Summarize the main points of the course reading "Blowback from the Afghan Battlefield". Explain the concept of "blowback", and how it is a crucial term to understand when we try to understand an event such as the September 11th attacks.

 

Summarize the main points of the course reading "Blowback from the Afghan Battlefield". Explain the concept of "blowback", and how it is a crucial term to understand when we try to understand an event such as the September 11th attacks.

Let us first define what is a Blowback?

• Blowback is a term which originates from  Central Intelligence Agency.
• It explains the unintended consequences and side effects of a covert operation that has been done.
• The effect randomly manifests itself through an act of a political violence.
• The event is undiscernible, we are all unaware of the effected secret attacks that were provoked by revenge.

A Summary of Information: Blowback: Bin Laden, the CIA and US war against Afghanistan

Osama bin Laden is an example of blowback. Nurtured for many years by the CIA, the American military intelligence and the US government. This situation eventually and literally "blew back."

The Afghanistan: The CIA's Biggest Covert War

The author of the book of CIA's Greatest Hits, Mark Zapezauer he detailed the information how the CIA ran nearly two dozen covert operations in the world. One of these operations was in Afghanistan which is thought to be the biggest covert operation of all time, with an estimated of US$5 to US$6 billion dollars spend and the great number of personnel involved.

Its main purpose was to support the attack to the Soviet Union in response to U.S. deadly casualties of war in Vietnam.

The Agency arming anyone who would fight against the Soviets, provide cash, weapons to over a dozen guerrilla groups as they wage fights against the Soviet Forces.

From 1986 to 1989, the CIA distributed thousand of surface-to-air missiles to the Afghans for them to shot down Soviet aircrafts during the skirmishes. This bring down 270 Soviet aircraft and fighter jets. Since the early 1990s, Osama bin Laden were financed to wage attacks on interests of U.S. its allies. Bin Laden leading the Maktab al-Khidamar (MAK) through giving money, arms and fighters into the Afghan war. Trained and supported by Pakistan's intelligence agency, the CIA's primary conduit for conducting the covert war in Afghanistan they were able to make Bin Laden and its Islamic militants as allies in war. On the year 1988, bin Laden split from the relatively conventional MAK and established his al-Qaida, together with many MAK members.

Reaping What We Sow: Blowback Understanding an event such as the September 11th attacks.

In an article posted by Institute of Policy studies, they disclosed that instead of democracy, the U.S. policies generated mistrust, hostility, sense of degradation, indignity, and humiliation which happened in the Islamic world most especially in the middle east. Islamic Militants now see U.S. policies as a major obstacle, an enemy, stopping their nations home-grown efforts in accordance to their religious beliefs.

On September 11, 2001 these "freedom fighters that were trained by US government together with Pakistani allies during Afghan Soviet war" began to test their master trainer. Without warning, they attacked the World Trade Center in New York City, killed several CIA employees, and American businessmen in Pakistan and pledge support to Osama bin Laden, a prime CIA "asset" way back when they were still allies. In his "Letter to America", he stated their motives why did they conduct the attacks.

• Aggression against Muslims in many countries including Somalia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• The Qana massacre in Lebanon.
• Atrocities committed by Russian forces in Chechnya
•  Indian forces in Kashmir and Assam.
• The presence of US troops in Saudi Arabia
• The US support on the state of Israel
• And sanctions against Iraq

Understanding an event such as the September 11th attacks is a painful thing to do. Many lives were lost, many lost their loved ones, heroes died and sacrificed their selves for the sake of peace. By scrutinizing well the "Blowback from the Afghan Battlefield" we can realize some important concept, important lesson that sometimes necessary for us. When the evil of politics overlaps kindness, and when competition consumes unity. The world will never be a peaceful place to live.

Let us always remember "War is never a lasting solution to any problem".