Exclusive: “Armies that invade foreign countries are rarely loved” – Chomsky
April 26, 2014 Leave a comment
Syed Zafar Mehdi
A leading American philosopher, linguist, political commentator and activist, Noam Chomsky is described as the “father of modern linguistics”. Mr. Chomsky has authored more than 100 books and has spent most of his career at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he is the Professor Emeritus currently. He was voted as the “world’s top public intellectual” in a NYT 2005 poll.
Mr. Chomsky is well known across the globe as a political activist, leading critic of U.S. foreign policy, state capitalism and mainstream media. Ideologically, he aligns himself with anarcho-syndicalism and libertarian socialism. In an exclusive interview with Afghan Zariza, he talks about war in Afghanistan and why it is ‘immoral’.
Q. It was Vietnam War 40 years ago that prompted you to write your first political critique and you continue to be the fierce critic of U.S. foreign policy. Why do you think the war in Afghanistan is “immoral”?
A. George W. Bush informed the Taliban that unless they handed over Osama bin Laden, the U.S. would attack the country. The Taliban leadership asked for evidence, but President Bush refused to provide any. They made some tentative offers to have him tried. The US disregarded them, and then followed with attacks. Several weeks later, the British announced that the goal was to overthrow the Taliban and displace them with the warlords of the Northern Alliance. The U.S. bombing was bitterly condemned by leading anti-Taliban activists, notably Abdul Haq, who charged that the U.S. was undermining their efforts to overthrow the Taliban from within and its goal was merely to show its muscle.
A plausible view, but whether he is right or wrong, what happened was in gross violation of international law and elementary moral principles.
Q. The majority of US-led allied forces are scheduled to pull out from Afghanistan this year. How do you predict the future of country post 2014? Is there a likelihood of Taliban bouncing back?
A. It is hard to make any assumptions or speculate at this juncture, but unfortunately it appears very likely that the Taliban will stage a comeback. Afghan forces will have their hands full.
It is hard to make any assumptions or speculate at this juncture, but unfortunately it appears very likely that the Taliban will stage a comeback
Q. What are your thoughts on US-Afghan bilateral security agreement that has generated lot of debate in recent months? Do you think outgoing President Karzai’s stance on the agreement was warranted?
A. That is really for Afghans to decide whether the agreement should be signed or not. It should be left to them. I personally do not like either Karzai’s or Obama’s stance on the security agreement between the two countries. It seems they have not done their homework properly.
Q. We have just witnessed the historic Presidential elections and now President Karzai will finally be relinquishing the President’s chair. How do you rate his performance in the last 12 years?
A. Karzai has somehow managed to stay in power. It is hard to think of anything complimentary to say about his 12 year tenure at the helm. He has made some of the most ludicrous decisions that were not in the best national interest. He has not been too impressive and I believe history will judge him accordingly.
Q. In recent months Karzai has tried to rebuff the U.S. by not only refusing to sign the security agreement but also warming up to Tehran. How do you view these changing political dynamics?
A. I frankly do not understand what President Karzai thinks he is doing. His political somersaults have been intriguing. However, his time is up now, so it would be interesting to see how his successor follows up. I hope he makes the right decisions.
Q. Most of the political analysts here in Afghanistan squarely blame Pakistan for the political unrest and Taliban insurgency on this side. How far is that true?
A. Pakistan surely has been supporting it, but it is not the only factor for the political unrest or insurgency in Afghanistan. There is much more to it than what the analysts in Afghanistan or for that matter Pakistan might want us to believe. It is a great political game that seeks to destabilize the country further.
Q. There has been a spate of suicide attacks in Kabul in recent weeks, especially in the run up to elections, which sent shockwaves across the country. Do you agree with Karzai, who has hinted at the possible involvement of U.S. intelligence agencies behind these attacks?
A. Frankly, I do not agree with that argument. I think that is highly unlikely.
Q. For majority of ordinary Afghans, both the Taliban and America represent evils. Why has the U.S. failed to win hearts and minds of Afghans in last 12 years? Has their Afghanistan policy proved a disaster?
A. It is very simple and logical. Armies that invade foreign countries, bomb them, break into homes, impose their rule by force, and commit other crimes, are rarely loved. No matter how hard they try, they can never be able to win hearts and minds of people they occupy.
Q. Some security analysts in India have hinted at the possibility of Taliban shifting focus to Indian controlled Kashmir after the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan. Is it just the way to create fear psychosis in people or it merits attention?
A. I do not think it is very likely. Taliban fighters will have their hands full trying to maintain a position in the wreckage of Afghanistan after the withdrawal of foreign troops. In such a situation, they would like to concentrate on home turf rather than shift focus to Indian controlled Kashmir. But, what is happening in Kashmir is unfortunate.
Q. Afghanistan has a great potential to become economically self-reliant with massive mining industry and agriculture. Where do you see the country 10 years from now?
A. In principle, it is possible. Both Russia and the U.S. owe huge reparations to Afghanistan for the crimes they have committed there. If they could begin to rise to this level of honesty, and turn their efforts to reconstruction rather than destruction and violence, Afghanistan would be able to move towards the kind of future its suffering people deserve.
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