Kabul On the Edge: Residents say feel less safe, conspiracy theories about U.S. run rampant...

[JackRiddler]

Source: Stars and Stripes

KABUL, Afghanistan — To many in the Afghan capital, there’s an obvious explanation for the dramatic re-emergence of the Taliban — a force that seemed thoroughly dust-binned after the arrival of the world’s most powerful army seven years ago.

"Now," as one 23-year-old Kabul shopkeeper, Qand Mohmadi, put it, "we think America is supporting both the Taliban and the Afghan government. That’s what everyone says." Indeed, the rumor of U.S. support for the Taliban is virtually ubiquitous in Kabul. And absurd as it might sound after a year in which American and other Western troops suffered record casualties in fighting with insurgents, many Kabul residents say they see at least a kernel of truth in the story.

"We don’t know for sure why they are doing it," said Daoud Zadran, a middle-aged real estate broker. "Politics is bigger than our thoughts. But maybe America wants to build up the Taliban so they have an excuse to remain in Afghanistan because of the Iranian issue."

Byzantine political conspiracy theories are nothing new in a region with little tradition of transparent government and where the arrival of international troops in 2001 was preceded by a long history of shadowy meddling by Western powers.

Read more: http://www.stripes.com/articleprint.asp?section=104&article=67688&archive=true

[acmavm]

1. Hell, they ought know, they live there. And we have a track record with

dealing with both sides of a massacre. Iran/Iraq, Iraq in general. I wouldn't trust us either.

[Tempest]

3. We supported both Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq after the invasion

We armed the Sunni Great Awakening group after arming the Shiite groups.

The Afghans have a very real fear.

[acmavm]

4. True. And that's very recent history and in the 'neighborhood'. Hell, I don't

trust us, like I said. We scare me.

[JackRiddler]

8. Yup. "Al Qaeda" attacked Shiites, US-armed Shiites ethnically cleansed Sunnis...

and then the Sunnis who were the insurgency ran to accept the US offer of a payoff.

One thing is sure: All of them hate US now. Even the Kurds.

Except in Afghanistan, you have to question the logic - the Iraqi insurgency was costing the US forces, whereas Afghanistan is largely off the political radar. Why go in now and screw that up? (Or: Who's still imagining that there's going to be a pipeline through there?)

[blm]

7. heh...watch out...you'll attract the 'conspiracy theory' police who seem to show up on threads

noting the actions our nation took in abetting global terror networks over the last few DECADES.

[EFerrari]

9. I have a feeling that either the Army or the contractors will be busted

for arms dealing to both sides.

[acmavm]

11. You mean like they've been doing in Iraq? Why, I thought that was their

part-time job. You know, that extra little effort to cover the shortfall in their paychecks. The shortfall that's keeping them from becoming rich men.

:sarcasm:

[balantz]

2. Like what happened to that massive amount of missing U.S. weapons? n/t

[frog92969]

5. We always arm both sides

It's called job security.

[leftstreet]

6. K&R Interesting article

But there’s also another theory about bin Laden.

"A lot of people say that Osama is really from America," said Nasrallah Wazidi, shrugging noncommittally. "They say he’s just playing a role like a movie star."

[mhatrw]

10. Those crazy Afghanis! Always thinking the worst about their kind benefactors! n/t