if the usa wants to makhe afghanistan stabilize. they should be honest wilth themself thats mean the real enemy in afghansiatan is the isi of pakistan and the intelegent services of mi5. these two big conser would not allouwd the word and the usa particularly to make from afghanistan a country with peace and prosperity.
i we want to breng peace the us militairy forces should to strike the al-qaide in pakistan without of any permission of pakistani administration because this admininstration is a part of the big probleem. why usa can't see that?

Robert, before Brzeziński and Kissinger decided to import, organize and arm religious fanatics and turn Afghanistan into a Killing field, it was a reasonably safe place for foreigners to visit. Alien, yes, like stepping into another dimension, and I suppose those who traveled through it during that time were seen as equally strange and unfamiliar by the people there. But we were treated with the respect most civilized places treat guests, and we never felt hostility.

You might want to take a look at the photography of Luke Powell, who traveled to many areas in visits from 1973 to 2003, and see if they might help you better tell the whole story. http://www.lukepowell.com/

Luke, what wonderful pictures. Everyone who is interested in Afghanistan should see them. Mike rubbo

To be clear, I am not Luke, but I agree his photos, and the brief comments he adds to many of them, should be viewed by anyone with an interest in a better understanding of that land and people. Please share that link with all you think might benefit.

At my request Mr. Powell sent me a scan of a 1977 Ariana Airlines calendar with the title: "Afghanistan - Haven of Peace and Tranquility." You an see the image at: http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo235/ConsAreLiars/ArianaCalendarCover-600.jpg . Maybe a bit over the top, but not that far off.

You can also see a photo of Luke Powell surrounded protectively by the top guys in one village he visited at http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/oo235/ConsAreLiars/DSC00015.jpg

Mr. Greenwald, please take good care, stay safe and come back, we need you. You are one of our heros. Thank you so much for what you are doing and have already done.

It seems to me from some of the comments above that people are really confused between the Taliban and Al Qaeda. From what I understand we should have no quarrels with the Taliban, Bin Laden is Al Qaeda and for the most part they've not gotten along. Of course our involvement in that part of the world has united some of the more radical Taliban with Al Qaeda.

I think President Obama can take some peaceful measures without threat of military violence. Those poor people there must be so sick and tired of all the bloodshed and loosing their loved one.

Absolutely, Caroline! There are major differences between Al Qaeda and the Taliban, and there are also major differences within parts of the Taliban. There are certainly some moderate elements of the Taliban with whom we should be negotiating because they want peace . And many of the Al Qaeda members we initially went after in Afghanistan are now in Pakistan.

Read "Talking with the Taliban" by The Nation's Robert Dreyfuss for more info: http://www.thenation.com/blogs/dreyfuss/415576/talking_to_the_taliban

I wish you the best. My budget is uncertain but I will try and send something soon.
I am retired and work in a voluntary program of one of the historic peace churches.
I will also pray for your effort that it touch hearts and minds of those in nation
and those in high places of authority.

Thanks Bob! We certainly can appreciate how difficult it can be to contribute in this economy. But there are great ways to get involved that don't cost money. If you haven't done so already, sign the petition for congressional oversight hearings that can educate people about this war: http://rethinkafghanistan.com/

And send the petition and our videos to your friends, family, and colleagues at your peace church.

Robert, Thank you for your work. I am the founder of Jobs for Afghans and I agree with Kim O'Connor of Afghans4Tomorrow that The US should be helping build roads, provide power and clean water AND train their military and police. My org's program stresses cash-for-day-labor jobs, in large numbers, immediately. There is plenty to do like canal and irrigation ditch-clearing, and basic improvement of secondary dirt roads, which would require only hand tools and minimal technology expertise. A base wage of $10 per day would compete with the Taliban's pay of $8 per day (yes the Taliban pays!) I agree with the idea of congressional oversight but I am concerned it becomes another grandstand platform for politicians with no specific agenda ever adopted. 500,000 new day labor jobs would put a real dent in the insurgency and allow Afghans to warm and feed their families. Any chance of adopting a few specific planks for what we would like oversight hearings to accomplish?

http://jobsforafghans.org

Ralph, thanks for the wonderful work you're doing too. Would you be interested in discussing your group some more, or blogging about it?

I am totally against this military build up and more war in this poor place. I am so sad for these people for what they have had to endure at the hands of so many. May we find the way to Peace on Earth. Thanks, robert, for your wonderful efforts and for never stopping your great work. Jane in Seattle

I just finished reading "Three Cups of Tea" which deals with bringing education to Pakistan and Afghanistan. The boarder areas are so poor that the people have no options other than those offered by the extremists. We need to take a different approach to make a lasting peace and to create educational and economic opportunities for the people in those areas.

See https://www.ikat.org/ for more information

Be safe Robert. We're all watching and learning along with you.

Peace.
Linda

Thank you for the wonderful work you are doing. Our little peace group of about 30 seniors is using your videos in our discussions and to spread the reality of the war in Afghanistan in a way that was unachievable previously.

Thanks Judy, what group are you working with?

So, are we to wait until they implode and their people are subjected to the kind of brutal barbarism of places like Ruwanda? Do we wait til it spills over to other countries and erupts into a tsunami engulfing other countries in the region and making it a tinder box? I don't like to impose ourselves anywhere unless it saves lives and us from worse fate later. Please reply.

We have all been waiting for a Witness like you, know that we are all with you in Spirit, that we value your sacrafice and your unfailing determination to Speak ~with~ the People; and not ~at~ them.

