The edited version

The Question, Which, If Taken Seriously,

[And If The Media Had Independently Done  It's Job  As The Fourth Estate] 

Could, Potentially, Have Saved

7 Trillion (U.S.) Dollars?

$7 000 000 000 000

and

Goodness Knows How Many Human Lives 
(Christian and Muslim)

In 2002/2003 just after the U.S. deployed forces to Afghanistan to hunt Osama Bin Laden, I was present at a Dinner-Discussion where many of those attending were actively engaged in that deployment in some support, administrative or logistical capacity.

It was after my book on terrorism in Indonesia was released.

So I had recently returned from areas where al-Qaeda were highly active, had a lot of support, and the details were in the book for all to see. 

This would also have been after a briefing where, at a very small informal gathering (about twelve of us) over light refreshments, I had a few minutes with the individual tasked with that earlier briefing before he returned later that evening to other tasks.

We discussed a number of topics, including what should happen to the Muslim (Islamic) 'Volunteers' from the Caucasus now settled in Bosnia.

[I sensed that there were different opinions as to what their future role or configuration or 'mission' should be, now that the Balkans wars were at an end.]

There is a connection between both discussions which you will see later - which is why I have paired them above.

Before I say what the question was I want to go back even further - to Pakistan. The year is 1983.

Pakistan, 1983

(Learning The Basics)

I was aware that outside secondary schools in the city of Lahore (Pakistan) schoolchildren were getting pamphlets from this new group called 'Al Qaeda'.

The issuers were immaculately dressed clean charismatic bearded young men and the invitation was to come to their workshops after school to learn about 'The Basics' ('The Basic Principles' of Islam.)

[So this, folks, is the true and deeper interpretation and of the word: 'al-Qaeda' – 'the basics' or 'basic principles' or, by extension, ' the basic principles of Islam'.]

One student (then) thirteen-years of age – took up an invitation and attended such a workshop held at a Masjid Study Center after school. It was not a well-attended meeting.

Many of those there – young teenagers – were totally bored with the 'lessons' in Islam being relayed by what were such enthusiastic individuals – just a few years older in many cases than their young audience.

They (the kids) had come for the 'event' straight from attending school in the early afternoon – to sadly find themselves to be returning to yet another school (!)

It was almost a total failure of a meeting.

So this was the actual genesis of al-Qaeda – the real genesis you will never hear nor read about in the history books – because they (Westerners) were not there nor had they any contacts there when this unknown unheard of group of enthusiastic 'revivalists' got started.

These Meetings were taking place across the country – with the 'blessings' of the Pakistan authorities - and not all were complete failures.

Certain schools (those of 'elite' secular students) were particularly targeted and campaigned and their secular staff wooed to encourage the pupils to attend the meetings to learn more about 'the basic principles'. There was no coercion and many Heads of Schools and teaching staff were particularly impressed with these clean, polite, bearded young men who were joyous and highly motivated about proclaiming Islam and a return to 'basics' 'traditional' and 'religious values'. (There many also have been some sympathy because this was in an era of declining Mosque attendance by the young – being swept away as the world was in other values and priorities for that time in history.)

So, as educated academics, I would guess there was a lot of sympathy for such young men prepared to forsake pop music, television and the 'swinging world' in favor of a return to more 'traditional' values.

They were more than happy at that time to give Al Qaeda a platform in the hope that it might encourage their (wayward?) 12-16- year-olds to be more 'responsible' and to think about tradition, about Muslim heritage and cultural values, rather than just accept the transient fashions of the modern world.

(And who would not under these circumstances?)

General Javid Nasir ( DGISI)

Al Qaeda was not a total failure in motivating and recruiting but it needed something or someone to provide more impetus and organise it to be more effective and charismatic in order for it to have any longer-lasting impact on the struggle against the Infidel Russians next door (in Afghanistan.)

