Since the early 80s, I've been aware of Zbigniew Brzezinski's role in the Islamic jihad and
the Afghanistan War. I knew about it while it was happening, instead of learning about it
from his comments long after the war was over.
You might also look up William Casey's role in these events.
Read "Ghost Wars", which is a good summary of the Afghani War against the USSR.
I assumed you were referring to the support of the activities in Afghanistan against the Soviets which would not qualify as "terrorist" activities in that they were directed against the Soviet military rather than Soviet civilians.
yrs, andreas www.andreas.com
Andreas,
I just ran across something that relates to the current tangent or quibble, that is, your assertion that the USA "supported and funded terrorist activities." I assumed you were referring to the support of the activities in Afghanistan against the Soviets which would not qualify as "terrorist" activities in that they were directed against the Soviet military rather than Soviet civilians. But here is something interesting from page 321 of The Losing Battle with Islam by David Selbourne:
"The advance of Arab national movements, for example, owed much to the patronage of the Soviet Union. Non-Muslim nations have also had varied histories in instigating and equipping the Islamist forces themselves. Thus, the 'destabilisation' of the Soviet Union was accelerated by investments in Islamist movements in central Asia by the United States, especially under President Carter. 'Do you regret having supported Islamic fundamentalism, giving arms and advice to future terrorists?' Zbigniew Brzezinski, carter's security adviser, was asked by Le Nouvel Observateur in January 1998. 'What matters more to world history', Brzezinski asked by way of reply, 'the Taliban, or the collapse of the Soviet empire? Some stirred-up Muslims, or the liberation of central Europe and the end of the cold war? 'Some stirred-up Muslims?' responded his questioner with evident incredulity. 'But isn't Islamic fundamentalism a world menace today?' the journalist inquired. 'Nonsense, there is no global Islam', the former national security adviser to President Carter replied."
If you can reduce the level of emotion you seem to be experiencing, you will perhaps recall that Brzezinski's position is consistent with a position I am slowly investigating, i.e., a position expressed on the "Jihadists" by Francis Fukuyama found in his America at the Crossroads. He follows Olivier Roy (Globalized Islam) and Gilles Kepel (The War for Muslim Minds) in thinking that the Islamist threat is overrated. While I am slowly investigating this position (I've begun Roy's book) I do not hold it. I do not think the Islamist threat is overrated. Quite the contrary, I think we in the U.S. are not taking it seriously enough. Nevertheless I am willing to believer that the positions of Fukuyama, Roy, Kepel, and Brzezinski (as expressed in 1998) are honestly held. Brzezinski and probably Schultz believed while they were in office and Brzezinski at least until 1998 that the Soviet Union comprised a far greater threat to Liberal Democracies than Globalized Islam.
As to whom I might be inclined to agree with, well yes, of course, I am going to agree with those who believe we are at war with Militant Islam. That is my position so I am going to agree with those who share it. As to accepting other things they might say because they share my position on Militant Islam, well no, I am not as credulous as you suggest. I find that sort of gullibility (at least this is my theory), among people inclined to accept a party line or the opinions of leaders they respect. I tend to think that reading long articles all the way to the end and reading a variety of books on a given subject does wonders for reducing credulity. I highly recommend it, as a matter of fact.
Lawrence
-----Original Message----- From: Andreas Ramos Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 12:01 AM Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Sustaining our Resolve
Lawrence, I remember the events. Schultz says the USA ignored terrorist activities. No, the
US supported and funded terrorist activities. Schultz is a liar. You simply ignore that.
You are completely willing to give full faith to whatever someone says if that person falls
within your narrow and stilted view of the world. George Schultz can tell a blatant lie, and
you simply accept it, because he now supports your idea of war against Islam. You
consistently do this with everything you read.
yrs,
andreas
www.andreas.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lawrence Helm" <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 9:17 AM
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: Sustaining our Resolve
Andreas,
You are muddying the water. As has been discussed copiously, we wereduring
the period you describe at war with the USSR. It was called the Cold War.
The individual who created the policy that was used by all succeeding
presidents was George Kennan who worked for Acheson during the Truman
administration. The policy was called containment. In general itconsisted
of opposing aggressive Communist activities wherever possible. Sometimeswe
opposed Communist aggression militarily as in Korea and Vietnam.Sometimes
we opposed it with the CIA. The events you misrepresent were in that
category. The USSR invaded Afghanistan and we supplied those who opposed
the USSR. We were not opposing Islamism in those days. As a nation we
didn't even know it existed. Al Quaeda, you may recall was created after
the USSR left Afghanistan in 1989. When the USSR left, we left as well.
As far as I can see, your comments don't pertain to anything in Schultz'
article, or anything in my comments. I don't know what your problem iswith
reading. I wouldn't think you'd want to respond to an article you hadn't
read. I know I wouldn't.
Lawrence
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.405 / Virus Database: 268.11.2/422 - Release Date: 8/17/2006
------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html
