From here: https://fx.substack.com/p/world-roundup-august-14-15-2021
Hmm, I wonder why the US wanted this guy so bad, lemme just pop over to Wikipedia real quick....
In July 2000, Taliban leader Mohammed Omar, in an effort to eradicate heroin production in Afghanistan, declared that growing poppies was un-Islamic, resulting in one of the world's most successful anti-drug campaigns. The Taliban enforced a ban on poppy farming via threats, forced eradication, and public punishment of transgressors. The result was a 99% reduction in the area of opium poppy farming in Taliban-controlled areas, roughly three-quarters of the world's supply of heroin at the time. The ban was effective only briefly due to the deposition of the Taliban in 2002.
Hmm :thonk:
Its totally fucked. Heroin only became big in Afghanistan in the first place as a direct result of the destabilisation of the country by the mujahideen fighters. One of the leaders of one of the mujahideen groups in particular became massively rich from it. And that was one of the factors that allowed the Taliban to rise and gain legitemacy in the country, helping Afghanis fight off the corrupt druglords that were running the country. And the CIA new all about it and turned a blind eye to the drugs of course, even helped them at some points.
Honestly did not know about this, I was too young at the time. Some great bangers from the article:
But Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld immediately objected to portions of the deal that reportedly would allow the Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, to remain in Kandahar to "live in dignity" in opposition custody, so long as he renounced terrorism. It was not clear whether the U.S. objections would impede the surrender. Mr. Rumsfeld did say that the U.S. military campaign would continue vigorously, and for some time.
In Islamabad, Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef, a Taliban spokesman and former ambassador to Pakistan, said the surrender agreement had been reached to save civilian lives. "Tomorrow the Taliban will start surrendering their weapons to Mullah Naqibullah, a famous commander," he said.
The Taliban were finished as a political force, said Mullah Zaeef, adding, "I think we should go home."
There were still "pockets of Taliban and Qaida fighters in nontrivial numbers" in several parts of the country, Mr. Rumsfeld said. He expressed a general sense of optimism, saying, I do not think there will be a negotiated end to the situation that's unacceptable to the United States.
I'm not totally sure I buy the line about 'civilian casualties', but still...
One thing I've been thinking about recently is whether the neocons acutally ever were ideologically committed to remaking Afghanistan under the ideological doctrine of liberal capitalism, or whether it was just a mega grift the whole time. Probs was a bit of both.
the initial invasion was conducted because the US refused to even pretend they wanted bin Laden extradited legitimately
They still had 20 years of extraction to do, think of all the lost profits if they accepted the Taliban's surrender!
We could have avoided all the needless death and what will follow… just so Bush could satiate his ego