There was another reason for the urgency:

Strong political differences were emerging between the Mujahideen leadership in Afghanistan (Gulbuddin Hikmatyar - Islamic Party Of Afghanistan) and Islamabad, with Pakistan eager to be in the driving seat for any future peace negotiations between the Kremlin, it's (then) installed government in Kabul and the other Islamic Resistance Groups (Hezb-i-Islami -The Islamic Party; Jamiat Islami (Islamic Society); The Islamic Alliance for The Liberation of Afghanistan; Harakat -i-Inqlab Islami (the Islamic Revolutionary Movement); The National Front For The Liberation of Afghanistan;National and Islamic Front; and Hezb-i-Islami (The Khalis Group).

An even more Islamist less U.S. influenced group needed to be organised which would be totally controlled by Pakistan with no future prospects for India influence in it's 'backyard' through it's 'backdoor'.

The greatest fear of Pakistan is to have a nightmare scenario – of being 'crushed' between the two allied nations – of India and Afghanistan - where both Russia and India (at that time firm military allies) would have bases – perhaps even nuclear bases in Afghanistan or, just as bad, in a post-Soviet Afghanistan, the United States and Britain replace the Soviet Union as the regional power brokers all along the new Silk Road from China to Europe and grab for themselves, exclusively, the enormous fabulous wealth which this will eventually generate all along this new golden economic highway.

Something had to be done to permanently destroy such new Imperial dreams and ambitions of the West and former colonial masters.   But what?   But how?

'The Base'

'The Basics' (sic. Basic Principles sic. The Basic Principles of Islam) and their 'Students' ('Taliban') were the answer.

I have already mentioned in my previous blog the one singular individual identified by a foreign agency as having been responsible for inviting Osama Bin Laden to organise the basics in Afghanistan. He not only arranged for him to be brought to Afghanistan but provided all the necessary logistics and financing required to defeat the Soviet invader.

To The ISI, General Nasir is one of the greatest heroes of Pakistan. I would not place him in the historical category of a Muslim 'Warrior-Saint' - but he certainly comes as close as anyone can to this title and more than most I have seen or heard about in my lifetime.

(I suspect him too humble to want to be seen in this light as a historical figure. What I am doing is making it easier for my readership to appreciate his profound impact on not just Afghanistan and Pakistan's history, but the destiny of three world superpowers in this region (Russia, China and The United States) and what the profound impact of his influence and the legacy of decisions which he made decades ago will echo on the history of the world for hundreds of years into the future.)

Indeed one might even say that Pakistan's ISI may well be regarded as one of the world's most internally (financially) powerful, financially autonomous, all-encompassing and utterly ruthless (in the history of modern integrated intelligence services) of all agencies after those of the CIA and the KGB.

It's exploits (successes and disasters) have that same ring of incredulity as those of the CIA – probably because some of it's Officers spent time in the United States and others studying the 'exploits' of the world's foremost agency of the post-Second World War and post-Soviet eras.

Gwadar

[China's Dream Becomes A Reality - Thanks To Pakistan - 'The Dreamweaver']

I should also mention that General Nasir was also one of the masterminds behind the plan to facilitate and develop the coastal port of Gwadar as a Pakistan-China Economic Development Zone and giving China, for the first time in it's recent history, access to the warm waters of the Arabian Sea.

(You have not heard of this Port? You better quickly find it on your map because it will be one of the most important commercial ports on the Arabian Sea over the next 100 years.)

The $7 000 000 000 000 Question

So what was this $7 000 000 000 000 question?

It was a very simple question.

I asked why 9/11 was not classified as a 'political' crime and it's investigation was not placed in the hands of the FBI rather than mount a military invasion of Afghanistan.

[Remember I already knew all of the above about Pakistan and while unable to 'fit the pieces' together, instinctively, it just did not seem to be the most carefully laid-out strategy – that of U.S. and Coalition Forces invading Afghanistan and configured for the war on terror.

