GeoVision, Inc.
Archival News (1997 to 2002)
GeoVision, Inc. no longer provides news due to the wide availability of web sites now offering comprehensive news items from international wire services. Click here for some of these sites:
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The Afghan National Anthem
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For research and historic purposes the following news which was read by
millions of people on this site during one of Afghanistan darkest and most
dangerous times remains for you reading.
The Great Game Continues...
------Afghanistan News Update July 06, 2002---
KABUL, Afghanistan - Gunmen firing assault rifles assassinated Afghan Vice President Abdul Qadir, a veteran Pashtun, as he was leaving the Ministry of Public works. Roadblocks were set up throughout Kabul but all the gunmen escaped.
Abdul Qadir was a leading rebel commander during the war against the Soviets in the 1980s. He was one of the prominent Pashtuns to join the alliance of the North. His brother, Abdul Haq, a legendary anti-Soviet commander was hanged by the Taliban last October.
Residents of Nangarhar's capital, Jalalabad, suggested the killing could have stemmed from manifold personal, political and economic rivalries in the province.
This slaying will create further unrest through out Afghanistan.
---MrGary
------Afghanistan News Update June 22, 2002---
Kabul, Afghanistan - Additional Ministers appointed and approved by the
Loya Jirga:
Justice Minister - Abbas Jarimi
Information and Culture Minister- Saeed Makdoom Rahim
Reconstruction Minister - Mohammed Amin Naziryar
Urban Affairs Minister - Yusuf Pashtun
Public Works Minister - Abdul Qadir
Social Affairs Minister - Noor Mohammed Karkin
Water and Power Minister - Ahmed Shakar Karkar
Irrigation and Environment - Ahmed Yusuf Nuristani
Martyrs and Disabled Minister - Abdullah Wardak
Higher Education Minister - Sharif Faez
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister - Mir Wais Saddiq
Transportation Minister - Mohammed Ali Jawad
Rural Development Minister - Hanif Asmar
In addition to being Minister of Education Yunus Qanooni has been
appointed as Special Advisor to the President on Security Issues.
The Minister of Women's Affair's remains vacant as of this press release.
---MrGary
------Afghanistan News Update June 20, 2002---
Kabul, Afghanistan - One giant step forward for Afghanistan this week. The
Loya Jirga by a show of hands approved President Hamid Karzai's multiethnic
nominations for cabinet post and ministerial appointments as follows:
Defense Minister - Mohammad Qasim Fahim
Foreign Minister - Dr. Abdullah
Interior Minister - Taj Mohammad Khan Wardak
Finance Minister - Ashraf Ghani
Education Minister - Mohammad Yunus Qanooni
Commerce Minister - Sayed Mustafa Kazemi
Planning Minister - Haji Muhammad Mohaqqeq
Public Health Minister - Suhaila Seddiq
Agriculture Minister - Sayed Hussein Anwari
Refugee Minister - Enayatullah Nazeri
Mines and Industries Minister - Engineer Juma Mohammad Mohammadi
Small Industries Minister - Mohammad Alem Razm
Border Minister - Arif Khan Norzai
Telecommunication Minister - Masum Stanekzai
Vice President - Marshal Fahim
Vice President - Abdul Karim Khalili
Chief Justice Supreme Court - Fazl Hadi Shenwari
This is truly a historic day for Afghanistan!
---MrGary
------Afghanistan News Update June 13, 2002---
Kabul, Afghanistan - Mr. Hamid Karzai has been officially confirmed as the head of state today at the loya jirga in Kabul.
---MrGary
------Afghanistan News Update June 11, 2002---
Kabul, Afghanistan - Today former king Mohammed Zaher Shah formally
convened the loya jirga or grand council in a 230' by 130' white
air-conditioned tent on the Polytechnic University Campus on the outskirts of Kabul. For days, over 2,000 people from all over Afghanistan have been arriving via horseback and helicopter.
The former king and President Burhanuddin Rabbani, president of the post
communist government had announced prior to the opening that they had
withdrawn their candidacies for head of state in support of Mr. Hamid
Karzai.
All but 500 of the 1501 official members of the loya jirga were previously
selected in regional elections. A twenty-one member loya jirga commission
selected the remaining members which includes 160 women.
---MrGary
------Afghanistan News Update April 18, 2002---
(BBC News) Florence, AL - BBC broadcast that "Former Afghan king Zahir Shah has
returned to Kabul from Italy amid tight security after 29 years in exile.
Delegations from all over Afghanistan - holding flowers and pictures of the former
king - greeted him at the airport, overjoyed at his return.
In his first message to the nation, broadcast on the BBC Pashto service,
he described it as the happiest day of his life, and pledged to do all he
could to serve his country."
---MrGary
------Afghanistan News Update April 11, 2002---
Kalamazoo, MI - Turkish and Greek troops have now joined the American and British peace keeping forces- International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF). However, there is a call from inside and outside of Afghanistan to increase their numbers. These forces need to be present in additional cities at least during the Loya Jirga.
The Interim President, Hamid Karzai and Dr. Abdullah, the Foreign Minister are holding onto power amongst continual conspiracies and infighting of old rivals often leading to bloodshed. The country continues to move towards the June deadline for a Loya Jirga. (Click here for the full Procedures, downloadable zip file)
More than 100,000 Afghans have returned home from Pakistan refugee camps. Many aid organizations have worked out programs to assist in relocation and reconstruction. GeoVision, Inc (www.gems-afghan.com) has held it's 8th Symposium on The Gems and Minerals of Afghanistan and is attempting to locate financial support to jump start a program of exploration and training, which will create much, needed employment and provide taxes and foreign currency.
Hundreds of women have applied to Kabul University for entrance. This is a right denied them during the fives years of Taliban law.
Mother Nature with snow, fierce blizzards near Salang and an earthquake centered near Narin killed many people during February and March. In addition, reconstruction projects were delayed.
ACBAR Resource And Information Center (www.afghanresources.org) has resumed services in Kabul.