Our Hearts are with you, may each day bring the Circle together again, together we can do this great thing.

With Hope and Prayers
Tricia

Violence begats violence. We must find a non-military solution.

The video reminds me of a night I spent in a hotel in Belfast in 1986. the same walls, barbwire, security checks. Thanks goodness that is over!

I am disappointed that the only footage that you have is within the limited confines of a parking garage? I would have thought that you could have at least fimed the entry to Kabal and/or the trip from the airport to the secure location that you are now in. This is not very effective or dramatic footage. This could have been filmed in Iraq or even Los Angeles. What is the purpose of this snippet of meaningless film?

Michael, Robert has been filming and conducting lots of interviews for the Rethink Afghanistan documentary. This first video update was just to underscore the incredible amount of security that is everywhere in Kabul, and the rawness of it alone seems pretty dramatic.

Please keep doing this important and critical work. We are lucky to have you bringing this information back the the American public.

Thank you so much!!
John Bottorff

I believe that Americans would overwhelmingly agree that prosecuting the Bush administration is a much higher prioirty than wasting billions more, killing and displacing innocent people. Haven't the war profiteers been given enough blood money? People before profits! Out dated thinking is what has brought our country to its knees. Peace and knowledge are the only salvation left to us.

If we are to show the world that America has changed, then it is imperative to not proceed with this "war." Also, besides the human tragedy, it is not economically viable. Every nation in history, that has attempted to invade and occupy Afghanistan, has been economically destroyed by their attempt. President Obama; there are other ways to change this country without further sacrificing our once proud stature. Further, I know that if you are using 9-11 as an excuse, then you should (and must) have a real examination and public investigation, not a political one, into what really transpired to let 9-11 happen. No one believes in that many consequences happening on the same day with 9-11 as the result. We do not live in Disneyland.

I am the current Vice President of Afghans4Tomorrow. The guesthouse Maureen mentioned below is in west Kabul, Demazang. This area was totally destroyed during the civil war, after the Soviets left and prior to the Taliban taking control of Kabul. We have moved our guesthouse, in part due to security. Since 2006 when Maureen visited the security in Kabul has gotten much worse. But the walled homes is not due to this current situation, but a normal way to build homes in this region.

My wish for the US involvement in Afghanistan is to help with funding to rebuild, not blow up. I am concerned that the Obama administration is focusing on al Qaeda, when it seems everyone knows that they are more in Pakistan than Afghanistan.

We armed the nation in the 80's then left. We owe this nation some help now. I volunteer with Afghans4Tomorrow to help educate the Afghans, provide basic medical care and vocational training, and other projects the Afghans themselves ask for.

The US should be helping build roads, provide power and clean water AND train their military and police (and justice system that is severely lacking there!). That will stem the growth of the Taliban. The notion that we can blow them up is illogical and counter productive.

Kim, would you be interested in discussing your work with Afghans4Tomorrow?

I would be thrilled to do so. I assume you can see my email even though it is not displayed?

The A4T (Afghans For Tomorrow) Guesthouse in which I stayed in September 2006 was guarded, as was the house near the end of the block. Between and around these fortified and gated enclaves stood buildings completely gutted by the war that raged among the warlords for the power in Kabul, after the Taliban were scattered. Who knows what conditions prevailed behind many gates, as there was no way to see into most homes, they were so fortified and walled. Security entering and leaving was not quite as military-seeming as at your hotel, but I know the feeling of anxiety when exiting to get in the van. Within a week, it passed. So, I assume, have Afghans adjusted to this life of vigilance and caution. Why do we remain pugnaciously rampant and military in a country where our (and that of our corporate mercenaries, like Blackwater) presence adds so much provocation to violence, tension and fear? I don't understand what we have against the Afghan people, that we would add to their misery this way. Why aren't we aiding them, in whatever form they wish their form of government and religious observance to take, rather than trying to impose our will and might upon them?

Maureen, these are excellent questions that we intend to focus on. Thanks!

Mr Greenwald, you are doing a great job exposing what it happening. The Afghani people are just like any other people who want to live in peace where truth and justice prevail. While there is no military solution for the problems we have in Afghanistan, if we can help the population there by building schools, hospitals and means to produce food and jobs, it will be just what they need for the development of their countries. We will benefit too since it will improve our image in the world and get us out from the vicious circle of wars, revenge, and devastation.

Robert,
Besides thanking you for your continued work and contributions to peace, justice and truth, I want to suggest you contact Ann Wright, the Colonel and Diplomat who resigned from her post in March 2003 as the Iraq war was being launched. Her book DISSENT: Voices of Conscience will inspire you even more. She reopened the US Embassy in Kabul in late 2001 and is a brilliant and superb speaker whose views today you may wish to include in your film.
MANY THANKS!

I have been looking for a place to help me figure things out. To do rebuilding on a decent, pro-people level now requires armed protection, so how much in the way of troops do we need to even protect peace workers?

In The World 10, Winter: Afghanistan and New York, is my latest "In The World" anti-war painting. This contrasts a portrait of an Afghani woman in the snow and Afghani hills, with a winter view on my 17th floor, New York City terrace in the snow. The caption that accompanied the photo of the woman was "Heavy snow began falling after the [2009] new year; 1300 Afghans are estimated to have died from cold this winter." The artist had permission to use the photo as a basis for the painting from the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission (AIHRC). http://www.gilpatrickart.com/gallery2_people/people_painting-01.htm