You need to appreciate that this was the time, after 9/11, of extreme patriotism so my comments (even in our private setting where Chatham House Rules applied) were seen rather suspiciously as being 'unpatriotic' 'unsupportive' and 'unhelpful' by my colleagues.

As for myself, Pakistan appeared to be more a problem than was Afghanistan.

But the 'obsession' (with Afghanistan) was more motivated by pride and arrogance than it was by common sense and what the clear 'war on terror' strategy and objectives were to be.]

Few in the audience knew what I was getting at but I always had one or two 'supporters' who thanked me afterwards and privately for raising 'awkward' questions others were too frightened to ask.

The Effect On Pakistan Becoming A Nuclear State

I must add that, in my opinion, Pakistan's decision to acquire nuclear weapons made it less vulnerable to destabilization by Western nations on the one hand while making it a greater regional threat to peace on the India sub-continent on the other hand.

Gwadar:The Golden Gate

This however created a huge dilemma for the West: how to stop China at Afghanistan when Pakistan is giving it an economic 'back-door' (Gwadar) to the Arabian Sea – with little the United States can do to stop this action since it's key partner, Britain, was having no influence over Pakistan's nuclear direction nor it's internal politics.

You need to always appreciate that Pakistan's supporting and encouraging al-Qaeda is no diffferent from the U.S. supporting the 'Contras' in Nicaragua.

It is part of a longer-term foreign policy strategic objective.

Should the priorities change, support for this group may well go the same way as that of the 'Contras'.

©Patrick Emek, October 2017

If you are really interested in history, as a project, why not look up the names, events and places mentioned above?

Indeed, if you are living in Pakistan or have relatives in Lahore or other cities, why not test the validity of the statements I have made above?

The edited version

The Question, Which, If Taken Seriously,

[And If The Media Had Independently Done  It's Job  As The Fourth Estate] 

Could, Potentially, Have Saved

7 Trillion (U.S.) Dollars?

$7 000 000 000 000

and

Goodness Knows How Many Human Lives 
(Christian and Muslim)

In 2002/2003 just after the U.S. deployed forces to Afghanistan to hunt Osama Bin Laden, I was present at a Dinner-Discussion where many of those attending were actively engaged in that deployment in some support, administrative or logistical capacity.

It was after my book on terrorism in Indonesia was released.

So I had recently returned from areas where al-Qaeda were highly active, had a lot of support, and the details were in the book for all to see. 

This would also have been after a briefing where, at a very small informal gathering (about twelve of us) over light refreshments, I had a few minutes with the individual tasked with that earlier briefing before he returned later that evening to other tasks.

We discussed a number of topics, including what should happen to the Muslim (Islamic) 'Volunteers' from the Caucasus now settled in Bosnia.

[I sensed that there were different opinions as to what their future role or configuration or 'mission' should be, now that the Balkans wars were at an end.]

There is a connection between both discussions which you will see later - which is why I have paired them above.

Before I say what the question was I want to go back even further - to Pakistan. The year is 1983.

Pakistan, 1983

(Learning The Basics)

I was aware that outside secondary schools in the city of Lahore (Pakistan) schoolchildren were getting pamphlets from this new group called 'Al Qaeda'.

The issuers were immaculately dressed clean charismatic bearded young men and the invitation was to come to their workshops after school to learn about 'The Basics' ('The Basic Principles' of Islam.)

[So this, folks, is the true and deeper interpretation and of the word: 'al-Qaeda' – 'the basics' or 'basic principles' or, by extension, ' the basic principles of Islam'.]

One student (then) thirteen-years of age – took up an invitation and attended such a workshop held at a Masjid Study Center after school. It was not a well-attended meeting.

Many of those there – young teenagers – were totally bored with the 'lessons' in Islam being relayed by what were such enthusiastic individuals – just a few years older in many cases than their young audience.

They (the kids) had come for the 'event' straight from attending school in the early afternoon – to sadly find themselves to be returning to yet another school (!)

It was almost a total failure of a meeting.