DVD tapes of "The Gem Hunter in Afghanistan" scheduled to be released after many delays. This film of the Afghanistan lapis and emerald trade takes you from the Namak Mandi, Peshawar gem market to inside the gem mines in Afghanistan.
---MrGary
------Afghanistan News Update January 30, 2002---
Honolulu, Hi - The Interim President, Hamid Karzai and Dr. Abdullah, the
Foreign Minister visit the USA for a series of meetings and to reopen the
Embassy of Afghanistan in Washington, DC. Haroun Amin is appointed the
Charge D'affaire. GeoVision, Inc. announces the 8th Symposium of the Gems and Minerals of Afghanistan.
---MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update January 21, 2002---
Honolulu, HI - The Afghanistan situation continues to improve as well as can
be expected. I have been fairly silent of late. Do you remember my
Afghanistan News Update November 23, 2001? I reported that secret flights
were ferrying Pakistan Officers out of Afghanistan. Now this story has been
revived by Seymour Hersh in the current issue of The New Yorker, where he has been publishing a series of sensational investigative articles. Here is a key excerpt: "In interviews, however, American intelligence officials and high-ranking military officers said that Pakistanis were indeed flown to safety, in a series of nighttime airlifts
that were approved by the Bush Administration. The Americans also said that
what was supposed to be a limited evacuation apparently slipped out of control, and, as an unintended consequence, an unknown number of Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters
managed to join in the exodus. "Dirt got through the screen," a senior
intelligence official told me. Last week, Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld
did not respond to a request for comment."
Great move guys! Did Osama bin Laden get a free ride?
---MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update December 24, 2001---
Kalamazoo, MI - Did the US authorities depend on Pakistan authorities to
capture Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda leaders? Apparently American
authorities still do not understand the real life situation in
Pakistan/Afghanistan. They have paid little attention to the warnings of
this or other Afghanistan news columns. Now we, the American citizens, have
a real problem! When will Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda strike again? From
where? Now our legal ability to capture or destroy members of al-Qaeda is in
jeopardy. The following articles printed outside the USA support my feelings
and opinion:
"(PTI) Beijing, December 23-- Aided by Pakistan's secret services, Osama bin
Laden has fled to Kashmir, according to an informer who appeared on Italian
television network RaiTre. The unidentified informer who appeared on the
public television in Rome on Friday, his back to the camera, said bin Laden
had left his secret base in the Tora Bora Mountain area in eastern
Afghanistan on December 12.
The informer, carrying documents said to be belonging to the Pakistani secret
services, also said that 2,000 al-Qaeda men had succeeded in fleeing
Afghanistan to various places including Kashmir and the breakaway Russian
republic of Chechnya."
"Hindustan Times (India) December 24--
Most Taliban leaders have escaped the American dragnet and remain free
because the Afghan and Pakistani authorities lack the political will to
arrest them, it was claimed yesterday. Suspects wanted by the US are living
openly after returning to their villages or slipping across the border into
Pakistan, where they could be picked up within hours, according to an
intelligence source who named the alleged location of several senior
officials." Rory Carroll in Kabul, December 24, 2001
The Guardian (UK)
When will we as American learn not to lean and depend on Pakistan for help in
this crises?
---MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update December 22, 2001---
Kalamazoo, MI - FINALLY! - PEACE looms over Afghanistan! More than 2,000
people crowded into the Interior Ministry Hall in Kabul as Hamid Karzai is
sworn in as prime minister, with the blessing of outgoing President
Burhanuddin Rabbani. Just to have a past ruler present for a change in
governments sets a new record for Afghanistan.
The new government established in Bonn, Germany will rule for six
months. At the end of that period a tribal council called a "loya jirga" will
convene to plan a two-year administration that will take Afghanistan toward a
permanent constitution.
During the three-hour ceremony attended by many foreign
representatives, a large portrait of Ahmed Shah Massoud was draped behind the podium as
speaker after speaker referred to him reverently. Massoud was probably
smiling to hear of the Pakistani, Taliban, and Osama bin Laden's troops on
the run out of Afghanistan.
---MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update December 6, 2001---
London, England - We can all sleep tonight with thoughts of peace as the
Bonn agreement is signed. A copy of the complete text with the official
appointments listed is available for your review.
--MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update November 23, 2001---
Honolulu, HI - After years of Pakistan governmental denial of Pakistan troops
assisting and even controlling the Taliban war, two Pakistan Air Force
helicopters pulled out two of their top military commanders trapped in the
besieged Kunduz town. Two officers, both of Brigadier rank, were said to be
part of 1000-strong regular Pakistani army men trapped in Kunduz. The rescue
operations were mounted by Pakistan's elite Special Services Group. This is
the second time in recent weeks that reports have surfaced of Pakistani
helicopters or aircraft landing in Afghanistan on "mysterious missions."
Earlier, CNN had reported a Pakistani Air Force plane landing in Taliban's
southern Afghanistan stronghold of Kandahar.
In Islamabad yesterday, the Pakistani leader, General Pervez Musharraf,
called on the International Red Cross to try to save his fellow countrymen
and other foreign fighters who were captured by the Alliance. But Jakob
Kellenburger, the Red Cross' president, said the organization could not "get
involved in political negotiations on conditions of surrender."
Some al-Qa'ida fighters are also believed to have escaped. Donald Rumsfeld,
the US Defense Secretary, said bluntly that "al-Qa'ida's foreign fighters
must be apprehended and disarmed" but he neglected to mention the Pakistani
army personnel.
Truth prevails with American security forces closing their eyes in defense of
Pakistan!
--MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update November 13, 2001---
Kalamazoo, MI - THE NORTHERN ALLLIANCE (UNITED FRONT) TAKES AND CONTROLS KABUL!
--MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update November 12, 2001---
Kalamazoo, MI - A bad news day! An American Airlines Airbus with 246 passengers and nine crew members crashed in a New York City residential area. The Pakistan Dawn paper reported the arrest of two retired nuclear scientists who were instrumental in the development of Pakistan's atom bomb. They have been in Afghanistan and are supporters of Osama bin Laden and the Taliban. The only good news is that the Northern Alliance (United Front) forces, with American support, have broken the Taliban front lines near Kabul.
--MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update November 11, 2001---
New York City, NY - The Taliban defeats reported on all fronts
North and North East, Afghanistan: The Northern Alliance (United Front) has captured Mazar-e-Sharif and Taliqan, the provincial capital of Takhar province. Pul-e-Khumri is now under Northern Alliance control which blocks the escape route of the Taliban forces in the Northeastern region.
Western, Afghanistan: Commander Ismail Khan's forces have captured Qala-u-Naw, the provincial capital of Badghis which opens the road to Herat.
South and Southeastern Afghanistan: The Pashtun tribesmen are starting to organize for a movement against the Taliban.
This war may end sooner than most experts predict!
--MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update November 3, 2001---
Washington, DC - The Northern Alliance (United Front) and the US Department
of Defense are formulating joint operation plans for Afghanistan and Osama
bin Laden. FINALLY!
--MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update October 31, 2001---
Washington, DC - Terrorists suffer heavy casualties. Sections of the front lines manned by Taliban, Arab and Pakistan fighters have been hit hard. Most of the fixed-wing planes of the Taliban and some of their helicopters have been destroyed.
Besmullah Khan, a senior Mujahideen commander fighting against the Taliban north of Kabul, described the US attacks as "precise," but said they were not intensive enough to change the military balance quickly. The air campaign has resulted in the destruction of air defense and radar systems of the Taliban and their ammunition and fuel dumps. He said US air raids have succeeded in destroying six Taliban tanks and a large number of their heavy guns close to Bagram Air Base, 30 miles north of the capital Kabul.
--MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update October 30, 2001---
Washington DC - The following article was e-mailed to me today:
"Veiled but deadly - female fighters who defy Taliban By Philip Sherwell in Qalai Khoja - news.telegraph.co.uk - Sunday 28 October 2001
ARMED with Kalashnikov assault rifles and machine guns, the women of Bagram are ready for the Taliban. In the male-dominated Islamic territory of northern Afghanistan, the opposition fighters have a secret weapon - their wives.
Sharifa rarely leaves the mud-walled compound of her home on the front line, 25 miles north of Kabul. She is forbidden to socialize with men who are not immediate relatives, and she sees the world through the mesh of a head-to-foot burqa.
Three years ago, however, after the Taliban militia briefly stormed her village of Qalai Khoja, her husband taught her to use an AK47. Her prowess with a gun saved her life last year when the Taliban staged another raid on the village while the men were away in the trenches.
From their roofs, the women of Qalai Khoja saw the intruders coming. Nine of them, including Sharifa, grabbed the weapons their husbands had left for them and saw off the attackers in a firefight in a cornfield. She recounted proudly: "I fired 500 bullets and we killed 25 Taliban." Asked what she would do if the Taliban attacked again, she said without
hesitation: "I would shoot them. I wouldn't ask questions."
--MrGary-
---Afghanistan News Update October 27, 2001---
Washington DC - The Frontier Post Reported that "Taliban militia Friday mowed down former mujahideen commander Abdul Haq after capturing him in Logar province. Haq, who had attracted widespread media attention after returning to Peshawar recently and making known his intention to embark on a peace mission, had slipped into Afghanistan to prepare ground for a broad-based government led by former monarch Zahir Shah. Taliban's official Bakhtar news agency said he was executed for treason. Haq was captured early Friday, apparently after one of his sponsors in Afghanistan betrayed him."
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update October 19, 2001---
Washington, DC - American and British troops are entering Afghanistan on
two fronts near the Pakistan borders on the south and east. The southern
group is reported to be 100 US Army Rangers with a mission to raid the USA
constructed Kandahar airport. Kandahar is the base of the Taliban
leadership.
The Northern Alliance reports that they have yet received any of the arms
nor ammunitions promised. This will hinder their ability to control the areas
recently captured around Mazar-e-Sharif.
-MrGary-
---Afghanistan News Update October 17, 2001---
Kansas City, MO - The undersigned has unconfirmed news that the Northern
Alliance (United Front) has entered Mazar-e-Sharif, the northern gateway city of
Afghanistan from the south and south-east. Mazar-e-Sharif could provide US
troops with an airport and operational base location inside Afghanistan.
-MrGary
The Great Game Continues...
---Afghanistan News Update October 14, 2001---
Washington, DC - Per AP, "American troops can operate from an Uzbekistan air
base and the United States pledged to protect the security of the former
Soviet republic on Afghanistan's northern border, an agreement between the
countries says."
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update October 10, 2001---
Washington, DC - Central Asia is starting to cooperate with the USA. The
undersigned received information that Tajikistan, with its more than 800-mile border and bridges into Afghanistan, will allow U.S. open airspace and bases.
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update October 9, 2001---
US Continues to Hit Afghan Targets
Washington, DC - The United States launched a third night of raids on targets
in Afghanistan. Members of the Northern alliance claim to have cut off the
main north-south supply route for troops of the ruling Taliban, putting the
Taliban forces there in jeopardy.
A Northern Alliance representative informed the undersigned that the alliance
troops took control of the route through the western Baghlan province
Monday night when 40 commanders and 1,200 fighters allied with the Taliban
defected.
Northern Alliance Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah told reporters that
"U.S. and British airstrikes have cut off the Taliban air supply routes to
the north, leaving the Taliban only a long circular route through western
Afghanistan to supply the north, Abdullah said. This has put the Taliban in a
very difficult situation."
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told a Pentagon briefing on Tuesday
that attacks against targets in Afghanistan had damaged air defenses to the
point that raids could now be flown at will and around the clock. "We've
struck several terrorist training camps. We've damaged most of the airfields
-- I believe all but one, as well as their anti-aircraft radars and
launchers."
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update October 8, 2001---
US Hits Afghan Targets
BBC News Monday, 8 October, 2001, 02:25 GMT 03:25 UK -
The United States and Britain have launched a series of strikes by
warplanes
and cruise missiles against targets in Afghanistan. Fifteen bombers, 25
strike aircraft and 50 Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from navy vessels in
the Arabian Sea were used against targets including the Taliban regime's
air defenses and aircraft.
