Seriously, what are we actually doing in Afghanistan?

Posted by ilaksh on Sunday July 12, 2009 @02:38AM
from the self-post dept.

Supposedly the primary goal is to find bin Laden and 'al-Qaeda' and 'remove the Taliban regime' because they 'supported the terrorists'.

1. There are a crapload of people saying that al-Qaeda was really a CIA database and that name isn't even used by any actual terrorist groups. Is this something conspiracy theorists made up? Why would someone make something like that up? Does anyone know what al-Qaeda really is?

2. Do we really need to 'remove the Taliban regime' because they 'supported the [supposed] terrorists'? Is there another reason to take over the country, and if so, why don't we say what it is? Does this really have nothing to do with oil/natural gas, opium or simply control over territory?

Here are some things that make me suspect that the reasons given for the war in Afghanistan are false pretexts:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/2608713.stm Central Asia pipeline deal signed "The building of the trans-Afghanistan pipeline has been under discussion for some years but plans have been held up by Afghanistan's unstable political situation."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Afghanistan#European_influence_in_Afghanistan_.281826-1919.29

Here is another: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7460682.stm 'Opium financed British rule in India'

This map shows the (coincidental?) proximity of Afghanistan to India. http://www.welt-atlas.de/datenbank/karten/karte-0-9014.gif

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_Wars

To me it seems like they might really want to build a natural gas pipeline, take the profits, and possibly may be financing it with drug money. The worst part is lying about the actual nature and reasons for military and covert operations. Someone please tell me I have just been confused by reading too many conspiracy theories.

( 6 comments | 4 points | on HN )

Re:Seriously, what are we actually doing in Afghanistan? by Salvatore on Sunday July 12, 2009 @03:23AM (#699927)

"There are a crapload of people saying that al-Qaeda was really a CIA database and that name isn't even used by any actual terrorist groups."

'Craploads of people' is always a valid source.

You have just been confused by reading too many conspiracy theories.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Seriously, what are we actually doing in Afghanistan? by mahmud on Sunday July 12, 2009 @03:06AM (#699907)

Politics eh? Kuro5hin is that way.

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Re:Seriously, what are we actually doing in Afghanistan? by noonespecial on Sunday July 12, 2009 @03:49AM (#699951)

To me it seems like they might really want to build a natural gas pipeline, take the profits, and possibly may be financing it with drug money.

Ya know, for a country that supposedly barges in everywhere and just takes the oil with our mighty military, we sure do get a lousy return on that investment.

Now get your tin foil hat off my lawn, I have a moon landing to fake.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Seriously, what are we actually doing in Afghanistan? by cubicle67 on Sunday July 12, 2009 @05:59AM (#700021)

Your country as a whole certainly doesn't profit, but there's certain corporations doing extremely well out of your wars

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Re:Seriously, what are we actually doing in Afghanistan? by ilaksh on Sunday July 12, 2009 @04:41AM (#699984)

That's the problem, the country doesn't profit, which is why we can't know what is really going on.

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Re:Seriously, what are we actually doing in Afghanistan? by onreact-com on Sunday July 12, 2009 @06:31AM (#700035)

Ever since the Taleban have been ousted the Heroin production in Afghanistan has skyrocketed. So basically the war was about regaining the control over heroin production as far as I'm concerned. Now 80% of the global heroin market is provided by Afghanistan.

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