08/24/2020
US Involvement in Afghanistan Before 9/11
Some believe that the United States’ policy towards Afghanistan is a product of the terror attacks on 9/11. In the aftermath of the Twin Towers crumbling into Ground Zero, millions losing their lives and livelihoods, the US entered the Middle East with a vengeance. While it is true that the planes being hijacked, thousands being brutally murdered, and a huge dent on the American economy were enough provocation, the US had already been a step ahead.
To dissect the US foreign policy into two - the before and after image of it - is not historically accurate. The US’ disposition towards Afghanistan remained unchanged after the terrorist attack, in that, it was orientated towards world domination - with or without 9/11. ‘The policy of empire’, it was called, because it focused on the supremacy of the American identity.
In 1979, when Soviet forces entered Afghanistan, the United States were supremely interested in whether Russia would be able to set up colonies there. To ruin their prospect, the US fed insurgents into the system to further their own agenda. America sponsored terrorism in the face of competition from Russia, and then, went on to become the face of International anti-terrorism in the upcoming decades.
Approximately fifteen weeks after the decimation of The World Trade Centre, and accompanying attacks on the Pentagon, an international survey revealed that US diplomats were furthering their own agenda in the Middle East, while marketing it as a movement of collective interest and protection of several other countries. They were acting unilaterally, with their interests in subjugating third world countries, drawing hefty revenues, supposedly creating a stronger shield for America - everything, for itself.
Under George Bush’s administration, it was agreed upon that US troops would not be used for peacekeeping exercises. In fact, American monopoly on the world market, was promoted as the obvious right thing.
On October 7th, US planes bombed the unassuming terrain of Afghanistan, followed by on-ground assault by Special Forces, starting October 11th. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, in aTV dialogue dated November 18, asserted that the massive, globe shattering mission was planned in about three weeks. It was as unbelievable as ludicrous of a lie. The efficiency with which America seemed to ‘retaliate’, is testament to years, decades of planning - one that started many years before the formation of Ground Zero.
The US had been tossing around the idea of conquering Central Asia in as early as the 90s. The pursuit of oil, cheap labour, and revenue would make America a stronger Superpower than it already seemed to be. To take pressure off of the primary dependency for oil off of the Persian Gulf region, US Special Forces undertook united ventures with Kazakhstan in 1997, and Uzbekistan in the following year. They were training for the larger prey - Afghanistan.
Pentagon was debating the avenues through which they could get the valuable assets into the economy, and the global market front. The Russian pipeline, along with several others, were a no-go. So, they developed the idea of an alternate route - south from Turkmenistan, cutting across western Afghanistan and through Pakistan into the laps of the Indian Ocean. But one needs to conquer a region, or take its managerial reins into its own hands, before they can start manipulating the world map to aid their market.
The idea of the pipeline being routed through Afghanistan was presented, and marketed by the US-based Unocal oil company. They had to participate in several rounds of debates with the Taliban regime. These ended on a bitter note in 1998, as the political ties between the two States became hostile following the bombing in Kenya. Osama Bin Laden was allegedly responsible for the destruction, and the Clinton regime wanted his head. Between attacks and counter attacks, all discussion regarding the pipeline was lost.
Early in 1999, State Department counterterrorism chief Michael Sheehan and Assistant Secretary of State Karl E. Inderfurth formed a team and traveled to Islamabad to attend an important meeting with the Taliban’s deputy foreign minister, Abdul Jalil. They were wary of the attacks, and threatened consequences.
The then Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, decided to help the US in overthrowing Laden. The government supplied information to the USA, and prepared for a full blown attack on the terrorist leader’s base. The project was called off prematurely on October 12, 1999, when Sharif was replaced by General Pervez Musharraf , following a historic military coup.
With secret paramilitary on the ground, and Predator drones buzzing in the air, the CIA was setting up a hidden war against Afghanistan. Robert McFarlane was hired by two individuals in the Reagan administration - Joseph and James Ritche. As a security adviser, he was to aid them in preparing anti-Taliban assaults (guerilla), among Afghani refugees taking shelter in Pakistan. Their primary contact was Abdul Haq, the former mujahedin leader. He was brutally executed by the terrorist team, and left to die by the CIA.
The renowned American measures against terrorism were nothing but timing and shrewd marketing. The BBC reported that US generals had corresponded with former Pakistani Foreign Secretary Niaz Naik in approximately mid-July of plans, threatening war against Taliban, and consequently Afghanistan. If anything, then the events of 9/11 only furthered a resolve the US had been harbouring for decades.
By Rasekh Jelani
