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Yahoo!A 400-page plan, written by Afghani leaders under U.N. supervision, outlines the final stages of U.S. and NATO withdrawal, and details a rebuilding effort on a scale not seen since World War Two.
NICK TUCKER
Core to the plan is the presence of the U.N. peacekeeping and humanitarian forces in order to guarantee the quality of life of all citizens through assurances of peace, a means to earn a living, and basic food and health care. “Afghani warlords and the Taliban use access to resources as a source of power. When these resources are readily available, their authority will be neutralized or minimized,” the report states.
The plan focuses heavily on rebuilding schools and retraining teachers who have not taught since the Soviet-backed regime was toppled by U.S.-backed Mujahedeen in 1992. “An abundance of research has shown that individuals worldwide who are literate are less likely to address problems with non-diplomatic means” the report states, adding that this is also true for U.S. political leaders.
One Taliban official, who was in a minority opposing the plans, explained that his group was being supported by Baptist groups in the U.S. which “understand the need for men to rule women and the legitimacy of martyrdom as a political strategy.”
Afghani leaders are hopeful that future powerful states will finally attend to the lessons learned by previous imperial powers, including Britain, Russia, and now the U.S. Mikhail Gorbachev, in a recently-published book on the collapse of the Soviet Union, has revealed that he warned President George W. Bush against attempting to occupy Afghanistan. Mr. Bush’s response: “Hey, Gorby, lighten up. The Taliban and the Mujahedeen may have brought you down, but it was we who provided the funding. They’re in our pocket and they know it.”
“I wonder what he thinks now that U.S. missiles are bringing down U.S. drones, and the U.S. had to nationalize banks because Americans wanted control of the means of production and not just blank checks for the financiers,” Mr. Gorbachev said.
Love the spoof. However, “Afghani” only refers to the currency. It should be “Afghan leaders.”
Comment on November 14, 2008 12:35 pm