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update October 4, 2001---
Washington, DC - An outbreak of ebola-style killer virus which causes
patients to bleed to death has been reported on Afghanistan's southern border
with Pakistan by Tim Butsher of The Telegraph-UK. "At least 75 people have
caught the disease so far and eight have died."
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update September 30, 2001---
Washington, DC - President Bush says "We will strike the Taliban," and "We need a
program to make it happen." However, it is a fact that American officials
have not contacted officers of the Northern Alliance who are in Washington,
DC and on the Afghanistan battlefield with the forces fighting the Taliban
and Osama bin Laden. Our US newspapers report aid to Pakistan and Afghan
refugees. Yet, they have not discussed even medical aid to the Northern
Alliance.
The undersigned met personally with Engineer Es'Haq, the Washington, DC
representative of the Northern Alliance to confirm the above. On September 29,
2001 David Rohde, NY Times News, quoted General Baba Khan, saying "American military
officials have not contacted them in search of that information."
Both Engineer Es'Haq and General Baba Khan stressed that they and others in
the Northern Alliance would like to assist our officials with information.
Why do we not ask for information? If the American officials are afraid of
direct contact with the Northern Alliance, they can contact me. I will get
the information for them.
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update September 25, 2001---
Washington, DC - Engineer Mohammad Es'Haq, representative of the Northern
Alliance-Massoud's followers, informed the undersigned in a long meeting last
night that no one from the US Government has discussed working with their
forces or providing aid. Es'Haq's statement was confirmed today by the
undersigned talking with several US Government personnel about working with
the Northern Alliance.
Some of our supporters are copying our Afghan News from January 24, 1997 to
date and mailing it to their Senators, Representatives and local news papers.
Maybe they will better understand the problem with the situation summarized
in front of their eyes.
Please feel free to copy this news from the beginning and pass it on!
-MrGary
---Editorial - September 23, 2001---
WARNING! AMERICA
IS OSAMA BIN LADEN THE BAIT IN THE TRAP?
Pittsburgh, PA - Warning! Osama bin Laden may be the bait in the trap to
severely damage the American Military. History may repeat itself! Americans,
remember how General George Custer rushed into battle against the American
Indians with a superior trained force. Remember how the British were going
to control the Afghans with a controlling force. Both armies were totally
annihilated to the last man.
During 1979 and 1980, the Soviet Union was determined to take over control of
Afghanistan with 100,000 troops. Ten years later, they returned home after a
loss of between 50,000 to 100,000 soldiers. They never came close to
controlling the country.
Now comes America! We are threatening to charge into Afghanistan after Osama
bin Laden and the Taliban. The American troops will find that Osama bin Laden
and the Taliban forces are ready and on their own turf. On the west and
south of Afghanistan is Pakistan, whose citizens are hanging President Bush in
effigy. In the northwest we have poor relations with Tajikistan. On the
northwest, Turkmenistan has been having friendly relations with the Taliban.
On the east is Iran and Iraq. No help for America! Now let's take a look
at the superpowers! We had a heavy hand in destroying The Soviet Union
forces in their attempt to control Afghanistan. Recently America criticized
Russia for attacking Osama bin Laden's followers and other Moslems in
Chechyna. China is on the move politically to attract Pakistan into their
sphere of influence. A weaker USA is to their advantage. Saudi Arabia
recently announced that they do not want us to launch any war from their
territory.
American foreign policy and aid has for year's ignored the Northern
Alliance. The Northern Alliance is recognized by the United Nations and more
than sixty other countries as the legal government of Afghanistan. They have
an army in the field fighting Osama bin Laden's Arab followers, the Taliban, and
its Pakistani supporters. The American forces need to enter Afghanistan with
the support of the Northern Alliance and with the objective to protect and
free the Afghan people from foreign oppression.
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update September 22, 2001---
Peshawar - BBC reports:
(1) "On Thursday, hundreds took to the streets of
the northwestern city of Peshawar chanting anti-US slogans and torching an effigy of President George W. Bush."
(2) "Protesters in Peshawar, a trading city near the Afghan border, shouted 'Death to America,' 'Long Live Osama Bin Laden,' and wrote 'Dog Bush' on an effigy of the US president."
On the wire - Jeff Franks and Arthur Spiegelman (Reuters) report:
"The United States launched what it originally called 'Operation
Infinite Justice' to move military equipment and personnel into place should military action be needed. The government said it would put up to 500 U.S. warplanes within striking distance of Afghanistan and ordered U.S. Army units to deploy for possible operations. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the campaign's name likely would
be changed to something less offensive to Muslims, who believe that only God or Allah can mete out infinite justice."
Van Wert, OH - We at GeoVision, Inc. (The Afghan Connection) have survived the web attacks-so far. We received this message:
"I have found that most Afghanistan websites - pro or anti Taliban - are off air due to hacking attacks - except the Afghan New Network, the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, and the Afghanistan Voice The Afghan Online Press states 'We apologize to all of our loyal visitors for the recent outage in our service. This was due to a series unfortunate of attacks, and threats by ignorant and potentially violent individuals. Again, we in no way condone terrorism in any form, and our sympathies go out to all those affected by the recent terrorist attacks.'"
GeoVision, Inc. has, however, had events canceled and a few
e-mails stating they will never buy anything from Afghanistan. These people
do not understand we are supporting the only force fighting Osama bin Laden and the Taliban.
My friend, Fred Ward received such e-mails. We liked his response!
"re: two messages on Afghanistan.
"'I am totally in
favor of boycotting any material that comes from the area of the aggressors
of the World Trade Towers & Pentagon. The only problem is that I do not
know what material I should be avoiding! I would not consider purchasing any
Afghan lapis or tourmaline but what else should I avoid?
Doug'
"Hi Doug, it occurs to me that this would be a great opportunity to test
everyone's 'gem geography!' Let's see if we can't get a list of
materials coming from Afghanistan, shall we? I will start -
As much as I am opposed to the 'conflict diamond' issue because I feel
it is impossible to administer and would affect all the wrong people, I
am even more opposed to an Afghani gem boycott.