So this was the actual genesis of al-Qaeda – the real genesis you will never hear nor read about in the history books – because they (Westerners) were not there nor had they any contacts there when this unknown unheard of group of enthusiastic 'revivalists' got started.

These Meetings were taking place across the country – with the 'blessings' of the Pakistan authorities - and not all were complete failures.

Certain schools (those of 'elite' secular students) were particularly targeted and campaigned and their secular staff wooed to encourage the pupils to attend the meetings to learn more about 'the basic principles'. There was no coercion and many Heads of Schools and teaching staff were particularly impressed with these clean, polite, bearded young men who were joyous and highly motivated about proclaiming Islam and a return to 'basics' 'traditional' and 'religious values'. (There many also have been some sympathy because this was in an era of declining Mosque attendance by the young – being swept away as the world was in other values and priorities for that time in history.)

So, as educated academics, I would guess there was a lot of sympathy for such young men prepared to forsake pop music, television and the 'swinging world' in favor of a return to more 'traditional' values.

They were more than happy at that time to give Al Qaeda a platform in the hope that it might encourage their (wayward?) 12-16- year-olds to be more 'responsible' and to think about tradition, about Muslim heritage and cultural values, rather than just accept the transient fashions of the modern world.

(And who would not under these circumstances?)

General Javid Nasir ( DGISI)

Al Qaeda was not a total failure in motivating and recruiting but it needed something or someone to provide more impetus and organise it to be more effective and charismatic in order for it to have any longer-lasting impact on the struggle against the Infidel Russians next door (in Afghanistan.)

There was another reason for the urgency:

Strong political differences were emerging between the Mujahideen leadership in Afghanistan (Gulbuddin Hikmatyar - Islamic Party Of Afghanistan) and Islamabad, with Pakistan eager to be in the driving seat for any future peace negotiations between the Kremlin, it's (then) installed government in Kabul and the other Islamic Resistance Groups (Hezb-i-Islami -The Islamic Party; Jamiat Islami (Islamic Society); The Islamic Alliance for The Liberation of Afghanistan; Harakat -i-Inqlab Islami (the Islamic Revolutionary Movement); The National Front For The Liberation of Afghanistan;National and Islamic Front; and Hezb-i-Islami (The Khalis Group).

An even more Islamist less U.S. influenced group needed to be organised which would be totally controlled by Pakistan with no future prospects for India influence in it's 'backyard' through it's 'backdoor'.

The greatest fear of Pakistan is to have a nightmare scenario – of being 'crushed' between the two allied nations – of India and Afghanistan - where both Russia and India (at that time firm military allies) would have bases – perhaps even nuclear bases in Afghanistan or, just as bad, in a post-Soviet Afghanistan, the United States and Britain replace the Soviet Union as the regional power brokers all along the new Silk Road from China to Europe and grab for themselves, exclusively, the enormous fabulous wealth which this will eventually generate all along this new golden economic highway.

Something had to be done to permanently destroy such new Imperial dreams and ambitions of the West and former colonial masters.   But what?   But how?

'The Base'

'The Basics' (sic. Basic Principles sic. The Basic Principles of Islam) and their 'Students' ('Taliban') were the answer.

I have already mentioned in my previous blog the one singular individual identified by a foreign agency as having been responsible for inviting Osama Bin Laden to organise the basics in Afghanistan. He not only arranged for him to be brought to Afghanistan but provided all the necessary logistics and financing required to defeat the Soviet invader.

To The ISI, General Nasir is one of the greatest heroes of Pakistan. I would not place him in the historical category of a Muslim 'Warrior-Saint' - but he certainly comes as close as anyone can to this title and more than most I have seen or heard about in my lifetime.

(I suspect him too humble to want to be seen in this light as a historical figure. What I am doing is making it easier for my readership to appreciate his profound impact on not just Afghanistan and Pakistan's history, but the destiny of three world superpowers in this region (Russia, China and The United States) and what the profound impact of his influence and the legacy of decisions which he made decades ago will echo on the history of the world for hundreds of years into the future.)

