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Pro-War U.S. Officials Play Up Taliban-al Qaeda Ties
- Text size
Gareth Porter
IPS
October 14, 2009
U.S. national security officials, concerned that President Barack Obama might be abandoning the strategy of full-fledged counterinsurgency war in Afghanistan, are claiming new intelligence assessments suggesting that al Qaeda would be allowed to return to Afghanistan in the event of a Taliban victory.
But two former senior intelligence analysts who have long followed the issue of al Qaeda’s involvement in Afghanistan question the alleged new intelligence assessments. They say that the Taliban leadership still blames Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda for their loss of power after 9/11 and that the Taliban-al Qaeda cooperation is much narrower today than it was during the period of Taliban rule.
The nature of the relationship between al Qaeda and the Taliban has been a central issue in the White House discussions on Afghanistan strategy that began last month, according to both White House spokesman Robert Gibbs and National Security Adviser Gen. James Jones.
One of the arguments for an alternative to the present counterinsurgency strategy by officials, including aides to Ambassador Richard Holbrooke, is that the Taliban wouldn’t allow al Qaeda to reestablish bases inside Afghanistan, The Wall Street Journal reported Oct. 5. The reasoning behind the argument, according to the report, is that the Taliban realises that its previous alliance with al Qaeda had caused it to lose power after the Sep. 11 attacks.
Officials in national security organs that are committed to the counterinsurgency strategy have now pushed back against the officials who they see as undermining the war policy.
McClatchy newspapers reported Sunday that officials have cited what they call “recent U.S. intelligence assessments” that the Taliban and other Afghan insurgent groups have “much closer ties to al Qaida now than they did before 9/11″ and would allow al Qaeda to re-establish bases in Afghanistan if they were to prevail.
McClatchy reporters said 15 mid-level or senior intelligence, military and diplomatic officials they interviewed had agreed with the alleged intelligence assessments.
But John McCreary, formerly a senior analyst at the Defence Intelligence Agency, wrote last week on NightWatch, an online news analysis service, that the history of Taliban-al Qaeda relations suggests a very different conclusion. After being ousted from power in 2001, he wrote, the Taliban “openly derided the Arabs of al Qaida and blamed them for the Taliban’s misfortunes”.
The Taliban leaders “vowed never to allow the foreigners – especially the haughty, insensitive Arabs – back into Afghanistan,” wrote McCreary. “In December 2001, [Mullah Mohammad] Omar was ridiculed in public by his own commanders for inviting the ‘Arabs’ and other foreigners, which led to their flight to Pakistan.”
McCreary concluded, “The premise that Afghanistan would become an al Qaida safe haven under any future government is alarmist and bespeaks a lack of understanding of the Pashtuns on this issue and a superficial knowledge of recent Afghan history.”
 |
The Central Intelligence Agency’s former national intelligence officer for the Middle East, Paul Pillar, expressed doubt that the Taliban’s relations with al Qaeda are tighter now than before the Taliban regime was ousted.
“I don’t see how you can say that,” Pillar told IPS. “If you look at the pre-9/11 relationship between the Taliban and al Qaeda, in many ways it was far more extensive.”
In the civil war between the Taliban regime and its Northern Alliance foes from 1996 through 2001, Pillar observed, “bin Laden’s Arabs and money” represented a far bigger role in supporting the Taliban than the one al Qaeda is playing now.
“You can say that there are more groups which have relationships with al Qaeda now, but I don’t see any as close as that which existed before 9/11,” said Pillar.
The role played by Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda in the Taliban’s struggle against its rival the Northern Alliance from 1996 to 2001 has been documented by journalist Roy Gutman, now foreign editor of McClatchy newspapers, and other sources.
As early as 1997, 300 Arab troops trained by bin Laden troops were fighting alongside the Taliban on the front line north of Kabul, according to Gutman’s book, “How We Missed the Story”, published in 2008. Later, they were reported to have taken over large sections of that front line.
Bin Laden’s military and financial support became an even more important crutch for the Taliban regime in its final years in power. Gutman says the Taliban’s mid-summer 1998 offensive in northern Pakistan was largely financed by bin Laden.
In the last stage of the conflict, Gutman writes, al Qaeda troops consisted of 1,500 to 2,500 Arabs and Central Asian “Frontline fighters”, and Ahmed Shah Massoud, the commander of the Northern Alliance forces seeking to overthrow the Taliban, regarded them as his toughest and most committed opponents.
Gutman quotes Massoud telling CIA operative Gary Schroen, “Every time I fight the Taliban, the glue that holds them together is the Arab units.”