The folks who either are terrorists or are harboring terrorists in
Afghanistan are NOT the gem folks. In fact, quite the opposite is true.
"The gems (lapis, emeralds, aqua, spinel, tourmaline, and others)
are located in the small region where the anti-Taliban rebels are in
control. The very people who are fighting bin Laden and the crazed
fundamentalist Taliban leaders would be the ones you would hurt by
avoiding Afghan gems. My friend Gary Bowersox just returned from his
usual summer gem buying trip inside Afghanistan and was here two
weekends ago and will be back this weekend. He met with Commander
Massood again while there just a few days before the rebel leader was
assassinated (an event that now seems certainly to have been a precursor
to the USA attacks). Gary is now in Tenn. starting his fall gem tour of
the USA and he has already had his next two week's events canceled in US
jewelry stores..... because business is down and because jewelers and
customers are already saying they don't want to support anything from
Afghanistan.
"So, who will be impacted by this decision. Certainly not bin Laden or
the Taliban. But Gary already is affected. So will the gem miners who
live and work in the area opposed to the Afghani Taliban government. And
regular folks in the ravaged impoverished areas will starve as the noose
tightens. Gems (and unfortunately drugs) are their only cash crops.
Let's not cut off the only legitimate source of income the people who
are fighting the terrorists inside Afghanistan now have.
Fred Ward
Gem Book Publishers"
Osama bin Laden's goal is to "divide and conquer." We must continue
to educated ourselves, keep up with events as they happen,
communicate, and not allow the terrorist attacks to divide us.
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update September 21, 2001---
Van Wert, OH - My E-mail box is beginning to fill with distressing e-mails such
as this one from my good, long time friend in Peshawar, Pakistan. Sadly to
say, this is only the beginning.
"Dear Mr Gary.
I hope my this e message will finds you in best of your health. We all
are OK here. At the moment the situation in Peshawar is very bad. Today
everything was closed and there was a strong agitation against USA
attack on the region. Because 15000 US army is close to the region with
100 F-16 devastating aeroplanes.
As we are very close to Afghanistan so all the pressure is on Peshawar.
There has been a lot of movement of Pakistan army and in against Afghan
Taliban. All the native people of Peshawar they are stuck. We are in the
middle of both sides, with the guns and cannons. All over is police and
army. Taliban have threatened Pakistani people. In favor of them Russia
will also favor them and Iran also, in against Americans.
I strongly condemn the incident happened in World trade center, but I
am against the fighting's and attacks from US. Anyway you please pray for
us, that God may end this bad situation. We the people from Peshawar have
been suffering since long as the Russian regime came in to Afghanistan
and the refuges in Peshawar. You know Peshawar people are all good people
and always be helpful and serving to foreigners in all respects. You have
a very good experience since 20 years. Can someone tell to the US
govt, that Peshawar people are innocent why should they suffer for
all.???
Anyway God will help us to over come this situation. Anyway I always pray
for your good life and good running business.
One thing I tell to the world that all the people from this region are
not bad people. You know my father served you for years, although he was
not that educated. He always respected you. It really doesn't matter that
if someone is not a Muslim and we should not give him respect and have
brotherhood. So this is narrow minded thinking to create such distance
of telling Christianity or Muslims. The media is putting so many things
in wrong directions. So I tell you that we will come more close to show
a fantastic example to the world that we could easily become good
brothers irrespective of nation, tribe, cast and religion. So I tell you
that you are my very good elder brother whom I will respect as long as I
am alive.
Shortly I pray that the situation will end in a good manner.
At the moment I say good wishes and I pray God may end this very bad
situation soon.
Best regards from my elder brother Dr Ishaq.
Yours loving brother,
Sabir"
Note: Sabir is a Pakistani living in Peshawar
It is impossible to avoid the personal emotions that hurt so deep!
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update September 20, 2001---
Van Wert, OH - The President, in his address to the nation, said "We condemn the Taliban regime."
The US government has directed the Taliban to turn over
Osama bin Laden and all members of al-Qaida or share their fate.
Our military is on full alert, and the hour is coming when we will act.
All countries must determine whose side they are on.
The Taliban announced that Osama bin Laden would be allowed to leave Afghanistan, if he wants too.
President General Pervez Musharraf at 0800, September 20, 2001
addressed the nation of Pakistan, saying "The Government is trying to find a way to save Afghanistan and Taliban."
For a chilling mapping of Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida organization.
This organization was established by Osama Bin Laden in the late 1980s to
bring together Arabs who fought in Afghanistan against the Soviet invasion.
Their goal is to establish a pan-Islamic Caliphate throughout the world by
working with allied Islamic extremist groups to overthrow regimes it deems
"non-Islamic" and expelling Westerners and non-Muslims from Muslim countries.
He is said to have issued a statement under the banner of
"the World Islamic Front for Jihad Against the Jews and Crusaders" in February
1998, saying it was the duty of all Muslims to kill US citizens--civilian or
military--and their allies everywhere.
Al-Qaida believes Islamic governments less extreme than the Taliban--in
countries like Egypt, Algeria and Turkey--must be replaced with fundamentalists.
Internet research reveals that Muhammed Atef (AKA: Abu Hafs; Abu
Hafs el-Masry el-Khabir; Taysir; Sheikh Taysir Abdullah), Co-founder of al-Qaida
and Egyptian, who was indicted for alleged connection to the African bombings,
is believed to be Osama bin Laden's successor in case bin Laden is killed or captured.
THE WAR HAS STARTED! THIS COULD BE A VERY DIRTY WAR! SADLY WAR ITSELF
DOES NOT DETERMINE WHO IS RIGHT-ONLY WHO IS LEFT!
MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA and ALL OUR FOREIGN FRIENDS!!
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update September 20, 2001---
ISLAMABAD, September 20 (Pakistan News Service): "US ambassador to Pakistan Wendy Chamberlin has said that her country is weighing options to reciprocate Pakistan in terms of economic and political assistance in return of its co-operation during the ongoing crisis." How many billions of dollars is this going to cost the USA? In whose pockets will this money go? How effective can a dictator or president be without the support of a counties population?
