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Many Afghans Haven't Heard of 9/11
Wall Street Journal ^ | By YAROSLAV TROFIMOV

Posted on 09/07/2011 5:58:29 PM PDT by AfricanChristian

KABUL—The Sept. 11 attacks that triggered the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan also uprooted 16-year-old Abdul Ghattar from his village in war-torn Helmand province, bringing him to a desolate refugee camp on the edge of Kabul.

Yet Mr. Ghattar stared blankly when asked whether he knew about al Qaeda's strike on the U.S., launched a decade ago from Afghan soil.

"Never heard of it," he shrugged as he lined up for water at the camp's well, which serves thousands of fellow refugees. "I have no idea why the Americans are in my country."

n a nearby tent that is the camp's school, his teacher, 22-year-old Mullah Said Nabi Agha, didn't fare much better. He said he has never seen the iconic image of the Twin Towers burning. He was vaguely aware that some kind of explosion had occurred in America.

"I was a child when it happened, and now I am an adult, and the Americans are still here," Mr. Agha said. "I think the Americans did it themselves, so they could invade Afghanistan."

The teacher's view is by no means rare here. The events of Sept. 11, 2001, of course, are known to educated Afghans, and to many residents of big cities. But that isn't always the case elsewhere in a predominantly rural country where 42% of the population is under the age of 14, and 72% of adults are illiterate. With few villages reached by television or electricity, news here is largely spread by word of mouth.‬

(Excerpt) Read more at professional.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
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To: buccaneer81

Not very different from the scenario I promoted about 4 or 5 months after 9-11 on FR, and which earned me the kudo “I would vote for you if you ran for President!” from at least one FReeper.
My scenario involved specifically going after infrastructure first, like Saudi oil fields, just to give
them a taste of how serious we were.Unfortunately we weren’t that serious, preferring to win an unwinnable century-long battle for the usual elusive “hearts and minds”.


21 posted on 09/07/2011 6:58:37 PM PDT by supremedoctrine
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To: gaijin

Men far away resolved to hurt us. They reached out very far, and then did that.

Receiving the blow, we then reached out very far, and set up camp in their home, shooting them, bombing them from above, and taking over their government.

We tromp around there and make daily life —not just planning bombings in the USA —very hard for them.

It’s not just revenge or hate, but instead putting the violent battle into their home, and away from our homes.

The only thing we could do better is stop all this stupid, “human landscape” crypto-sociology mumbo-jumbo and building schools for girls.

No US taxes for Afghani girl schools (though I like girls). Also no USMC protection for poppy fields.

Let’s just speak the language Afghanis understand —shooting folks and breaking stuff —that’s mission enough. They understand that completely.


22 posted on 09/07/2011 7:01:25 PM PDT by gaijin
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To: AfricanChristian

Not a big surprise, new travels slow in the 7th century.


23 posted on 09/07/2011 7:12:26 PM PDT by dainbramaged (I lost my mantra around 1969.)
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To: Ramius
We’re there because the Taliban refused to hand over Bin Laden, and continues to support terrorist groups and training camps.

Then why is the US and NATO giving Al-Qaeda terrorists money, arms, training, supplies, intelligence, and air cover to attack the Libyans?

Why did the US and NATO support the Al-Qaeda backed KLA in their attacks on the Serbs?

Shouldn't Zbigniew Brzezinski be held responsible for arming and training Osama Bin Laden?


24 posted on 09/07/2011 8:32:20 PM PDT by Roninf5-1
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To: AfricanChristian

Many Afghans wipe their backside with their hand after defecating on the ground. What’s your point?


25 posted on 09/07/2011 8:49:34 PM PDT by Henry Hnyellar
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To: Roninf5-1

Nice straw man you got there. Lemme guess... You get your talking points from The Nation?


26 posted on 09/07/2011 9:37:40 PM PDT by Ramius (Or getrsonally, I give us... one chance in three. More tea?)
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To: Delta 21

I forgot, if they hide out in Pakistan, kill them there. I’m not bloodthirsty, but death seems to be the only thing that stops these pricks.


27 posted on 09/08/2011 4:27:23 AM PDT by Former Proud Canadian (We .. have a purpose .. no longer to please every dictator with a vote at the UN. PM Harper)
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To: LibLieSlayer
I wonder about that.

First of all, we should have no qualms about destroying any monument or "holy site" or strategic target in enemy territory. I would have no problem nuking every holy site in islam, if it would have the desired effect.

I'm not saying it wouldn't work, just wondering how effective it would be.

28 posted on 09/08/2011 4:34:33 AM PDT by Former Proud Canadian (We .. have a purpose .. no longer to please every dictator with a vote at the UN. PM Harper)
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To: Former Proud Canadian

Read the koran and you will know... if mecca disappears... islam dies.

LLS


29 posted on 09/08/2011 6:30:23 AM PDT by LibLieSlayer (Certified Al Palin Hobbit Terrorist)
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To: LibLieSlayer
That's good to know.

When you have a strategic target, the elimination of which can devastate your society, it's not good to piss off nations with nuclear weapons.

30 posted on 09/08/2011 6:44:01 AM PDT by Former Proud Canadian (We .. have a purpose .. no longer to please every dictator with a vote at the UN. PM Harper)
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To: Former Proud Canadian

Its one of their primary goals. Im just here to help them out .


31 posted on 09/08/2011 7:16:56 AM PDT by Delta 21 (Make your choice ! There are NO civilians.)
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