Osama bin Laden also financed Taliban military equipment and operations, according to Gutman’s account. A summer 1998 Taliban offensive was fought with hundreds of new Japanese pickup trucks – Massoud claimed a total of 1,200 vehicles – bought with bin Laden’s money.
Today, however, al Qaeda is cash-strapped and has very few foreign fighters in Afghanistan, whereas the Taliban appear to be well-financed.
The U.S. Treasury Department’s expert on terrorist financing, David Cohen, said al Qaeda is “in its weakest financial position in several years” and “its influence is waning”, the BBC reported Tuesday.
Gen. Jones told CNN interviewer John King Oct. 4 the presence of al Qaeda in Afghanistan today is “minimal”, adding the “maximum estimate” is 100 foreign fighters. One official critical of the White House position quoted in the McClatchy story suggested the number might be as high as 200 or 250.
Both figures appears to be consistent with the estimate by Western officials of a total of only 100 to 300 foreign fighters in Afghanistan cited in the New York Times Oct. 30, 2007.
Of that total, however, only “small numbers” were Arabs and Chechens, Uzbeks or other Central Asians, who are known to have links with al Qaeda, Seth Jones of the Rand Corporation told Voice of America the following month.
The bulk of the foreign fighters in Afghanistan are Pashtuns from across the border in Pakistan. Those Pashtun fighters are recruited from religious schools in Pakistan, but there is no evidence that they are affiliated with al Qaeda.
Just this month, U.S. intelligence has increased its estimate of Taliban armed insurgents to 17,000, compared with 10,000 in late 2007. Even if all foreign fighters were considered as al Qaeda, therefore, 250 of them would represent only 1.5 percent of the estimated total.
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October 14th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
“I’m not saying I’m gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world.”
-Tupac Shakur
(I say each person takes the time and pick up there cell phone or what ever and starts calling people 1 by 1 to try to awake them to the truths, i personally do it myself daily, people needing help escaping the credit problems so they can afford to live the come to me for help, i teach every single day by appointments, it nice to know i have job that give me freedom to open minds and help people with REAL issue like credit, which no American was ever learned in high school or college, we do have some rights left, it about making the work for you instead of against you, it just system)If you need help with anything credit finance related dont be afraid to check out our website or blog videos on credit education.
http://www.creditambassador.com/blog/free-stuff/
ChangeDaChannel Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Blah Blah Blah… thats all these cats do! – http://www.spywitnessnews.org/.....ahblahblah
Who said this ? Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
1st Says:
October 14th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee……………………………….
I eat nummy numms for breakfast
oh right….
1ST !
Mistakenly thought mickey mouse was terrorist Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 3:03 am
How about the man who wore a mickey mouse suit in town and got shot at because the soldiers thought he was a terrorist. Are we confused who is a terrorist or what?
Mainly because terrorists never existed, neither does the taliban or any other so called terrorist group. Black water is the terrorist group.
TV=Entertainment, there is no truth in that box. Well unless its Alex Jones.
Glen Beck is gay I think. He can’t even cover a FEMA camp story because he is afraid of it himself, too much to handle.
free me Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
THERE IS A DESTINY FOR WARMONGERS.
Freedom of limited speech, Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Do You Know the Truth?
There is No Islamic Army or terrorist group Called
Al-Qaida? Al-Qaeda? or Al-Qauda?
There No Islamic Army or Terrorist Group
Any informed Intelligence Officer Know this!
But There is a Propaganda Campaign to make the public believe in The presence of an
Identified Entity,
or Enemy
The Country Behind This Propaganda!
The United States of America.
By; Robin Cook
Former British Foreign Security Secretary & Advisor
And I guess I am a fool to post this, from 1995
Ov3rkomer Mann Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
The following is a censored link to a site with war information from the ‘other side’ (probably propagandized):
c.e.n.s.o.r.e.d.3.1(DOT).s.k.y.n.e.t.b.l.o.g.s.(DOT).be/
I’m a alarmed, that this site-link is being censored (and deleted) by Infowars. I sometimes like to hear what the ‘other side’ wants to say. Getting unfiltered information from all sides is an essential part of the info-war.
What posting rule does a link to a site about the Afghanistan war violate? Is Infowars bowing to political or legal threats?
With some links disappearing, it makes me wonder, what else is being censored on this board. Apparently one can post dozens of off-topic links without them being deleted. But certain site-links seem to be off limit.
IS INFOWARS CENSORING LINKS DUE TO POLITICAL PRESSURE? or how can you explain this kind of policy?