In another article on the Pakistan News Service "A survey conducted by PNS here Friday in the backdrop of terrorist attacks on US and repercussions of possible US attack on Afghanistan under plea of Osama disclosed that people were unanimous in their opinion that any bid by US to launch attack on Afghanistan will not only endanger the security of the whole region but will also slide the country into unending civil war."
I continue to preach "Let's work with the Alliance of the North who have been fighting Osama bin Laden since 1996." They have the will, the desire, and troops already in the field fighting with Osama bin Laden's forces. I can not understand why we are not supporting them.
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update September 19, 2001---
Washington, DC - I'm including a portion of a speech in the text of this news update as it supports much of what I have been reporting since 1996. It even adds some very disturbing details.
-MrGary
The Honorable Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)
U.S. House of Representatives Floor Speech
September 17, 2001
Mr. Speaker, it is in deep sadness that I rise today to speak to my colleagues and to set down a record that I believe necessary to understand the horrible loss that we have suffered.
(Some paragraphs deleted)
... in 1996, a new force appeared seemingly out of nowhere--the Taleban.
These were fresh, well-equipped forces who had, by and large, sat out the war. They had been in Pakistan in what were called schools (Taleban means student, even though many, if not most, of the Taleban are illiterate.) All of the money America provided the Mujahidin during the war had to go through the Pakistani ISI (their CIA) and, apparently, enough had been siphoned off to create a third force--the Taleban. When the war was over, with the other factions bled white, they could dominate Afghanistan.
Also behind the Taleban is and has been Saudi Arabia. During the war against the Russians, the Saudis provided the Afghan resistance with hundreds of millions of dollars. Unfortunately, they were financing anti-Western as well as anti-Communist Muslims, one of whom was Bin Laden. I met the head of Saudi intelligence, Gen. Turki, and suggested to him that the exiled King of Afghanistan be brought back. It was King Zahir Shah's overthrow in 1972 that started the bloody cycle of events that eventually led to the Soviet invasion in 1979 and the subsequent war against the occupation. The Saudis wanted nothing to do with bringing back the moderate, good-hearted exiled King. They and their Pakistani allies were in the process of creating a secret third force--the Taleban--to take over and to do their bidding.
When the Taleban first arrived on the scene, people believed they would be a force for stability, so, by and large, they were welcomed-except in the northern provinces of Afghanistan where the Taleban were blocked by local commanders unwilling to permit these unfamiliar troops to take over their territory.
All too soon, the people of Afghanistan and the rest of the world were to discover that the Pakistanis and the Saudis had created a monster. The Taleban were and are Medieval in their world and religious view: violent and intolerant, fanatics, totally out of sync with Moslems throughout the world, especially Muslims living in the Western democracies. The Taleban are best known for their horrific treatment of women, but they are violators of human rights across the board. They have jailed and threatened to execute Christian aid workers, allegedly for daring to espouse a belief in Jesus Christ. They have ended all personal freedoms; freedom of speech and press are not even a consideration. They rule by fear.
The Talebans believe they have a private line to God. The rest of us, with our religious convictions, according to the Taleban, are not only wrong but evil. That is why they have been willing to give safe haven to the likes of Bin Laden, the Saudi terrorist who has been in Afghanistan for years training terrorists and planning out his attacks. Oh yes, Bin Laden has an army of several thousand gunmen who have been maurading around Afghanistan like a pack of mad dogs, fighting the to keep the Taleban in power. These foreign religious fanatics have killed thousands of Afghans. So the Taleban and Bin Laden are despised in most of Afghanistan.
For these last few years, the Taleban, with support from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, have captured control of all but a small portion of the country. Only the northeastern Panjshir Valley territory in northern Afghanistan and the Shamali Plains north of Kabul, under the control of a legendary and dashing leader, Commander Masood, remained free of Taleban domination.
The day before the attack on the United States, there was an attempt to kill Commander Masood. Although he was reported dead, he struggled for life another five days.
The attack on Masood told me something was about to happen, because Masood was someone Bin Laden's enemies would obviously turn to in an attack on the Taleban. I was so concerned I made an appointment to see top NSC officials at the White House. My appointment was for 2:30. At 8:45 that morning the first plane slammed into the World Trade Center.
But the Taleban domination of Afghanistan need not have happened. As a member of Congress, for years I pleaded with the Clinton Administration to provide some kind of help for the Northern Alliance. President Clinton would have none of it and, in fact his administration was, in many ways, responsible for keeping the Taleban in power.
Every time I suggest this, some people go ballistic because they believe I'm being partisan at this moment when national unity is obviously the order of the day. Unfortunately, I am not being partisan. As a senior member of International Relations committee, I officially requested State Department documents that would prove or disprove my suspicion that the Clinton Administration was secretly supporting the Taleban. I was stonewalled for several years. My request for those documents pertaining to the development of our government's policy toward the Taleban was ignored. I was given meaningless documents and the State Department made a joke out of Congress's right to oversee America's foreign policy.
By the way, in Afghanistan, it is commonly believed that the United States put the Taleban in power and supports the regime. There are reasons they believe this.
In 1996, for example, the Taleban overextended their forces and thousands of their best fighters were captured in northern Afghanistan. The Taleban regime was vulnerable as never before or since. It was a tremendous opportunity. The Alliance could have easily dealt a knockout punch to the Taleban. At that time I personally was in contact with the leaders of the Northern Alliance and recommended a quick attack and bringing back the old King, Zahir Shah, until some form of a democratic process could be established. This was a turning point.
Who saved the Taleban? President Bill Clinton. And please, I beg of you not to dismiss what I say. I am not being partisan. That would be sinful at a time like this. What happened was that, at this moment, when the Taleban could have been eliminated, President Clinton dispatched Assistant Secretary of State Rick Inderfurth and Bill Richardson, our United Nations Ambassador, to convince the leaders of the Northern Alliance not to go on an offensive against the then- vulnerable Taleban.
