Celebration in Mazar!, rejoicing the newly found freedom. They are thankful to the Americans and are showing great confidence they will not be abandoned by Americans. They are every bit part of the human race in pursuit of the good life, opportunity and hapiness. When the word spreads, there will be massive defections. Without any doubt, those in Kabul, Kandahar, and elsewhere in Afghanistan are anxiously waiting for their own liberations from the oppressive ruthless tyrants they had endured for the past many years. The tyrants are losing their grip, which is evident when they executed several potential opposition leaders in order to spread fear and suppress mutinies from inside their own ranks. When the liberation forces come within 5 miles of the major cities or districts, I anticipate the population will become more daring and they may start eliminating many of the Talebans themselves.
(Side question for Ike: What does the word Taleban mean?)
Here is BBC report on the Mazar celebration news.bbc.co.uk
Saturday, 10 November, 2001, 17:05 GMT
Afghans enjoy freedom from Taleban
By Pam O'Toole
Residents of Mazar-e-Sharif have told the BBC that the city is calm, with people going about their daily business.
Northern Alliance soldiers are said to be visible on the streets.
But local residents - speaking to the BBC Persian Service by telephone - say that so far there has been no sign of the bloodshed which marked previous takeovers of the city.
Both men and women are reported to be taking advantage of the more liberal lifestyle allowed by the Northern Alliance.
Before the Taleban took over, Mazar was one of Afghanistan's most liberal cities.
It had television and radio stations. Women were allowed to work and attend schools and universities.
The city's residents - predominantly ethnic Tajiks Uzbeks and Hazaras - deeply resented the restrictions imposed by the conservative and largely Pashtun Taleban.
They are now taking the opportunity to discard them.
Residents say that women are again out on the streets without having to be escorted by a husband or a male relative.
They are also visiting Mazar's most holy shrine - an opportunity denied them under Taleban rule.
Meanwhile, men are reported to be queuing outside barber shops, anxious to trim their hair and rid themselves of the beards which the Taleban insisted they wear.
People are enjoying listening to music.
Although some shops are still closed, many are open. Some of the city's ethnic Pashtuns - who make up about a third of the population - were originally said to have been scared that they might be targeted by Northern Alliance troops.
But local people say that, so far, there appears to be no sign of the bloodletting which many remember from past occasions when the city has changed hands.
According to one man, this time people are more confident that the Northern Alliance can hold on to Mazar, because they now have the backing of the Americans. |
