Posted on 08/22/2007 2:57:10 PM PDT by ODDITHER
My adopted brother is an American citizen but was born and raised in Kabul Afghanistan. He just spent the last six months in Afghanistan getting his property back and repaired and visiting his relatives.
He said that the Afghan people are happier than he has ever seen them and things are better in Afghanistan than they have ever been even under the King. In fact, he said that he felt safer in Afghanistan than he does in Albuquerque NM at night.
He said that those people in America that are critical of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan must not love their fellow man. He has had to stop watching television because he becomes so angry at all the lies he hears about how bad things are and how we should leave.
He gave me some examples.
Under the taliban, the exchange rate was 90,000 afghanis to one dollar. It is now 49 Afghanis to one dollar.
He said that under the taliban, Kabul had 500 taxis, all owned by the taliban and no civilian was allowed to own a car. Now 65% of Afghans own a car and their are 47,000 taxis.
Under the taliban it would take one day to walk from one part of Kabul to another because you would be searched by the taliban 5 times in 5 miles.
Parts of Afghanistan that have never had power, are being taught by our military to put up solar and are able to buy generators. They have electricity for the first time.
All children can go to school. Rich, poor, male, female can get an education. Even the older women and men crowd into classrooms at night to learn to read and write. They want to learn about their constitution. They never want the taliban or a King to run their lives again.
He said the only things that time won't take care of are the poppy fields and having to pay money to government officials to grease the way.
They have always had a "gift" system - stopped by a policeman, slip him some money, go to court slip the judge some money. He said for the first time in his lifetime the people are starting to see that their govt. which is like ours gives them the power to stop this, but it will take time. The poppy fields will be a problem until they find crops to replace them and put the warlords under the ground.
He said that everyone he talked to in Afghanistan said the same things. When you get back to America tell them we love them and thank them. Tell them not to leave for at least 10 years, we need their help and are grateful.
nice post.
Wow, really great post.
Thanks so much.
Bush's fault! ;-)
It is so sad and frustrating that this kind of information does not get out in the media (not a suprise though). I pray for God’s blesssings on these brave people and they need to pray the we don’t elect a demorat in “08.
What is Islam doing there?
Are the people demanding Islamic law?
Thanks for the post.
[Mr] T
Bump
Assuming all of this is true, you need to get your brother interviewed by major news networks. Even calling them and telling them the news might eventually get through. If they hear enough stories like yours they may have to cover them.
And failing that, he needs to go on talk radio and tell people what’s really happening in Afghanistan. Call Sean Hannity.
This moved me to tears.
God bless America.
“What is Islam doing there?”
A muslim is a muslim and will remain a muslim. In spite of their seeming gratitude for having rescued them from the Taliban, we, non-muslims, will always be regarded as non-believers and infidels and conversion to our faith will not be tolerated.
It’s ironic that the only muslim country where conversion from Islam to Christianity was allowed was Iraq under Saddam.
BTTT!
It is country in which most people practice Islam, just as Mexico is predominantly Catholic. Their constitution was patterned after ours. I think this is why it has been successful. The taliban have moved to Iran and Iraq because they do not have the power they used to have. The Mullahs have much less power than they had under the Shaw.
Ping!
Another great story of the successes we are experiencing in the WOT! Too bad the Dems can’t celebrate! Isn’t freedom great!!
One thing that I forgot to say and it is the most important. He said that during the taliban and the war with USSR, people flocked to Iran. Now for the first time in history, Iranians are flocking to Afghanistan for freedom. They openly talk on the streets that they wish the US would invade them so they could be free too.
Under the taliban, the exchange rate was 90,000 afghanis to one dollar. It is now 49 Afghanis to one dollar. Maybe so, but please add the government did a 1,000 to 1 revaluation. The actual difference would be 90 to 49. What is worth pointing out is that the exchange rate has remained stable since 2003.
He said that under the taliban, Kabul had 500 taxis, all owned by the taliban and no civilian was allowed to own a car. Now 65% of Afghans own a car and their are 47,000 taxis. The first sentence may be true. But no, 65% of Afghans do not own a car.
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