These two high-level American officials, sent by President Clinton, convinced the Northern Alliance to accept a ceasefire and a supposed arms embargo against all sides. Of course, the minute the ceasefire went into effect, the Saudis and Pakistanis began a massive rearming and resupply effort that rebuilt the Taleban forces. Our intelligence knew of the massive resupply effort, but we conveniently left the Northern Alliance in the dark. The Taleban offensive then started again and they drove most of the Northern Alliance out of the country.
For years I begged the Clinton Administration, our government, to support those resisting the Taleban regime, to support the former King, Zahir Shah, to let him head an interim government until a more democratic process could be put in place. Instead, the only response was a stonewalling of my request to find out what was our government's real policy toward Afghanistan.
All the while, Bin Laden, who had killed American military personnel and had declared war on the United States was running around Afghanistan, using it as a base of operations, a safe haven for terrorist attacks on the Philippines (he tried to kill the Pope) and other places. We did nothing. We were, in fact, supporting the Taleban. This as part of an understanding with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, to let them dominate Afghanistan. This understanding was obviously turning into a nightmare; yet our leaders lacked the will to change the situation. Over and over again, I warned that our policy toward the Taleban would come back to hurt our country. I was ignored and at times belittled.
But why weren't we warned by others of the horrific attack about to be launched against us? There was a headline in the Washington Post on September 14th suggesting that America's intelligence services have been conducting a secret war against Bin Laden for a several years. If that is true, then we need to fire the incompetent leaders of that covert war because they were responsible for protecting us from this heinous and cowardly gang. Instead, there was no warning, yet we were told the heads of our intelligence organizations were focused on Bin Laden. We spend tens of billions of dollars annually for good intelligence and have tens of thousands of people committed to this endeavor. And they totally miss a terrorist operation of this magnitude run by their number one targeted terrorist leader. This was clearly the worst failure of intelligence in American history.
I can't help but remember a few years ago I was called by a friend who worked in Afghanistan during the war against the Russians. He indicated that he could pinpoint Bin Laden's location. I passed on his phone number to the CIA. After a week, when he had yet to be contacted, I called again. After another week of no response, I contacted the Intelligence Committee here. Porter Goss, chairman of the committee, set up a meeting with the Bin Laden task force (CIA, NSA, FBI). They, too, left my friend waiting by the phone. After weeks and weeks, my friend was at long last contacted. He described the agents who talked to him as somewhat disinterested. That may have been because by that time over a month had passed and the tip off was a little stale.
My friends, the slaughter of these thousands of Americans must be avenged and we must see to it that such a monstrous crime can never happen again. To accomplish this we must be strong and smart. We do not need to use our troops to invade Afghanistan. We should already be dispatching special forces teams and Rangers to those countries on Afghanistan's northern border. Those teams and other military units should establish a system to supply and equip those Afghans friendly to the United States, so that they can free themselves, with our help, from the Taleban rule. We can then join them in hunting down and killing every member of Ben Ladin terrorist gang and hanging their bodies at the gate.
Revenge is not an end in itself; otherwise we would be inconsistent with our own convictions. But by killing Bin Laden and his gang of fanatics and by joining in an effort to stamp out the scourge of terrorism, we are setting a moral standard.
First, our American dead will be avenged, which will hopefully deter at least some of those swine who contemplate such attacks in the future. Second, we are affirming that targeting unarmed noncombatants, anywhere in the world for whatever reason, will no longer be tolerated. If this is to be a better world, if we are to build upon the ashes of this tragedy, we will do it by seeing to it that the Bin Ladens of this planet are never given a safe haven again. And that those countries which harbor such criminals will themselves pay a price for this criminal disregard for the victims of such terrorism.
There must be an accounting. At home, those top government executives whose policies protected the Taleban, those intelligence officers who were so incompetent that this attack came without warning, must be cleared out. Those countries, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia have a price to pay, and finally the murdering terrorists themselves.
We will have victory over those ghouls who murdered our defenseless fellow Americans. We will win because we are unified as never before and because this generation of Americans has the courage, tenacity, and ideals that have always been America's greatest source of strength. It's up to us and we will do our duty. And nothing will deter us.
---Afghanistan News Update September 19, 2001---
Washington, DC - More on Pakistan's loyalty to America, copied from the Pakistan news service on the web (http://www.paknews.com/).
"China, Pakistan agree to keep close contacts
"Updated on 2001-09-19 14:12:04
"ISLAMABAD, September 19 (PNS): Pakistan is keeping close contacts and consultation with China in the backdrop of changing situation in the region in the aftermath of US tragedy. Sources told that Chinese deputy foreign minister has delivered a special message from his government to President General Pervez Musharraf during his meeting with him held here Tuesday. Chinese deputy foreign minister also held talks with high-ranking officials at Foreign Office. He held a meeting at length with General Pervez Musharraf and discussed matters relating to prevailing situation in the region in the context of terrorist attacks on US, US demands and prospects of US likely attack on Afghanistan. Official sources said that China has elaborated its stance while Pakistan has also made its position clear in the present situation. Sources told that General Musharraf has made it clear that Pakistan will take into confidence China and other friendly countries before making any decision in response to US demands to stave off any deterioration in the prevailing situation. Chinese deputy foreign minister has also apprised the President of his government policy on the possible US attack and arrival of US forces in the region. President also told him about talks held between Pakistan delegation and Taliban leadership. Pakistan and China in a meeting held at foreign office have decided to continue the consultative process on the strategy to be evolved in the current situation."
I continue to say that "We Americans should be working with the Alliance of the North, already fighting Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan." The people of Pakistan are not going to shoot their neighbors, friends, and children of the Taliban for America. We are creating a real problem attempting to force them into such a position. This summer, during a visit to Pakistan, the undersigned heard many stores of a rapid increase in the numbers of Chinese businessman visiting Pakistan.
