Was U.S. aiding the Taliban?

[link|http://www.politicsol.com/guest-commentaries/2001-09-18.html|Was U.S. Aiding the Taliban?] By congressman Dana Rohrabacher

Apparently, no. The Taliban was created by the Saudis and Pakistis to take control after the Soviets left Afghanistan

But the Pakistanis and the Saudis have two other things in common. As long as chaos was able to reign and continues in Afghanistan, there will never be a pipeline built through Afghanistan that permits the oil from central Asia. This vast quantity of oil that we know exists in central Asia, it cannot be brought to market because a pipeline will never be built through Afghanistan while the Taliban is in power and while chaos reins. What does that mean? That means oil prices have been much higher, maybe $5 a barrel higher, than they would have been had Afghanistan been under a good king and a stable government and a pipeline built that would have brought that oil out into the world market; and there are vast quantities of oil in central Asia waiting, just waiting to come to market.

From other places I've heard, it seems as though Uzbekistan is allowing us to station planes and troops there becuase they have a lot of the oil and would love to see a pipeline theough Afghanistan to the water

There's lots of information about our relations with Afghanistan and her neighbors at the US Department of State web page.

The [link|http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2001/index.cfm?docid=3270|agreement] with Uzbekistan was signed on June 5.

Remarks at Signing of Cooperative Threat Reduction Agreement With Uzbekistan

Secretary Colin L. Powell
Signing ceremony
Washington, DC
June 5, 2001

MR. JONATHAN BENTON (Acting Director for Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs): Secretary Powell and Minister Kamilov will now sign the Cooperative Threat Reduction Agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Uzbekistan. This agreement will enable enhanced defense cooperation and joint work under the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and technology and expertise.

Cooperation will include the dismantlement of Soviet military, chemical and biological weapons facilities left on the territory of Uzbekistan at the time of independence.

SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. This is my first treaty as Secretary of State. (Applause.)

MR. BENTON: This concludes the signing ceremony.

Also, there's been misinformation out there by some commentators about the $43 M in aid we gave to Afghanistan in May. [link|http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2001/index.cfm?docid=2928|This] statement by Powell on May 17 addresses it.

Humanitarian Assistance to Afghans

Secretary Colin L. Powell
Statement at Press Briefing on New U.S. Humanitarian Assistance for Afghans Washington, DC
May 17, 2001

SECRETARY POWELL: Good morning, everyone. Afghanistan is in crisis. After more than 20 years of war, and now the third year of a devastating draught, the country is on the verge of a widespread famine. Nearly 4 million Afghans are at risk. If the international community does not take immediate action, countless deaths and terrible tragedy are certain to follow.

At the direction of President Bush, I am today announcing a package of $43 million in new humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan, including 65,000 tons of wheat, $5 million in complementary food commodities, and $10 million in other livelihood and food security programs within Afghanistan. We also expect to soon announce additional assistance to Afghan refugees.

Even before this latest commitment, the United States was by far the largest provider of humanitarian assistance for Afghans. Last year, we provided about $114 million in aid. With this new package, our humanitarian assistance to date this year will reach $124 million. This includes over 200,000 tons of wheat.

We will continue to look for ways to provide more assistance for Afghans, including those farmers who have felt the impact of the ban on poppy cultivation, a decision by the Taliban that we welcome.

We distribute our assistance in Afghanistan through international agencies of the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations. We provide our aid to the people of Afghanistan, not to Afghanistan's warring factions. Our aid bypasses the Taliban, who have done little to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people, and indeed have done much to exacerbate it. We hope the Taliban will act on a number of fundamental issues that separate us: their support for terrorism; their violation of internationally recognized human rights standards, especially their treatment of women and girls; and their refusal to resolve Afghanistan's civil war through a negotiated settlement.

UN sanctions against the Taliban are smart sanctions and do not hurt the Afghan people, nor do these sanctions affect the flow of humanitarian assistance for Afghans. America seeks to help the neediest, wherever they may be. I call upon the international community to mobilize and respond generously to help avert this looming humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan.

Secretary General Annan and I have discussed this situation before, and I will ask for his further assistance to raise the international community's awareness about this crisis and to impress upon the international community the necessity to respond with energy and with dispatch.

Colleagues of mine from different parts of the government, as well as including the United States Agency for International Development, will be available to provide more detailed information, should you have questions.

Thank you very much.

Cheers,
Scott.

Post #10,109 by Fearless Freep 9/21/01 12:56:18 PM Reply	Was U.S. aiding the Taliban? [link\|http://www.politicsol.com/guest-commentaries/2001-09-18.html\|Was U.S. Aiding the Taliban?] By congressman Dana Rohrabacher Apparently, no. The Taliban was created by the Saudis and Pakistis to take control after the Soviets left Afghanistan But the Pakistanis and the Saudis have two other things in common. As long as chaos was able to reign and continues in Afghanistan, there will never be a pipeline built through Afghanistan that permits the oil from central Asia. This vast quantity of oil that we know exists in central Asia, it cannot be brought to market because a pipeline will never be built through Afghanistan while the Taliban is in power and while chaos reins. What does that mean? That means oil prices have been much higher, maybe $5 a barrel higher, than they would have been had Afghanistan been under a good king and a stable government and a pipeline built that would have brought that oil out into the world market; and there are vast quantities of oil in central Asia waiting, just waiting to come to market. From other places I've heard, it seems as though Uzbekistan is allowing us to station planes and troops there becuase they have a lot of the oil and would love to see a pipeline theough Afghanistan to the water Jay O'Connor "Going places unmapped to do things unplanned to people unsuspecting"
Post #10,115 by Another Scott 9/21/01 1:12:40 PM Reply	We have a agreements with Uzbek. Also, Afghan food aid. There's lots of information about our relations with Afghanistan and her neighbors at the US Department of State web page. The [link\|http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2001/index.cfm?docid=3270\|agreement] with Uzbekistan was signed on June 5. Remarks at Signing of Cooperative Threat Reduction Agreement With Uzbekistan Secretary Colin L. Powell Signing ceremony Washington, DC June 5, 2001 MR. JONATHAN BENTON (Acting Director for Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs): Secretary Powell and Minister Kamilov will now sign the Cooperative Threat Reduction Agreement between the United States of America and the Republic of Uzbekistan. This agreement will enable enhanced defense cooperation and joint work under the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat Reduction Program to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and technology and expertise. Cooperation will include the dismantlement of Soviet military, chemical and biological weapons facilities left on the territory of Uzbekistan at the time of independence. SECRETARY POWELL: Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. This is my first treaty as Secretary of State. (Applause.) MR. BENTON: This concludes the signing ceremony. Also, there's been misinformation out there by some commentators about the $43 M in aid we gave to Afghanistan in May. [link\|http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2001/index.cfm?docid=2928\|This] statement by Powell on May 17 addresses it. Humanitarian Assistance to Afghans Secretary Colin L. Powell Statement at Press Briefing on New U.S. Humanitarian Assistance for Afghans Washington, DC May 17, 2001 SECRETARY POWELL: Good morning, everyone. Afghanistan is in crisis. After more than 20 years of war, and now the third year of a devastating draught, the country is on the verge of a widespread famine. Nearly 4 million Afghans are at risk. If the international community does not take immediate action, countless deaths and terrible tragedy are certain to follow. At the direction of President Bush, I am today announcing a package of $43 million in new humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan, including 65,000 tons of wheat, $5 million in complementary food commodities, and $10 million in other livelihood and food security programs within Afghanistan. We also expect to soon announce additional assistance to Afghan refugees. Even before this latest commitment, the United States was by far the largest provider of humanitarian assistance for Afghans. Last year, we provided about $114 million in aid. With this new package, our humanitarian assistance to date this year will reach $124 million. This includes over 200,000 tons of wheat. We will continue to look for ways to provide more assistance for Afghans, including those farmers who have felt the impact of the ban on poppy cultivation, a decision by the Taliban that we welcome. We distribute our assistance in Afghanistan through international agencies of the United Nations and nongovernmental organizations. We provide our aid to the people of Afghanistan, not to Afghanistan's warring factions. Our aid bypasses the Taliban, who have done little to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people, and indeed have done much to exacerbate it. We hope the Taliban will act on a number of fundamental issues that separate us: their support for terrorism; their violation of internationally recognized human rights standards, especially their treatment of women and girls; and their refusal to resolve Afghanistan's civil war through a negotiated settlement. UN sanctions against the Taliban are smart sanctions and do not hurt the Afghan people, nor do these sanctions affect the flow of humanitarian assistance for Afghans. America seeks to help the neediest, wherever they may be. I call upon the international community to mobilize and respond generously to help avert this looming humanitarian catastrophe in Afghanistan. Secretary General Annan and I have discussed this situation before, and I will ask for his further assistance to raise the international community's awareness about this crisis and to impress upon the international community the necessity to respond with energy and with dispatch. Colleagues of mine from different parts of the government, as well as including the United States Agency for International Development, will be available to provide more detailed information, should you have questions. Thank you very much. Cheers, Scott.
Post #10,170 by Ashton 9/21/01 8:38:49 PM Reply	Thanks - A+ on research :-)

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