Monday, April 05, 2004
Charlie Wilson's War
Well, I just finished reading Charlie Wilson's War, and it was probably the most riveting, interesting and scary books i've ever read. The best part is that it's all true. Charlie Wilson was a Liberal Democratic Congressman from Texas, who became obsessed with helping the Afghans rid their country of the Soviet Red Army. The hard partying Wilson used his seat on the Appropriations Committee to steer hundreds of millions of dollars to the mujihadeen and become a folk hero the very same people who would later turn on the U.S. and declare a Jihad on it.
One of Wilson's major allies on the afghan rebel side was Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who was probably the most feared rebel commander by the Soviets. Hekmatyar, a former communist himself, was believed to have skinned captured Soviet soldiers alive and leave them on the side of the road for other soldiers to see. Throughout the 80's Hekmatyar received countless aid and training from the CIA and returned the favor in 1991 by siding with Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War. He later became Prime Minister of Afghanistan, only to be forced out by what became the Taliban, forcing him into exile in Iran. Recently Hekmatyar came back to Afghanistan, only to side with Osama Bin Laden and join in the jihad against the West.
It appears Hekmatyar may have switched sides once again, and would declare a truce in fighting, if his party, Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA), is allowed to participate in elections this September. After decades of war, everyone would like the Afghanistan's guns to go silent, but with their track record, any truce will probably be a short one.
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One of Wilson's major allies on the afghan rebel side was Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who was probably the most feared rebel commander by the Soviets. Hekmatyar, a former communist himself, was believed to have skinned captured Soviet soldiers alive and leave them on the side of the road for other soldiers to see. Throughout the 80's Hekmatyar received countless aid and training from the CIA and returned the favor in 1991 by siding with Saddam Hussein during the Gulf War. He later became Prime Minister of Afghanistan, only to be forced out by what became the Taliban, forcing him into exile in Iran. Recently Hekmatyar came back to Afghanistan, only to side with Osama Bin Laden and join in the jihad against the West.
It appears Hekmatyar may have switched sides once again, and would declare a truce in fighting, if his party, Hezb-i-Islami Afghanistan (HIA), is allowed to participate in elections this September. After decades of war, everyone would like the Afghanistan's guns to go silent, but with their track record, any truce will probably be a short one.
