As the sun rises in Kabul, helicopters are endlessly crossing the skies — back and forth, high and low.
Only a few hours earlier, explosions were still resounding at the US embassy in Kabul — more than 13 hours after the first rocket-propelled grenades were launched on the site from bomb vest-laden insurgents using a half-built high rise nearby as a base.
While the number of deaths has been low compared to other attacks, the multi-pronged approach is not a common practice of the Taliban, which claimed responsibility early on. The parallel suicide bomber attacks in other areas of the capital city threw many into confusion, as roads closed, unconfirmed reports spread and people wondered where the next strike would be.
Some foreigners who have lived in the city for some years say this was worst they had seen it yet. But what they really meant was the uncertainty was the worst they had seen yet.
The Taliban highlighted this as much in an update issued yesterday evening: “All the foreign invading and local security forces are in horror and have been unable to break the resistance of a few martyr-seeking Mujahideen going on for more than 6 hours straight.”
Only two months since control of Kabul’s security was handed over to the Afghan forces, this latest episode bodes ill for confidence in the Afghan government, army and police to defend its people.
The new day will see tough questions asked. But in the context of a decade-long war, largely fought by battle-weary governments around the world, it is not likely any of the answers will see anything change.
Oh dear and what a surprise; till todays event I believed media stories peddled by the Afghan war coalition that after ten years of fighting Taliban, etc. Taliban were just about a spent force – not much fight left in them. In reflection of the past; similar stories were being fed to the Australian people by the Vietnam War coalition – yes again, the Americans, our good friends; the NVA and Viet Cong were a spent force – just about had it – we were winning. Then came the “Tet Offensive”, we all know what happened soon after “Tet Offensive”; we left them to it, and went home – we were not defeated – we just came home. Not long after our departure the American appointed South Vietnamese government fell and the leaders ran away with as much loot as they could carry to England, USA and France, etc. The refugees came by boat and were actually to a large degree welcomed. (Don’t know whether the Australian newspaper was around in those days). Despite the dire warnings of the day, that if we lost the war, South East Asia would fall to Communism, time proved IT did not, indeed these days our biggest trading partner and economic saviour is a Communist country. And yes today there is a Communist Government in Vietnam; we visit there for holidays – the scars of the war are still evident. Today, like the Vietnan war days, there seems to be a familiar set of circumstances evolving in Afghanistan; again the dire warnings, this time: if we lose the war, terrorists will reign supreme, you will not be safe anywhere – again, time will tell. One thing that does seem apparent, like the Vietnamese of decades ago, maybe the average Afghan doesn’t like invading armies, including the coalition army, no matter what our implied reason / excuse for being in Afghanistan. The Russians know all about that – they too had their implied reason. These days Afghans are copping misery and all it entails from their own corrupt government, Taliban as well as the coalition forces – a lay down misere. Afghan civilian deaths are seen by us as just “collateral damage.” Maybe Taliban and the silent Afghan majority also just see the latest event involving foreigners as well as their own in Kabul as just a bit of collateral damage. In the meantime the death and destruction continues. Methinks, anyone who believes the war in Afghanistan as a just cause and winable would also believe in fairies.
Bill – your post leaves me with nowt to add, except that the Russians did NOT invade, they were begged, for years, to aid the legitimate government fend off the CIA funded guerillas burning schools & clinics and slaughtering the young Afghan staff.
AR – I believe what you point out. Travelling through Afghanistan in 1971 when King Daoud was still in place, it was evident there was a significant American presence, especially around Masar-e-Sharif area. I couldn’t understand why, except to say some American travellers indicated the presence of an American government agency helping Afghan police at checkpoints, to monitor movement of people, and keep in check the drug issues that seemed to affected American citizens. American travellers claimed that a special endorsement of their their passport would by made by the American government agency at any checkpoint en-route to Masdar-e-Sharif. Many of them wouldn’t travel to Masar-e-Sharif for that reason. And yes, there was a significant presence of the American Peace Corp in Afghanistan too! They seemed to be able to travel quite freely. In hindsight one wonders what that all meant?? Methinks one of the reasons – the King had made rumblings about not being too accepting of everything American; just like the Indira Ghandi Indian government. Indeed the Indian Government made no secret of their pro-Russian stance. Sometime after 1971 the Russians came to Afghanistan for their reasons – as you state correctly so – to counteract outside interference of Afghan internal affairs. The Americans aided mainly the Northern Alliance and also their now current enemy (Taliban) with missilies etc. to thwart Russian helicopters and troop movements in the countryside. Eventually the Russians went home. What happened since then? The current coalition for the destruction of Afghanistan, also would have you believe that (now Osama is no longer with us) they were begged by Afghans to aid the establishment against the enemy (Taliban). The coalition will prolong the conflict for as long as it is in their interest to do so (although, luckily, the cost of it all is becoming an issue in itself – it is expensive to kill people, especially those who fight back). There is another difference these days; technology for creating death and destruction has improved, unmanned drones (managed like a computer game by cowards in a far off land) are used to cause death; destruction, misery, and again collateral damage (no numbers available) to so many civilians. However, the eventual outcome for the coalition of destruction boots on the ground remains the same – this war, like the Vietnam war before it, cannot be won. It is very costly, and yes – one day they will all go home.