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.

Gold/Mining/Energy : Gold Price Monitor -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Alex who wrote (16289)	8/21/1998 4:20:00 PM
From: CIMA	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 116820

KABUL, Aug 21 (AFP) - US missile strikes on alleged terrorist networks inside Afghanistan are aimed at a phenomena that billions of dollars of CIA cash for anti-Soviet operations in the 1980's helped create, analysts here said Friday. Former US president Ronald Reagan's cash crusade now appears to have backfired as the superpower prepares to enter a long battle against Afghan-based terrorism,including Saudi exile Osama bin Laden accused of masterminding the US east Africa embassy bombings. "During the 1980's the United States blindly poured in cash to any group claiming to be fighting the Red Army, regardless of their credentials or ideology," explained a western diplomatic source. "Ironically one recipient of US aid was bin Laden, who with tacit US approval enrolled thousands of like-minded Arab Moslem fundamentalists to the cause," the source added. The so-called Jihad (holy war) against the 1979 Soviet invasion attracted thousands of foreign Moslem volunteers to the cause of freeing Afghanistan, who packed camps set up in the isolated mountains of the country. Rather than directly overseeing the operation, the United States channelled their donations and high-tech weapons -- including Stinger anti-aircraft missiles -- through Pakistani intelligence who supported the set up of the camps. "The US hands-off policy to the proxy war enabled individuals like bin Laden and his thousands of Arab supporters to access CIA funds with relative ease and set up elaborate operational bases in Afghanistan," explained an Afghan-watcher. Diplomatic and intelligence sources in neighbouring Pakistan say many of these facilities are still operational and continue to train and arm extremist Moslems from countries including Algeria, Yemen, Kuwait, Indian Kashmir and Sudan. They say the camps are concentrated around the town of Khost, situated around 120 kilometers south of Kabul and within 20 kilometers of the Pakistan border, and near the eastern city of Jalalabad, located 120 kilometers east of the capital. Since the Soviet pull-out in 1989, Afghan battle-hardened Moslem fighters have appeared in Bosnia, Indian administered Kashmir, Algeria, Azerbaijan and Chechnya. Gripped by civil war and all but abandoned by the international community, Afghanistan has become an ideal sanctuary where dissident groups can flourish. "The alleged monster that the US has entered into battle with is ironically something they helped create, but may prove difficult to destroy," noted a military analyst. The Taliban, who have imposed what they say is the world's purest Islamic state, continue to assert that bin Laden has no links to attacks on US interests and deny the existence of so-called terrorist training camps. At the same time they remain determined not to extradite bin Laden, even if hard proof linking him to the Kenya and Tanzania emerges. The Taliban maintain that to extradite bin Laden would contravene Islamic and Afghan customs of hospitality to a guest that enjoys close contacts and links with the hardline movements top leadership. "It was through a long and bloody anti-Soviet proxy war backed by US cash that this threat has appeared," noted a western analyst. "Now the US has entered into open battle with the elusive enemy, entering the role of the angered superpower trying to stamp out an enemy well hidden in the mountains, hoping to succeed where the Soviets failed."