Indeed one might even say that Pakistan's ISI may well be regarded as one of the world's most internally (financially) powerful, financially autonomous, all-encompassing and utterly ruthless (in the history of modern integrated intelligence services) of all agencies after those of the CIA and the KGB.

It's exploits (successes and disasters) have that same ring of incredulity as those of the CIA – probably because some of it's Officers spent time in the United States and others studying the 'exploits' of the world's foremost agency of the post-Second World War and post-Soviet eras.

Gwadar

[China's Dream Becomes A Reality - Thanks To Pakistan - 'The Dreamweaver']

I should also mention that General Nasir was also one of the masterminds behind the plan to facilitate and develop the coastal port of Gwadar as a Pakistan-China Economic Development Zone and giving China, for the first time in it's recent history, access to the warm waters of the Arabian Sea.

(You have not heard of this Port? You better quickly find it on your map because it will be one of the most important commercial ports on the Arabian Sea over the next 100 years.)

The $7 000 000 000 000 Question

So what was this $7 000 000 000 000 question?

It was a very simple question.

I asked why 9/11 was not classified as a 'political' crime and it's investigation was not placed in the hands of the FBI rather than mount a military invasion of Afghanistan.

[Remember I already knew all of the above about Pakistan and while unable to 'fit the pieces' together, instinctively, it just did not seem to be the most carefully laid-out strategy – that of U.S. and Coalition Forces invading Afghanistan and configured for the war on terror.

You need to appreciate that this was the time, after 9/11, of extreme patriotism so my comments (even in our private setting where Chatham House Rules applied) were seen rather suspiciously as being 'unpatriotic' 'unsupportive' and 'unhelpful' by my colleagues.

As for myself, Pakistan appeared to be more a problem than was Afghanistan.

But the 'obsession' (with Afghanistan) was more motivated by pride and arrogance than it was by common sense and what the clear 'war on terror' strategy and objectives were to be.]

Few in the audience knew what I was getting at but I always had one or two 'supporters' who thanked me afterwards and privately for raising 'awkward' questions others were too frightened to ask.

The Effect On Pakistan Becoming A Nuclear State

I must add that, in my opinion, Pakistan's decision to acquire nuclear weapons made it less vulnerable to destabilization by Western nations on the one hand while making it a greater regional threat to peace on the India sub-continent on the other hand.

Gwadar:The Golden Gate

This however created a huge dilemma for the West: how to stop China at Afghanistan when Pakistan is giving it an economic 'back-door' (Gwadar) to the Arabian Sea – with little the United States can do to stop this action since it's key partner, Britain, was having no influence over Pakistan's nuclear direction nor it's internal politics.

You need to always appreciate that Pakistan's supporting and encouraging al-Qaeda is no diffferent from the U.S. supporting the 'Contras' in Nicaragua.

It is part of a longer-term foreign policy strategic objective.

Should the priorities change, support for this group may well go the same way as that of the 'Contras'.

©Patrick Emek, October 2017

If you are really interested in history, as a project, why not look up the names, events and places mentioned above?

Indeed, if you are living in Pakistan or have relatives in Lahore or other cities, why not test the validity of the statements I have made above?

the edited version

I Want To Tell You A Bedtime Story

[I have been reminded that there have been wars of longer duration and to call this war the longest in the history of the world is highly inaccurate.  No 'war' however has cost so much in such a short period of time - and it's increasing by the minute - an estimated 7 trillion U.S. dollars - $7 000 000 000 000 to date.   There has never been an Empire in the history of the world which has launched a world 'war on terror' - simply because it is impossible to ultimately win such a world- encompassing enterprise.

As in the Far East  likewise in the West, it is too great a 'loss of face' ('Imperial Hubris') for an Empire to declare the 'war on terror' over - thus it will continue to drag on - albeit in different guises - ad infinitum - hence the term I use - the longest 'war' in the history of the world.]

