There is no doubt in our collective mind that the United States of America, the so-called land of the free, is manufacturing a crisis in Afghanistan where none should be. Only its leaders, civilian and military alike, know why it was necessary to make Afghans and foreigners feel they were in extreme danger, where there was none. The Russians and Chinese are there. Malawians are also there. No complaint. No problem.
True, the Tailiban, who are now official government soldiers, are patrolling the streets of almost all major Afghan cities, including Kabul. But no violence has been reported. The BBC, CNN, Aljazeera, and the MBC are freely covering the events there. So, where is the crisis that people are talking about? And what justification do people have for describing as refugees those who are voluntarily leaving Afghanistan?
We wonder why the world is manufacturing a crisis in Afghanistan.
Those who follow international affairs know that the USA was justified to invade Afghanistan in 2001, following the Al Qaida felling of the Twin Towers of the International Trade Centre in New York on September 11 of that year. The free world, including the Chinese and Russians, stood with the American people. Political and military leaders and expected a swift toppling of the Taliban government that played host to Osama Bin Laden and the Al Qaida militants, a swift cleanup operation thereafter, and a swift withdrawal to let the Afghans manage their own affairs.
But that was our wishful thinking as the USA and its allies had to stay there for 10 long years hunting for the fugitive Al Qaida leader, who was finally liquidated in May 2011. Our thinking then was that Barak Obama would order his troops out, and declare mission accomplished, but again that was our mere wishful thinking.
The American soldiers stayed on for over nine more years, purportedly training and arming the Afghan army and its special troops to wipeout the Taliban.
President Donald Trump, finally took the bold step of forcing the Taliban to talk to the US on the future of Afghanistan without American military support. Surprisingly, the Afghan government was reluctant to talk to the Taliban, whose only demand was that all foreign troops must leave Afghanistan for peace to reign.
Before the talks in Doha could bring in the requisite sheaths, Donald Trump was out of power and the new US President, Joseph Biden Jr gave a clear US and Allied troop withdrawal plan that would ensure that by the 11 September 2021, the 20th anniversary of the beginning of the Afghan war, the last American and allied soldier would have left.
The USA knew that the Taliban would fight the Afghan government after its troop withdrawal but perhaps it underestimated how networked the Taliban was and how swift their takeover of provinces would be.
It is now getting clear that the Taliban marched to state house without any serious challenge because the Afghan army was likely infiltrated by the Taliban.
How else do you explain an American-trained and heavily equipped national army, laying down arms, and letting the Taliban capture almost all regional capitals before going to sit in the president’s chair. No fight. Did the Americans arrange with the Afghan army not to fight and get their prize on a silver platter?
The Taliban entered Kabul without a fight. They did not chase anyone. They told the public that no one would be harmed. Non-military foreigners and embassy staff were free to stay. Those who wanted to leave were also free to leave until August 31, 2021. Why are people being evacuated as if they are in danger? Where is the crisis? Whose crisis? For whose benefit?
Someone is manufacturing this crisis to justify the bombing of Afghanistan and re-occupation of that land. Soon, the real culprits will be known.
Heaven has
gained, again
This weekend we are mourning the passing of ama Mbumba Banda, Sr, widow of the late Hon Dr Aleke Banda who died around noon on Thursday 26 August 2021.
Rest in peace ama. Heaven has gained; we have lost. But we believe in the resurrection and we will meet again, soon.
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