved.”
The Taliban said the three aims of the operation were to disrupt the governor’s conference, sabotage the security transition and deny foreign intelligence officers a safe place to stay in the capital.
The nature of the Taliban attack, against a civilian target, underlines the nasty character of the war. Both sides believe civilians are fair game. The Taliban target governors and the Americans assassinate Taliban civilian leaders. Kate Clark of the Kabul-based Afghan Analysts Network has criticised the targeted killings and night raids by American forces, with their many civilian casualties. Even Afghan president Hamid Karzai has harshly criticised the Americans for air raids that kill innocent people.
It is not a war New Zealand should be involved in. We should be encouraging the talks that have begun between US officials and the Taliban for a negotiated solution. According to a recent article in Der Spiegel this is a possibiity with some Taliban leaders showing more willingness.
By the way, the debate over whether New Zealand media should pixilate photos of SAS soldiers involved in the hotel fighting is somewhat irrelevent. These AFP pictures have been published unpixilated around the world, and are readily available on the internet.
Published in Justice & Democracy | Society & Culture by Keith Locke on Thu, June 30th, 2011
Tags: afghanistan, defence, NZ Defence, SAS troops, Taliban
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on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
Sometimes I imagine an Afghan army in the US – there to uphold the rights of the nearly extinct Natives (aka indians)
There is no doubt in my mind about the level of outrage, violence, fury, and mendacity US citizens would use to protect ‘their rights’.
Why should they expect less from any Iraqi or Afghan, Libyan or Syrian (chilean, italian etc etc) are they somehow less loyal to truth?
Less noble in their pursuit of Freedom?
Less entitled to their own Human Rights?
(apparently)
Some where I read that ‘all men are created equal’
But they don’t get too far down the street b4 another man steps in…
Axiomatic – these deaths are pure Murder
If all are indeed equal – then heaven help the US famous export industry (oblivion) – if those chickens come home to roost – I’ll be very upset, but understand completely…please Uncle Obama – don’t sow seeds you must not reap.
Humans are just so…entirely predictable….
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“Becasue we’re Americans”
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No doubt the result of confrontations are, death, pain, hate and more war until we are all humans, why hatred only causes suffering?…
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well, i think taliban is crossing all limits! there must come a day when the world will be free from terrorism anyways nice article! thanks!
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The impression that I get is that there are different groups within the Taliban and reporting these attacks as just “The Taliban” blurs these differences and effectively tars the moderate Taliban groups with the same brush as the extremists. By not recognising that these are extremists at work, the moderates get blamed and the extremists win.
Trevor.
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It is a war New Zealand should be part of because we are all human and we are all living on this single planet, have some humanity and back bone, keithe. Just because they are a separate country doesn’t mean they deserve our assistance any less or by that mind maybe christchurch should not be assisted by anyone in auckland because they are a separate city, which is just mean.
I Congratulate the NZ armed forces and am happy with the great job they do, peace be with them.
It is a shame USA could not save the world and Afghanistan, but there are bad apples everywhere and good men make mistakes.
There is little point in “encouraging the talks that have begun between US officials and the Taliban” I am sure they are trying as best they can and by our soldiers protecting Afghan citizens is more encouragement that its more than just the USA who won’t let them go backwards to stoning women.
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