Afghan warlord plans $100m ski resort fighter plans a Swiss-style resort

[emad]

The Independent
By Nick Meo in Kabul
18 September 2004


NB: weird ungrammatical headline, dutifully copied from source....

Snip:

The mountains where the former warlord Izatullah Atif Rooz plans to build a $100m (£56m) mini-Switzerland, complete with ski slope and alpine chalets, were a killing ground just a few years ago.

"Ninety-five per cent of the houses were destroyed. Seven hundred of my family and friends were killed," he said. His tribe fought the Soviets, then the fundamentalist warlord Hekmatyar, then the Taliban.

A canny man with a gentle manner and an immaculate white shalwar kameez, he knew nothing but fighting from the age of 19 until an old Afghan friend took him to Switzerland to see a different way of living. Soon he was back at the front.

Now Mr Rooz believes his battles are over. His 2,000-strong private army has been disbanded, 700 weapons, eight tanks and 20 cannon handed over to UN disarmers, and he has embarked on a new life as a venture capitalist.
More:
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=563048

[WLKjr]

1. That's kewl

You see people over at freerepublic, not all "towel heads" are mean and want to kill kill kill. They just want to make a life in this world just like you do.

My grandpa always told me that people are different yes, but all want the same things, well most of them.

[emad]

2. "Just remember your are unique......like everybody else"

??
x

[WLKjr]

5. yeah, lol, something like that

you know one of those sometimes contradictory statements. The above sounds like an oxymoron....lol

[htuttle]

3. "I love to go awandering, along the mountain track..."

WHY did this story bring an image of General Dostum wearing lederhosen into my mind!?

WHY? WHY? WHY?!?!?!

MAKE IT STOP!!!

[Robb]

4. I'd ski there

...of course, I'd ski anywhere... ;)

Although it should be pointed out I'm usually against this kind of development in a rural area, especially without environmental safeguards, growth standards, attainable housing requirements, etc. But who the hell knows, it may work out great. It's probably too optimistic to imagine Afghanistan as a ski destination in my lifetime, but who knows how much cash he's got stocked away. :shrug:

[elf]

6. give people all over the world something to work on and for....

build a living, earn money and have a perspective of live.They will not be occupied with boredom and religious fanaticism and will focus more on daily life.