(By the way I have no connection to the site recommended by someone else on this board. It just got me curious, for the sole reason of it being censored.)
[Editor's note: ... well this takes the cake... I love that last comment how the site was recommended somewhere else on this board... but somehow the site is censored by this board... how gullible do you think the readership is here... everyone knows that anyone who posts a website with dashes or dots or asterisks or what ever between the letters is a complete idiot.... grow up... Censorship is a government function look up the word. We have editorial control here... and the only things not allowed and controlled here are direct threats, divisive racist comments, divisive religious comments, and spam of any kind... Have you been spamming there Ov3rkomer Mann? ~JTCoyoté]
October 14th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
This lady needs to get a new pair of glasses….
Listening for the moment when I can chime in and stretch out my legs on the subject.
It seems that this climate pro-war loss of 1-10th amendments slave labour blood and death change is something on there radar ???
I sure hope not, been down far TOO long
October 14th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
I love coming to this site, it’s full of a bunch of paranoid freaks that take my bait.
SPIRITBLADE Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
No, we just like bitch-slapping the dense.
nocheektaturn Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Sleepwalkers need love also. I love you Dirk ya big Sleepwalker.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Look and see for your self!
Do You Know the Truth?
There is No Islamic Army or terrorist group Called
Al-Qaida? Al-Qaeda? or Al-Qauda?
There No Islamic Army or Terrorist Group
Any informed Intelligence Officer Know this!
But There is a Propaganda Campaign to make the public believe in The presence of an
Identified Entity,
or Enemy
The Country Behind This Propaganda!
The United States of America.
By; Robin Cook
Former British Foreign Security Secretary & Advisor
And I guess I am a fool to post this, from 1995
Ov3rkomer Mann Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
The quote is wrongly attributed to Robin Cook. It’s not Robin Cook but Pierre-Henry Bunel a former French Intelligence agent who said this. It was originally reported by Wayne Madsen.
http://forum.prisonplanet.com/.....1.5%3Bwap2
Ov3rkomer Mann Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
This is what Robin Cook said about Al-CIAda:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2.....evelopment
slavetothewage Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
……….And, you “Sir” are still asleep.
Ov3rkomer Mann Reply:
October 15th, 2009 at 12:14 am
I’m pretty much awake, mate
As a truthseeker I do not like it when unsubstantiated misquotes keep getting repeated and spread. That’s why I corrected the quotes of the poster above. People should always check their sources!
Now Robin Cook clearly admitted that Al-Qaida originated with the CIA. Pierre-Henry Bunel also contradicted the official view on Al-Qaida.
Gareth Porter’s article still accepts Al-Qaida as the convenient propaganda tool, and never questions its existence in his article. He also apparently accepts the official story of 9/11. Since his premises are wrong his article is pretty much meaningless.
slavetothewage Reply:
October 14th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
that is the decoy.
October 14th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Roll out the 9/11 and Anthrax Liars.
AIPAC Neocons come one come all!
Anderson Baldwin Carter Choate
Clemente Gonzalez Gravel Grayson
Kaptur Kucinich McKinney Nader
Paul Perot Sheehan Ventura
October 14th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
I will not sign Lisbon Treaty, says Czech President
The Times – October 13, 2009
timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6871365.ece
Support Vaclav Klaus
Stop the Lisbon Treason!
supportvaclavklaus.wordpress.com
http://www.petitiononline.com/.....ition.html
(currently 12202 signatures)
Fur Trader Reply:
October 16th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
We can only hope he can hold off the wolves untill the shit hits the fan.
October 14th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
PROTECT PRIVACY DATA AT WORK AND STOP THE TAPPING OF PHONES, INTERNET, DATA COLLECTING, INTERNETBLOCKS, THE USE OF RFID CHIPS ON PASSPORTS
Sign for freedom:
[For GERMANY] Unterschreiben Sie hier:
http://www.campact.de/freiheit/sn1/signer
(currently 18636 signatures)
More information: foebud.org
October 14th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
########## Demand a (National) Referendum ##########
[For GERMANY] Unterschreiben Sie hier:
http://www.campact.de/direkt/sn1/signer
(currently 20790 signatures)
########## Demand a (National) Referendum ##########
October 14th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
STOP GMO MAIZE
[For GERMANY] Unterschreiben Sie hier:
http://www.campact.de/gentec/sn6/signer
(currently 34246 signatures)
October 14th, 2009 at 7:51 pm
FOR A GMO FREE EUROPE
Take action
Download one of these and print:
English language: www(dot)bioforum.be/v2/cms/documenten/gfgunterschriftenliste09-engl.pdf
German language: www(dot)genfrei-gehen.de/download/gfgunterschriftenliste09.pdf
collect signatures, send or fax to:
RAPUNZEL NATURKOST, Rapunzelstr. 1, Genfrei Gehen, 87764 Legau, Deutschland/Germany
Fax: +49 (0)8330 – 529 1678
(currently 52929 signatures)
http://www.genfrei-gehen.de
October 14th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Do you think for ONE second that ScoobyDoo believes ANY of this NWO stuff…? And he would know as he is one of the greatest detectives of all time people! Please relax and grab a vaccine, pull up a chair as there’s NO cause for alarm until Scooby deems it so.
