posted on November 13, 2001 05:54:05 PM
That should be DISCUSS___As the "Northern Alliance" makes its way into the interior of Afghanistan its actual identity becomes more relevant. MSNBC is saying that it is neither "northern" nor an "alliance"! The U.S. has on many previous occasions, with varying degrees of success, tried to install new governments in foreign nations. There may very well be some considerable dissent among the so-called "alliance" members as to who will govern and what form such a government will take. On one hand any configuration should be far superior to the Taliban, but is not near-anarchy a possibility? There are many alliance members who are from other than northern regions and their beliefs vary somewhat from the more northern peoples. If Bin Laden were captured tomorrow, how long would it take and how much U.S. involvement would be necessary to ensure peace? BTW- does anyone really trust the so-called Taliban defectors?
[ edited by stusi on Nov 13, 2001 05:55 PM ]
posted on November 14, 2001 06:49:44 AM
It is, and they haven't changed much since Lawrence was able, through his personal charisma, to organize a few of the Arab tribes enough to accomplish a few victories in union. It didn't last long and he left in frustration when he had to realize that the mystical reverence that was placed in him wasn't enough to overcome the rivalries that had been in place for centuries.
I doubt that we will leave so conveniently. Instead there will be years of assistance to one after another seemingly sympathetic leader or tribe with the hope of enough stability to enable all that Caspian black gold to be extricated. It'll cost billions of tax dollars so that oil importers can reap profits.
posted on November 15, 2001 07:11:48 AM
Bush says "No Fair! This is MY War!!"
The victorious Northern Alliance provided a foretaste of trouble by insisting yesterday that it would take care of security in Afghanistan and that an international peacekeeping force was unnecessary.
Within the last 48 hours, the alliance has defied the US by capturing Kabul and has rejected calls from America, Britain and
the United Nations to create a broad-based government that would include moderate elements of the Taliban.
The latest alliance rebuff and the re-emergence of feudal warlords in the south of the country dampened celebrations in
Washington and London over the ease with which Kabul fell on Tuesday.
