When the then British Defence Secretary John Reid announced in April that an extra 3,200 British troops were to be sent to Afghanistan, he said he hoped they might get through their deployment without a shot being fired. This was a preposterously disingenuous statement meant to sustain the stereotypical image of British ‘Tommy Atkins’ as the friendly peacemaker risking his life to bring harmony to troublesome foreigners. The reality is that the level of violence is now greater than at any time since the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Over 600 people were killed in May alone. The British force is carrying out ruthless search and destroy missions, engaging in firefights with the Taliban and other resistance fighters every day. As junior defence minister Tom Watson more truthfully admitted on 3 July, ‘That was why we sent an air-mobile battle group, artillery and Apache attack helicopters.’ Still the deceit continued. The same day the Ministry of Defence said there were no plans to increase the total force on the ground and denied reports that commanders had called for more armoured vehicles, helicopters and jets. A few days later it was announced that a further 800 British Army personnel were going to Afghanistan along with extra support ordinance. This will bring the total British presence in Afghanistan to around 6,000, approaching the 7,200 in Iraq. The total NATO force in Afghanistan is 25,000, including US troops, and came under British command in July.
Despite all this, the resistance to imperialist occupation is growing. On 30 May a recklessly driven US Humvee ploughed into civilians in Kabul killing five Afghans. In the riots that followed Afghan police joined the demonstrators. Twelve people were killed when US troops fired on the protesters. Hundreds of Taliban fighters stormed the town of Musa Qala on 18 May, killing 13 police. They now have control of the area around Kandahar and hit the airbase there with two rockets at the end of June. In an attack on the British base at Sangin on 2 July two British soldiers were killed. Troops there face fierce resistance from local people. Six British soldiers were killed in less than four weeks at the beginning of the summer. For the first time the resistance entered Kabul at the beginning of July when four bombs exploded in 48 hours.
Destruction of the poppy harvest is sometimes cited as a major justification for the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan. It is the source of 87% of the world’s opium. Valued at $2.7 billion a year it constitutes more than 50% of the Afghan economy. Western officials admit that this year’s harvest will be the biggest ever.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, totally ineffectual, vilified and isolated in his heavily fortified presidential palace, was praised by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during a visit at the end of June. Not to be outdone by Dick Cheney and John Reid for completely distorting reality, Rice said, ‘I don’t know anyone who is more admired and respected in the international community than President Karzai for his wisdom and for his courage to lead this country, first in the defeat of the Taliban and now in building a democratic and unified Afghanistan.’
Jim Craven
FRFI 192 August / September 2006
