Bill Sykes' Newsletter from America.
(December 2001)
An ex-Brit gives his views-(without fear
or favor)---of the American Scene
So. Where do we go from here. ???
On the 13th of November 2001, the Northern Alliance
forces entered the city of Kabul.
The high altitude bombing of the Taliban forces by American
aircraft has certainly appeased, (to some extent), America's
desire for retribution for the disastrous bombing of buildings
in New York and Washington, and placed the Taliban forces
in an apparent appearance of total disarray.
The first order of the day would appear to be the formation
of a multi-ethnic Coalition Government in order to avoid
retaliatory violence and chieftain rivalry leading to
complete chaos and possible anarchy.
 The
Northern Alliance troops are apparently eager to avenge
past humiliations at the hands of the Taliban and I would
imagine are now in the process of extracting revenge on
pro-Taliban Forces, especially Pakistanis who supported
and fought with the Taliban.
How can America and Britain support an Alliance with
characters such as Abdul Rashid Dostrum, Abdul Malik,
Ismail Khan, as potential members of an ethnic coalition
government?
How can the people of Afghanistan expect civilized Government
from people such as these, who have demonstrated such
a high degree of brutality and violence in their gang
warfare exploits of the past?
I wonder why the people of Kabul are cheering the Northern
Alliance, who have entered the city of Kabul as conquering
heroes, when they know full well that the victors will
bring tyranny and corruption equal to, or worse, than
their past Muslim extremist government, the hated, oppressive
Taliban.
Support of a newly constituted Afghan Government
American Forces have fought gallantly in many parts
of the world and have suffered heavy casualties defending
democracy.
For example Iraq, Beirut, Mogadishu, (Somali), Nicaragua,
and the terrible war in Vietnam come to mind.
Recent tape recordings by President Johnson tell of his
personal struggle to justify sending young Americans to
fight a war, which he knew we could not win, whilst at
the same time informing the American public of our successes
and victories, alongside the South Vietnamese Forces,
against the Vietcong.
 The
past record of American installation and backing of corrupt
governments in many areas of the world, General Pinochet
in Chile, Ngo Dinh Diem in South Vietnam, the Contras
in Nicaragua (Central America), Ferdinand Marcos in the
Philippines, Jean-Bertrand Aristide in Haiti, to name
but a few, leaves a lot to be desired. !!!
In the current situation, it would appear imperative
that we, the United States, distance ourselves from dictating
the form of government that should control the future
of Afghanistan.
The nations bordering Afghanistan should have a major
a say in the type and composition of any future government
of that country.
Russia, (Uzbekistan and Tajikistan), Pakistan, Iran,
and even China, (whether we like it or not), should make
a major contribution in deciding who will participate
in the establishment of a Government in Afghanistan.
When taking into account Afghanistan's past history it
would appear nigh impossible that a stable government
could be permanently installed.
Perhaps the somewhat impotent United Nations should be
part of the negotiation team. !!!
 Pakistan
with its large Muslim population would appear to be a
front runner in such an event, even though it was, and
probably behind the scenes still is, a staunch supporter
of the Taliban.
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