| Predominantly Pashtuns, the Taliban emerged as a | | | | security forces and handing over power to a |
| political force in 1994 filling the vacuum left after | | | | democratically elected Government. However, the |
| the Soviet withdrawal. As a hard line Islamic | | | | creation of a lasting, stable and effective state in |
| movement they imposed a strict rule of law, | | | | Afghanistan appears no nearer today than it was |
| curbed corruption and generally made areas under | | | | eight years ago. It might be argued there is also a |
| their control safe for business and travel. The | | | | need to help the Afghan people by improving |
| stability this brought to a troubled region, | | | | education, health and infrastructure. There is |
| irrespective of any human rights issues, ensured | | | | certainly a moral and a humanitarian obligation to |
| the Taliban had the support of the West up to 9 | | | | improve living standards but this alone is no |
| 11 after which they were driven from power by | | | | justification for a military presence. These aims |
| a US-led coalition, ostensibly for sheltering Osama | | | | can be achieved through dialogue without war, |
| Bin Laden and other Al-Qaeda leaders. | | | | without large scale loss of life and without 'culture |
| Given the current situation in Afghanistan it is | | | | change'. |
| highly likely that Osama Bin Laden is now in | | | | Taking a wider view of the world and US foreign |
| Pakistan, assuming he is still alive (and it would | | | | policy in particular begs the question why does |
| profit some to suppress news of his death). It is | | | | there appear to be an emphasis on imposing 21st |
| undoubtedly Pakistan, a nuclear country, not | | | | century society and democracy on countries that |
| Afghanistan that poses the greatest threat to | | | | have hitherto existed for centuries without it and |
| stability in the region. US intelligence officials | | | | whose geography, religion and culture might not |
| recently stated that there were only about 100 | | | | be conducive to that form of government? |
| Al-Qaeda fighters left in Afghanistan and a Senate | | | | Democracy has seen a rapid expansion in the last |
| Hearing was told that Al-Qaeda had effectively | | | | thirty years, in Latin America, in Eastern Europe, in |
| been destroyed in the country. If this is the case | | | | Africa....History suggests that a military victory in |
| why are NATO forces being increased and why | | | | Afghanistan is highly unlikely. Britain and Russia, |
| eight years after the initial conflict is war against | | | | seeing the strategic importance of a country with |
| the Taliban ongoing and seemingly intensifying? | | | | important overland trade routes both failed in |
| This question would have limited legitimacy if | | | | attempts to secure control over this land-locked, |
| there was no distinction between the Taliban and | | | | mountainous, tribal region. So is democracy and |
| Al-Qaeda and it certainly serves some agendas to | | | | the imposition of a subservient regime a more |
| suggest they are one and the same. Whether or | | | | subtle and covert way of assuming and exercising |
| not this is the case is open to debate but there | | | | economic and strategic control? |
| are fundamental differences. The Taliban are | | | | Looking at the bigger picture, a map of US bases |
| essentially ethnic Afghans operating within distinct | | | | throughout the region, particularly in relation to |
| boundaries with a local agenda which, it could be | | | | Iran, the Middle East and Central Asia might |
| argued, currently includes defending their country | | | | suggest that Afghanistan is part of a much wider |
| against a foreign invasion. Al-Qaeda is a global | | | | strategic and economic imperative. After all, the |
| terrorist organisation comprising mainly Islamic | | | | vast oil and gas resources in Central Asia would |
| militants. This is a very important issue because if | | | | require an outlet - through a country with a |
| the two groups are not interlinked then the | | | | stable, sympathetic Government. |
| Taliban become purely a local Afghan and not an | | | | Time will be the judge as to whether the US-led |
| international problem. | | | | coalition is engaged solely in a war on terror or |
| The objective of an ongoing military presence | | | | whether, to a greater or lesser degree, this is a |
| may well be to ensure Afghanistan does not again | | | | smokescreen masking longer-term strategic, |
| become a haven for terrorists through training its | | | | economic and political goals. |