-MrGary
---Editorial - September 16, 2001---
For 23 years, Commander Ahmed Shah Massoud, "The Lion of Panjsher," fought for the freedom and justice of the Afghan people. His moral and physical courage against unbelievable odds, combined with his brilliant military strategy, made him a legend in his time. He was a true hero to so many people, including me, from the first time I met him in 1988 (see story, Chapter 7, "The Gem Hunter"), through our last meeting this August. Massoud and his followers were one of the first groups to challenge and repel the Soviet troops during their invasion of Afghanistan (1979).
In 1994, the USA, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia backed the Taliban in their effort to control Afghanistan. Massoud withdrew his troops safely without a fight to some 20 miles north of Kabul, where they still control that line of defense just outside Panjsher Valley.
Osama bin Laden and his followers, desiring a base of operations for their terrorist activities, associated themselves with the Taliban against Massoud's forces in an attempt to control all of Afghanistan. The USA continued to support Pakistan, who maintained the Taliban and who, in turn, supported and received support from Osama bin Laden and his followers.
Now the USA finally recognizes Osama bin Laden and his partners, the Taliban, as true enemies. Why then does the US turn to Pakistan, with its highly questionable loyalty? Instead, by honoring Ahmed Shah Massoud's vision and assisting his strong forces and the other tribal commanders already at the battlefront, we could accomplish all our aims: We could enlist the resources of native Afghans in our pursuit of bin Laden; we could defeat the radical forces of the Taliban; and we could foster and support moderate tribes in their bid for a FREE Afghanistan.
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update September 14, 2001---
Oak Ridge, TN - Commander Ahmad Shah Massoud "The Lion of Panjsher" has died in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. He never recovered from wounds received when a camera bomb was exploded by two Moroccans or Algerians during an "interview" assassination plot in Khawja Bahaouddin. May God Be With Him and Guide Those Who Take His Place To Continue The Fight for Justice and Freedom in AFGHANISTAN.
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update September 11, 2001---
Oak Ridge, TN - Today, a well planned, well financed group of terrorists flew two large planes owned by American and United Airlines, with passengers aboard, into the World Trade Center towers located in New York City. A third plane was hijacked and flown into the Pentagon building in Washington, DC. A fourth commercial plane was hijacked and crashed Southwest of Pittsburgh. Is this the beginning of a long World War?
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update September 9, 2001---
Khawja Bahaouddin, Afghanistan - Two men, Moroccan or Algerian, posing as journalists with Belgium passports, set off a camera bomb while interviewing Commander Ahmad Shah Massoud in his office. Engineer Assim and one of the assassins died immediately. Commander Massoud and Masood Khalili, the Afghan Ambassador to India, were wounded. The second assassin was shot dead as he grabbed a rifle to escape. Commander Massoud was reported to be in a coma with shrapnel lodged in his head, plus leg wounds and burns. What's next?
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update September 6, 2001---
Washington, DC - The undersigned has heard Afghanistan and Pakistan reports of radical Muslims placing collection boxes to gather funds in mosques around the world and smuggle weapons into Afghanistan under wheat shipments. This disturbed the undersigned who personally reported this to the Afghanistan Desk Officer in her office at the US State Department in a personal meeting today. Obviously these radical people have decided to make Afghanistan their territorial base of operations. This appears to be a resurgence of the Mujahideen resistance (Wahabi) movement started in 1831 to destroy the British in Bengal and the Sikhs in the Punjab. The British were effectively harassed until 1902. The Wahabis, named after Abdul Wahab of Nejd, born in 1703, condemn any social or religious practice which has no justification in the sacred text of Islam. Beware!
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update August 20, 2001---
Khawja Bahaouddin, Afghanistan - Early this morning, ten miles west of Khawja Bahaouddin, a battle started on the Afghanistan/Tajikistan border between the forces of Commander Massoud and the combined forces of the Taliban, Pakistan and Osama Bin Laden. A helicopter was sent to evacuate the film crew to Dushanbe, Tajikistan. After their departure, the battle subsided and the undersigned departed by vehicle for Pakistan. See map and photos.
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update August 19, 2001---
Khawja Bahaouddin, Afghanistan - Commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, Engineer Assim, Wolfgang Knoepfler, and the undersigned were watched by an international film crew as they sat peacefully at a table located under a shade tree outside of Massoud's office to exchange greetings and information. Massoud had just completed a filmed interview about the beautiful scenery and gemstones of Afghanistan for a TV documentary to be released during January 2002. The undersigned asked Massoud if he had any plans to meet with top US State Department officials in America to discuss their mutual problem - Osama Bin Laden. Massoud replied that he had no current plans for such a meeting. The State Department Officials and Massoud need to talk.
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update April 1, 2001---
New York - Mullah Muhammad Omar's decision to destroy the Great Buddha of
Bamiyan sculptures along with continued protection of Osama bin Laden,
poor treatment of women, and increased opium production is being critically
reviewed by the international community and the new American
administration.
Russia and the USA worked in tandem to gather United Nations Security
Council (UNSC) support for sanctions against the Taliban and indirectly
Pakistan. The sanctions are a necessary step towards curbing the
exploitation of Afghan territory by the international Muslim extremist
network.
If the USA and Russia provide support for the multi-tribal alliance
being organized by Commander Ahmed Shah Massoud, the Taliban movement could
possibly be neutralized within six months. Commander Massoud is now
planning to increase pressure on the Taliban by building a 20,000 man force for
summer 2001. These multi-tribal forces will be lead by Ismail Khan, Herat, Haji
Qadeer, Kunar, Karim Khalili, Bamiyan. If these Pushtuns, Tajik, and
Hazara (Shiite) leaders can neutralize the Taliban and convince Pakistan that
peace is best handled via UN negotiations and elections, there is hope for the
future of Afghanistan.
-MrGary
---Afghanistan News Update January 28, 2001---
Honolulu, HI - The battles between Afghanistan's Northern Alliance and the
Taliban/Pakistan forces continue on several fronts through this unusually
mild winter. Early spring battles are expected. Any Taliban success will
depend on its ability to draw on Pakistani "volunteers" to increase its
forces and to cut off the Northern Alliances supply lines via Tajikistan.
Any Northern Alliance's success may depend on the USA/Russian actions taken
against Bin Laden.
-MrGary
Continued-->
