Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: ratan lal who wrote (12105)	11/30/2001 12:27:10 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

Its been well established that the CIA and ISI (Pakistan) sponsored, trained and financed Bin Laden and the Taliban to fight the Russians in Afghanistan. It has? Please share any information you have that the Taliban even existed as an organization during the 1980's. The way I remember it is that the US was supporting EVERY GROUP willing to fight the Russians, including Pashtuns, Tajiks, Uzbeks..., also known collectively as "muhadjedin"... etc. These groups include some of those currently known as the "Northern Alliance", who have opposed the Taliban. And we effectively ended our involvement with them shortly after the Russian withdrawal... And that seems to be what everyone is blaming the US about. That we "created" the muhadjedin (we didn't), and that we didn't properly re-educate them to civilian life after the war was over (Nolo Contendre). The question is a moral one. Since we didn't create the Afghan resistance, what obligation did the US have in "nation-building" in Afghanistan after the Russian's withdrew? And would having the US increase its presence in that region (which massive rebuilding and aid would have required) have destabilized Central Asia and worsened US relations with Russia after the collapse of communism? I can't answer that question. But let's face some reality here... The US and Pakistan have been at odds over their nuclear weapons program. So any US assistance to Afghanistan would likely have been held hostage to Pakistani demands that we lift sanctions. Furthermore, there was not an international public outcry of support for rebuilding Afghanistan. Should the US be blamed, or the UN? Or should we blame CNN, who was willing to highlight the plight of the Kosovars and Bosnians, but paid little attention to Afghanistan. And the ultimate question should really be.. What is the US responsibility for providing foreign aid, when little is being offered in return to the US by the recipient? Hawk

To: ratan lal who wrote (12105)	11/30/2001 12:37:13 PM
From: FaultLine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Its been well established that the CIA and ISI (Pakistan) sponsored, trained and financed Bin Laden and the Taliban to fight the Russians in Afghanistan. this has taken on an "Urban Legend" status. We've discussed the questionable nature of your assertion several times on this thread since early September. --fl

To: ratan lal who wrote (12105)	11/30/2001 1:21:01 PM
From: TimF	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 281500

Its been well established that the CIA and ISI (Pakistan) sponsored, trained and financed Bin Laden and the Taliban to fight the Russians in Afghanistan. No it has not been established at all. The taliban were not a significant power in Afghanistan until well after the Soviets left and our weapons stopped flowing. Bin Laden did participate in the fight against the Soviets but his main involvment was providing funds, not receiving US funds to go fight. Tim