October 15th, 2009 at 12:16 am
censored32.skynetblogs.be
Test: 32 blocked too?
Test! Reply:
October 15th, 2009 at 12:19 am
red31 ?
Test! Reply:
October 15th, 2009 at 12:21 am
sored32 ?
Test! Reply:
October 15th, 2009 at 12:21 am
ensored31 ?
October 15th, 2009 at 2:32 am
Denial of reality smothered in lies with a pronounced rhetoric is the classic indicator of a compromised or bought off offical.
Why are they never asked how is it that we have spent 8 years fighting a country that has no army, navy, air force, missiles, special forces, atomic weapons, submarines, aircraft carriers, helicopters, strip clubs, rock bands or NASCAR and still haven’t won? WWII took less than 4 years.
Either we have the worst, most stupid army lead by morons on crack … or … this is another typical corporate ripoff of the American people transferring huge amounts of their money into these companies and individuals that should be tried fro treason.
You make the call.
October 15th, 2009 at 7:55 am
They need a war to cover up the problems with the economy. They know that they cannot keep the false stock market up forever. They know that the American middle class does not trust their manipulation of news with their teleproctor-reading, lying, info-babes. They know that their game is about over–they have no more cards in their hands. So they need a big war to divert the American people from the real issues and insanity they create.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:33 am
THE CIA STRIKES AGAIN.
October 15th, 2009 at 9:56 am
As the time goes on , people of america have everyday less and less freedom due to politics conducted by federal power. Also , as a consequence of the economic crisis , more and more of them have lost their job and home. But the crisis is not finished , and in near future the consequences could be catastrophic. Keep in mind that any change can not come from the federal government , but only the people , the only source of any future chagement. If a majority of them think a change is possible , so it can be. A way to preserve freedom , ideals , welfare of people is federalism must come to an end. People will have to make a choise , federalism versus freedom , ideals , welfare… . The first could lead to the establishment of a martial law. A state as texas is ready to cross the line , it could be an example for the others. People could put under pressure every state government in the aim to declare secession , the american constitution allow such a decision. Such an aim can’t be aimed without any precaution , as it is evident the federal power is not ready to yield or abdicate. Probably , this one will use force to submit people , but constitution give garantees on firearms. people can put up a fight against the oppressive federal power if a political issue according to the will of people can not be lead. People have to make his will respect , otherwise it will be an opressed people. Saying that federalism must come to an end mean it must be break down , it appears to be the only way to preserve people. America can be easily imagined without federalism and preserved.
a j
October 15th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Of course they do! They covertly fund them!
October 15th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
The Taliban and Al Queda are not really seperate entities, kinda like infowars and prison planet. different yet the same, get it tools?
October 16th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
the rat catch’s itself,the panther make’s a clean kill cause he wait’s to the perfect moment.why is the insurgence the only one to have weapon’s.when the registered voter’s come to vote give them a rifle and a a.m.\f.m.radio,set up a consitution\republic ,let them protect their own interest.the esteem of ownership will overwelm the [enemie's of the state].the enemie’s are in disaray that’s the time to take ground.just be prepared to hold it and denie them access.or rehabilatate them.their just misguided,ignorant,they see only scarcity.
October 16th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
i’ll give them a ‘end game’ right in the ’sweetspot’
October 16th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
they’ve brain washed themselve’s.
October 16th, 2009 at 6:16 pm
they need to be handled like any other ‘mental patient’.
October 16th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
they isolate themselve’s from reality.don’t buy into any of their ‘hysteria’sensationalism’.they ask me ‘what am i doin’ i look right through them and say ‘minding my own business’.
October 16th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
give them the vibe’s that they kindly better do the same or their gonna wish they did
October 16th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
they’re just ‘drunk on the blood of the saint’s’per say.