While a lot of Afghans are optimistic about the up coming elections and the future many foreigners are scared and leaving or planning to leave. One Afghan American told me today this is the only time she has been worried in Afghanistan. I hope the Afghans are right.
Afghanistan: Pessimism
Security is deteriorating and many internationals are predicting a year of increasing violence. Armed robberies are increasing with criminal gangs. Unofficially there were seven kidnap attempts before the Italian girl was kidnapped. There is credible evidence that a suicide bomber or BBIED around. There are reports of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) on the main Jalalabad road where most UN staff work and people are advised to drive in the middle of the road. There was a car bomb there this week. Internationals are getting nervous and many are leaving soon and many others seriously thinking of it. Elections that are very late in the organizational plan and complicated plus the poppy eradication and anger at American illegal prisons in Cuba and Afghanistan mean it does not look good. See security reports attached. Life is more restricted with restaurants and public places off limits under UN security regulations. Most people seem to be worried about going out anyway.
Someone high up in the elections organizing says that there is about a 50% chance of the elections happening this year. I used to work with the girl who is now looking after voter education for the country. She is useless and I very much doubt she knows what is happening. She is likely to be sleeping with the right person though.
Why are they destroying the poppies of the small farmers instead of going after the heroin labs and smugglers? US are annoyed about the lack of success in eradication and blame the Afghan government to some extent. Khazai for example refused to allow the spraying of fields. There eradication is random or a local official such as Khazai’s brother in Kandahar points out the fields to destroy or leave.
Relations with America are a little strained also over the conduct of US troops. Khazai would like them to coordinate with Afghan authorities but Bush wants them to have a free hand. Of course Khazai made a bigger fuss over this in Afghanistan to appease local feelings than he did in the States.
Rain is still frequent which is almost unheard of in Afghanistan at this time of year. Normally we are chocking on dust not wading through mud.
Just got back from a small scattered village in Wardak province where I had an opening ceremony of a water system project supplying clean water to 6 small villages in two valleys. They killed a sheep and a number of chickens and we had interesting chat over lunch. I asked the elders including a judge and head of security who was a prominent fighter with the Mujaden what they though of US based permanently in Afghanistan. They said they had not got rid of the Russians to have the Americans. I asked about the debate concerning US troops breaking into people’s houses. They were all disgusted by this and said the actions of the Americans was worse than the Russians. This area was a hub for resistance against the Russians as it is up in the mountains, where rockets were fired at Kabul, so their comparisons are naturally with this period. Gutamino bay and the illegal prisons in Afghanistan caused a good deal of resentment also as one might expect. Friendly hospitable people who invite you into their homes but prefer you not to kick the door down at night. See photos.
Security is deteriorating and many internationals are predicting a year of increasing violence. Armed robberies are increasing with criminal gangs. Unofficially there were seven kidnap attempts before the Italian girl was kidnapped. There is credible evidence that a suicide bomber or BBIED around. There are reports of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) on the main Jalalabad road where most UN staff work and people are advised to drive in the middle of the road. There was a car bomb there this week. Internationals are getting nervous and many are leaving soon and many others seriously thinking of it. Elections that are very late in the organizational plan and complicated plus the poppy eradication and anger at American illegal prisons in Cuba and Afghanistan mean it does not look good. See security reports attached. Life is more restricted with restaurants and public places off limits under UN security regulations. Most people seem to be worried about going out anyway.
Someone high up in the elections organizing says that there is about a 50% chance of the elections happening this year. I used to work with the girl who is now looking after voter education for the country. She is useless and I very much doubt she knows what is happening. She is likely to be sleeping with the right person though.
Why are they destroying the poppies of the small farmers instead of going after the heroin labs and smugglers? US are annoyed about the lack of success in eradication and blame the Afghan government to some extent. Khazai for example refused to allow the spraying of fields. There eradication is random or a local official such as Khazai’s brother in Kandahar points out the fields to destroy or leave.
Relations with America are a little strained also over the conduct of US troops. Khazai would like them to coordinate with Afghan authorities but Bush wants them to have a free hand. Of course Khazai made a bigger fuss over this in Afghanistan to appease local feelings than he did in the States.
Rain is still frequent which is almost unheard of in Afghanistan at this time of year. Normally we are chocking on dust not wading through mud.
Just got back from a small scattered village in Wardak province where I had an opening ceremony of a water system project supplying clean water to 6 small villages in two valleys. They killed a sheep and a number of chickens and we had interesting chat over lunch. I asked the elders including a judge and head of security who was a prominent fighter with the Mujaden what they though of US based permanently in Afghanistan. They said they had not got rid of the Russians to have the Americans. I asked about the debate concerning US troops breaking into people’s houses. They were all disgusted by this and said the actions of the Americans was worse than the Russians. This area was a hub for resistance against the Russians as it is up in the mountains, where rockets were fired at Kabul, so their comparisons are naturally with this period. Gutamino bay and the illegal prisons in Afghanistan caused a good deal of resentment also as one might expect. Friendly hospitable people who invite you into their homes but prefer you not to kick the door down at night. See photos.