9/11 helped US achieve its goals in Afghanistan and Central Asia

Some political analysts say the 2001 US invasion of Afghanistan was aimed at protecting and promoting its interests in the region, not defeating Al Qaeda and Taliban. Muhammad Ameen Wakman, professor of political science at Kabul University, said the US had planned to come to the region before 9/11. The US objectives in the region […]

US funding of the Afghan Taliban

A year-long military-led investigation has concluded that U.S. taxpayer money has been indirectly funneled to the Taliban under a $2.16 billion transportation contract that the United States has funded in part to promote Afghan businesses. The unreleased investigation provides seemingly definitive evidence that corruption puts U.S. transportation money into enemy hands, a finding consistent with […]

CIA asset bodyguard killed Karzai’s brother

The bodyguard who assassinated President Hamid Karzai’s brother had been working closely with US Special Forces and the CIA before he was recruited by the Taliban, raising fears over the Islamist movement’s increasingly sophisticated intelligence apparatus which has managed to threaten the inner circles of power in Afghanistan. Sardar Mohammad, who shot Ahmed Wali Karzai […]

What has the war in Afghanistan really achieved?

So far, the war in Afghanistan has lasted nine years, eight months and some days, cost the lives of 2,547 coalition troops, and between 14,000 and 34,000 civilians, created millions of refugees, and opened up a black hole in Western economies that has sucked in more $500bn dollars. Afghanistan costs the US around $10bn a […]

The Taliban and the future of Afghanistan

The Afghan Taliban are not one unified group. They are many groups. As Juan Cole said, “what the U.S. calls the Taliban is four or five different groups, and they’re not necessarily all Mullah Omar people.” Mullah Omar is the fellow who was basically in charge in Afghanistan when the Americans invaded in 2001. Today […]

Occupation of Afghanistan biggest boon for Al-Qaeda

Al-Qaeda strategists believe that foreign occupation of Afghanistan has been the biggest factor in generating Muslim support for uprisings against their governments, according to the just-published book by Syed Saleem Shahzad, “Inside Al-Qaeda and the Taliban”. Shahzad had been the Pakistan bureau chief for the Hong Kong- based Asia Times, and had unique access to […]

In 2001 Fox News reported Osama bin Laden passed away from illness

In December, 2001, Fox News reported that Osama bin Laden had passed away from illness, excerpts of the article following: Osama bin Laden has died a peaceful death due to an untreated lung complication, the Pakistan Observer reported, citing a Taliban leader who allegedly attended the funeral of the Al Qaeda leader. “The Coalition troops […]

US drone attacks in Pakistan produce little but enemies

The number of drone attacks has ramped up under President Obama, to an estimated 166. This represents a 300 per cent increase in the number of drone attacks in Pakistan compared to those during George W Bush’s presidency. The number of people killed in 2010 by American drones is thought to be between 607 and […]

Guantanamo torture of Australian David Hicks

David Hicks was a 26-year-old Australian drifter who converted to Islam, changed his name to Muhammed Dawood and ended up at training camps in Afghanistan. Hicks was sold to US forces for about $1,500 and became detainee 002, the second person processed into Guantanamo on January 11, 2002, the day the facility opened. Hicks was […]

CIA agent Raymond Davis and the Fraudulent War on Terror

When CIA-agent Raymond Davis gunned down two Pakistani civilians in broad daylight on a crowded street in Lahore, he probably never imagined that the entire Washington establishment would spring to his defense. But that’s precisely what happened. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Mike Mullen, John Kerry, Leon Panetta and a number of other US bigwigs have […]