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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (41743)	11/18/2001 12:31:37 PM
From: JHP	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Russians Returning to Kabul 17 November: A high-level Russian delegation is being rushed to the Afghan capital of Kabul to “look into the military requirements of the legitimate government of Rabbani”. A special Russian commando team landed in Bagram airbase Saturday November 17 to secure the high-level Russian team. The Russian commandos landed shortly after British troops took up positions at Bagram airbase. Without waiting for the Russian delegation to land in Kabul, they took up duty as personal security unit for Rabbani, who declared himself the legitimate ruler of Afghanistan. The delegation, announced over Russian State TV ‘RTR’ Saturday November 17, means that the Russians will enter Kabul ahead of the Islamic Peace Force planned by the UN for supervising the formation of Afghanistan’s first post-Taliban ruling body. DEBKAfile’s sources in Washington and Moscow report that this fresh development was revealed hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin returned home from his ranch summit with US President George W. Bush, at Crawford, Texas. It may well represent one of the two presidents’ key areas of agreements. Bush may have made the gesture of allowing Russia to re-enter Kabul in a manner that would wipe out the ignominy the Red Army’s rout in Afghanistan 12 years ago. The 17-member official team will be led by Russia’s special envoy Alexander Oblov and comprise diplomats, high army officers and relief officials. It is scheduled to meet General Fahim, the Northern Alliance defense minister, who is reported by DEBKAfile’s sources to have set up a military council to rule Kabul in the interim, until the returning former president Burhanuddin Rabbani is installed. Rabbani, ousted by the Taliban five years ago, also returned to Kabul Saturday. ”The situation on the fronts has radically changed and we need a team on the spot in Kabul,” said Russian defense minister, Sergei Ivanov, in the broadcast. No other government, including the United States has recognized Rabbani as post-war ruler of Afghanistan. The US position vis a vis Moscow’s stance on this question is not yet clear. In the meantime, maneuvers advance for influence in shaping the future regime amid rivalries among Northern Alliance coalition factions, each bidding for a stake in the future government and control of the areas of the country abandoned by Taliban forces. ____________________________________

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (41743)	11/18/2001 12:47:09 PM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Respond to of 50167

Russians, Indians, Iranians all of them jockeying for the big prize and influence, Iran to have Shiites in place, Russians to make sure that road to warm waters remains free and India to keep Pakistan in check. The old players are in action with a speed that is little brazen. Who is talking about Afghans now? Only UN and US!! I hope US finds the best deal they are the people with the right objectives.

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (41743)	11/18/2001 2:41:58 PM
From: BubbaFred	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 50167

I hope your prediction of a broad settlement will come true, although I have reservations on this extreme optimism. As you mentioned, only US and the UN are the only two left to negotiate and establish a broad coalition government, and very rightfully so. Apparently, the US is the only one welcomed there, as common victim of O&O Talebans, provided support against the Russian occupation, and never been involved in any incursion into Afghanistan before. I think this is a very blessed development for both Afghanistan and the US, unless war breaks out between the tribal factions before the US has a chance to establish a coalition government. These Afghans are showing trust and respect for the US and are choosing their ally wisely. They have selected their big brother who will be capable to protect them from getting cheated and ruined by their neighboring vultures who had kept them tied in misery for the last 10 years. This new cry is a fight for ONE BIG BROTHER relationship that is a big slap to the face of those militant Muslims with anti-US sentiment all over the world. This will put the US in much brighter limelight in the Muslim world. If this were to occur, I have no doubt US government will be thrilled to take on the responsibility and Americans will be more than generous with humanitarian assistance, reconstruction and economic development. We'll see in the next two weeks if this is their intent and destiny, or whether they are doomed for more generations of misery. I think the former, and these Afghans are survivors with strong nationalism, and smart enough to differentiate saviors from the vultures. Those US warplanes and drones and gargantuan bombs are beyond anything they have experienced before, and they were almost seemingly sent by Allah to end two generations of misery. Why on earth would Russia want to get involved in this? I predict the Russians will be requested to leave the moment they arrive in Kabul. These Afghans will want a fresh clean start and do away with their heroin and cocaine economy which would be perpetuated with Russian presence. I am hoping this will end well for Afghanistan, and I am joining Ike with extreme optimism. Even Allah would not allow Afghans to suffer and remain in misery forever.