A Farewell To Arms
The mujaheddin of Afghanistan fought for the release of their country from military occupation of the Soviet Union, instilling fear in the hearts of the Soviet Army and sending back to the U.S.S.R. far more bodies than the military ever thought they would suffer as casualties in their initial invasion, in 1979. But the invasion cost Afghanistan dearly as well, since it's estimated a million people were killed in the conflict, on Afghanistan's side.Afghanistan was fighting a civil war, with a prime minister intent on sidelining Muslim tradition and permanently installing a communist-type government. Then-prime minister, Hazifullah Amin, arrested thousands of Muslim leaders, while many thousands more joined the mujaheddin guerrilla force intent on battling a holy war. When the Russians declared their intent to invade, and suffered the condemnation of the world, they claimed they were there on invitation of the government, a communist-led government.
A legitimate government, while the mujaheddin were terrorists, according to the Soviet Union. Amin's successor, installed by the Russians, required Soviet military support to remain in power; some 85,000-strong Russian soldiers, while Afghan soldiers were deserting to the mujaheddin whose fierce religious determination proved to be powerfully indomitable. They knew their own terrain, hostile to strangers.
Russian tanks were useless in the mountainous terrain. Conventional military warfare, equipment and clothing were next to useless in Afghanistan's harsh environment. And in came the United States, discreetly assisting the mujaheddin with military hardware, to unsettle Russia, adding strength to the Afghan fighters with some Russian soldiers fleeing to their side, and the weak Russian economy slowly bleeding the country's resources.
Until, finally, with Russia's departure, the mujaheddin succumbed to fanatical Taliban fighters.
What incredible irony, that the United States, so eager to up-end Russia's aspirations in upholding communist rule in Afghanistan, gave vigorous support to the fighters of the allied Afghan tribes, along with their foreign Arab supporters who eventually morphed into al-Qaeda.
Whatever interventions occurred throughout the centuries with Russia and Great Britain invading Afghanistan in turn in what was historically named "The Great Game" for hegemonic gain, always led to disaster.
And the current situation is no different. The fanatically devout Taliban installed Islamist rule in the country, devastating its people, diminishing their lives and their opportunities for social and economic advancement, while investing support for Osama bin Laden and his growing al-Qaeda movement, irretrievably hostile to the reality of modern Western imperialism in the oil-rich Middle East.
The U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, after 91-11 should have stopped right there. But the Bush administration had other ideas, and went on to Iraq whose cauldron of oil-rich troubles has bubbled over beyond catastrophic for Iraqis, with no end in sight to the incessant chaos and bloodthirsty slaughter.
The end game in all of this has always been economic advancement of one country on the back of others. Humankind being what it is, and nations being comprised of beings who simply will not learn the lessons of history, there will never be a farewell to arms.
Yet even now, a farewell to a certain type of arms is ongoing. Not the laying down of arms, but the surrender of a certain type of armament. One near and dear to Afghans, their national army, their police, the insurgent Taliban, the tribal mountain militias. None other than the Kalashnikov AK47. It's a Russian invention; the most popular, most-used weapon in the world.
None more reliable. It has proved to be an outstanding piece of mechanical engineering. Almost indestructible. Where most such weaponry must be handled carefully, cleaned regularly, kept dry and in good shape, the AK47 is a tough piece of goods.
"The Kalashnikov is cleaned just by covering it in diesel. It comes out looking spotless. You can bury it in the sand for 100 years, dig it out and it'll fire the first time." A testament to its utility by the Royal Irish Regiment officer responsible for training Afghan soldiers.
Yet that same Major Robert Armstrong is engaged in an American-British scheme to replace the Kalashnikov with a newer weapon, the American M16. They're there, not as an occupying force, but with NATO and under UN auspices, at specific invitation by the current governing body of Afghanistan.
How history repeats itself, unendingly, dispiritedly, hoping for humankind to sit up and take notice.
Afghan soldiers are anything but content at having to give up a superior, tried-and-true companion in the theatre of war. "This is made of plastic; it will break", scorned one of the soldiers, holding up the M16 in distaste for the unwanted trade. They're bewildered at the change, not at all enthralled by its newness, its vaunted accuracy, its lighter-weight.
Ditch the Russian invention, and Russia winces yet again at yet another insult, a blow to Russian pride. Everyone's weapon of choice, universally embraced, lauded for its efficiency, its efficacy, a soldier's ultimate companion.
And the American manufacturers of the M16 can gloat and anticipate their fattened bottom line.
Labels: Technology, Traditions, United States, World Crises
posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, April 15, 2008
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