Afghanistan War, then and now

Robert Fisk has seen it before, and he asks Kabul 30 years ago, and Kabul today. Have we learned nothing? Independent 11/22/08

Thirty miles north, all those years ago, a Soviet general told us of the imminent victory over the "terrorists" in the mountains, imperialist "remnants" – the phrase Kabul communist radio always used – who were being supported by America and Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

Fast forward to 2001 – just seven years ago – and an American general told us of the imminent victory over the "terrorists" in the mountains, the all but conquered Taliban who were being supported by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The Russian was pontificating at the big Soviet airbase at Bagram. The American general was pontificating at the big US airbase at Bagram.

This is not déjà-vu. This is déjà double-vu. And it gets worse.

Fisk doesn't think things look very good for the US and NATO in Afghanistan. Or that adding another 20,000 Western troops is going to change that situation, except perhaps for making the costs to the US and NATO even greater.

Tags: afghanistan war, robert fisk