48 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 6 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds   

'Good War?' -- or War for Narcocracy?

By Mumia Abu-Jamal  Posted by Hans Bennett (about the submitter)       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   3 comments
Message Hans Bennett
[col. writ. 10/11/08]  (c) '08 Mumia Abu-Jamal

For many liberals, and certainly neo cons, while the Iraq War may be problematic, the war on Afghanistan was seen as 'the good war', for it could be more easily justified in light of the origins of 9/11.

After all, didn't Afghanistan host the Al Qaeda group which struck the twin towers and the Pentagon?

But the war and occupation of Afghanistan led almost inevitably to the Iraq war and occupation, for the war in Afghanistan seemed a cakewalk, so why not Iraq?

What a difference a few years makes, huh?

Now, the Taliban is making a comeback, especially in the rural hinterlands outside of Kabul.

And the poppy plant, the source of opium and heroin, which was outlawed under the strict Taliban, is now Afghanistan's chief export. Indeed, 95% of the world's heroin supply comes from Afghanistan.  And despite most news reports which blames the Taliban for the drug explosion, there is no shortage of drug dealers at the highest levels of the government of Hamid Karzai.  Indeed, a recent report from the New York Times claims that one of the biggest drug merchants in Afghanistan is named Ahmed Wali Karzai -- the brother of the president.

One of the people who informed on him was Habibullah Jan, a member of Parliament, who spoke openly on the floor of the national legislature of Karzai's drug trafficking.  Jan was later ambushed and assassinated while en route to his home in Kandahar.  Another informant told U.S. drug officials that such involvement was "no secret."  Hajji Aman Kheri said, "A lot of people in the Afghan government are involved in drug trafficking."

Here's the point.  In a matter of days, less than a month, a president will be elected (presumably Barack Obama) who will shift troops from Iraq to Afghanistan.

In essence, we will see U.S. (and NATO) troops fight for a puppet government that is mired in corruption and thick as thieves in the drug business.

President Karzai's brief does not run beyond Kabul. He is a puppet in a nation that has never abided puppets.  He fears his own people so much that he has a ring of Americans as armed bodyguards.  Some of the biggest drug dealers in the country also serve in government ministries.

This is not even a pretense of a war for democracy -- it's a war for narcocracy.

This is proof of an empire on the wane.

--(c) '08 maj

[Source: Risen, James, "Reports Link Karzai's Brother to Afghanistan Heroin Trade," New York Times, (Sun.), Oct.5, 2008, p.1-16.)

Must Read 2   News 2   Supported 1  
Rate It | View Ratings

Hans Bennett Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Hans Bennett is a multi-media journalist mostly focusing on the movement to free Mumia Abu-Jamal and all political prisoners. An archive of his work is available at insubordination.blogspot.com and he is also co-founder of "Journalists for Mumia," (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact EditorContact Editor
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

OpEdNews.com: An interview with Rob Kall

Organizing to Abolish the Prison-Industrial Complex

AUDIO & PRESS RELEASE: New Mumia Crime Scene Photos Unveiled for First Time in the US!

The Assassination of Fred Hampton -- a Book Review

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend