Ally or enemy?
A news conference was held in April 2005 by federal law enforcement officials to announce the capture of an Afghan drug lord and Taliban ally. Touted as the Asian counterpart of the notorious Colombian cocaine legend Pablo Escobar, Haji Bashir Noorzai capture was a huge success. Yet details remained murky-why did the Afghan risk arrest by coming to the U.S.?
Mr. Noorzai's trial is set for this year and as it draws near, new details are emerging.
Mr. Noorzai agreed to cooperate with American officials soon after the 2001 American invasion of Afghanistan. Officials believed Noorzai could lead them to hidden Taliban weapons and leaders. According to Mr. Noorzai's American lawyer, the relationship did not last but American officials tried to renew it in 2004. A year later, Mr. Noorzai was secretly indicted and lured to New York. After almost two weeks of talks with law enforcement and counterterrorism officials in a hotel Noorzai was arrested. The shift from U.S. ally to dangerous enemy is aligned with officials' changing views of Afghan druglords and its opium trade.
Originally, military and intelligence officials accepted the opium production and openly worked with the warlords in exchange for information about Al Qaeda. In recent years, however, the poppy seed production has soared and served as a financial jackpot for the Taliban insurgency.
Now officials must decide what is most important: taking on the druglords to crack down on the financing of Taliban insurgents or cooperate with them for possible valuable information. Mr. Noorzai awaits his fate in a New York jail. His trial will probably be widely viewed and set the precedent for future cases. I understand the need for the administration to originally consult with the druglords, but also now realize the problems that can arise. These people are very powerful with plenty of money, connections, and information. Clearly, their number one priority is not to help the fight on terrorism. And while they may provide some information, they do so only with something in return. Officials need to be leary of their intentions and know that by cooperating with them we may be causing a larger mess.
Mr. Noorzai's trial is set for this year and as it draws near, new details are emerging.
Mr. Noorzai agreed to cooperate with American officials soon after the 2001 American invasion of Afghanistan. Officials believed Noorzai could lead them to hidden Taliban weapons and leaders. According to Mr. Noorzai's American lawyer, the relationship did not last but American officials tried to renew it in 2004. A year later, Mr. Noorzai was secretly indicted and lured to New York. After almost two weeks of talks with law enforcement and counterterrorism officials in a hotel Noorzai was arrested. The shift from U.S. ally to dangerous enemy is aligned with officials' changing views of Afghan druglords and its opium trade.
Originally, military and intelligence officials accepted the opium production and openly worked with the warlords in exchange for information about Al Qaeda. In recent years, however, the poppy seed production has soared and served as a financial jackpot for the Taliban insurgency.
Now officials must decide what is most important: taking on the druglords to crack down on the financing of Taliban insurgents or cooperate with them for possible valuable information. Mr. Noorzai awaits his fate in a New York jail. His trial will probably be widely viewed and set the precedent for future cases. I understand the need for the administration to originally consult with the druglords, but also now realize the problems that can arise. These people are very powerful with plenty of money, connections, and information. Clearly, their number one priority is not to help the fight on terrorism. And while they may provide some information, they do so only with something in return. Officials need to be leary of their intentions and know that by cooperating with them we may be causing a larger mess.
posted by Hannah Hodges at 9:29 AM
1 Comments:
China Stops AIDS Campaigner from Traveling to US to Accept Award.
I found this article on www.voanews.com. The article claims that Gao Yaojie, a retired doctor in her 80’s was put on house arrest so that she couldn’t travel to Beijing to apply for a US visa to travel to the United States. Gao Yaojie is credited with being the one that exposed government-supported blood-buying programs in Henan province that led to thousands being infected with HIV. This occurred in the 1990’s and infected more then 50,000 people. Officials in China say that on the national level there is much more awareness about the disease and there has been a great rise in public awareness. However, they also say that on the local level some provinces are more open then others on the topic of Aids and HIV. In China HIV activist are often harassed. Gao’s family and friends who wish to visit her at home while under house arrest are being interrogated by police and her daughter is under police surveillance. This isn’t the first time Gao has been banned from leaving the country to accept an award for the cause. She was also blocked from leaving in 2001 and again in 2003.
Personally, I think its horrible that a woman who has done so much for one country isn’t even allowed to be publicly acknowledged for her accomplishments. I think it shows a lack of compassion from the Chinese officials who are keeping Gao under house arrest. As well as showing a lack of understanding about the importance of the fight against HIV and AIDS, not only in China but throughout the entire world.
Sorry this is posted as a comment I can't figure this thing out!
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