There is this wonderful hospital in Pakistan – Lahore – to be precise.

It is called 'The Doctors Hospital'.

It has treated many very important people and their families with a high degree of success.   
Their reputation is second to none.

It's specialists are renowned not only in Pakistan but far beyond.

Many of it's fine medical Staff have spent periods of time abroad learning to perfect their wonderful skills which has enabled them to fulfill their chosen profession and their calling from Allah.

There was one particular client whom they treated as much out of love as respect for the principles of Hippocrates.

Yes indeed these doctors and surgeons were well educated and their calling was as much to save lives as it was to relieve pain and suffering.

I mention this because as a testament to this a number have since left this fine institution to serve the poor and needy throughout Pakistan.

Interestingly, I encountered similar 'kindred spirits' [of the Hindu faith] from the same profession (who have likewise served their country honorably) in India who have likewise moved from treating those of profound wealth to those who are most impoverished - and who would never be able to afford the cost of, say, a heart specialist, for their sick or dying child.

Well this one particular client had an interesting background.

Born to a family of wealthy immigrants he turned his back on it all to serve a higher calling.  In his mind this calling was from Allah and his mission was …...well.....let's say more complicated....than many appreciated.......having read in some considerable detail about this man's life.

He was born in Saudi Arabia.

His childhood was typical of the rich and privileged – trips abroad, staying at the best hotels with his family – his parents – wining and dining at the best establishments.  [Did I mention smoking? He was a prolific smoker at about the age of fourteen!]

But something happened.  He was, in his own mind, chosen by Allah for a higher purpose.

I can't say that, like Jesus, he went up to the top of the mountain, surveyed everything, then Satan came to him in disguise with many temptations – all of which he rejected in favor of Allah.

What I can say is that he believed that he had a 'higher calling', which, in the fullness of time, he believed the Islamic world would come to better understand and respect – even if many did not at that time.

Khurasan (Afghanistan-Pakistan) has, since the time of Alexander of Macedon, been seen as a gateway to somewhere else, a land where wealth passes over on its way to somewhere else.

The British Empire suffered it's worst ever defeat in this region – in Kabul - with only one doctor being allowed to live to tell the tale – long torn out or removed (or deeply buried within for only the keen researcher to find) the proud annals of 'British Empire' history.

Then the Russians, with their superior technology, superior communications and destructive firepower, arrived.

Wells were poisoned, animals killed and what little vegetation as existed defoliated by chemicals (similar to Agent Orange) to compel the Afghan people to capitulate to Soviet rule.

But the Afghan people have seen it all before – the deaths, the looting, the pillage.  Expectant mothers dead from bullets to the stomach, their foetuses all bloodied – occasionally some clinging still and crying for dear life. Yes the Afghan people have seen it all before.  That is why they are so resilient a people.   If the dust could talk every square inch of it would be filled with the graves of the foreign invaders – side by side with the babies, men, women, children all dead for others' dreams and financial ambitions.

It may have been an epiphany of some sort, after witnessing such carnage or just a combination of many events – from the presence of idolaters on the Sacred soil of Saudi Arabia, to the loss of Islamic identity - all conspired by Satan – to undermine Islam – or a realization that the very people whose duties it was to protect Islam and the Holy Shrines had sold their very souls to the Devil, for, as we might say in the Christian context, thirty pieces of silver.

Whatever Saudi Arabia, whatever Mecca and Medina were sold for was immaterial.   That they were all sold in the Slave Market to the Crusader. He was in no doubt about this.

That the Ka'bah was also a prisoner of the Crusader was also in no doubt in his mind.

Islam was forsaken unless it got a wake up call.

He was invited to set up base in Afghanistan.

['al-Qaeda' is also known as 'the base'.]

But how?.........what to do?.........how to defeat the greatest superpower on the planet.......but wait........they have all been defeated......Rome was sacked, pillaged and all it's booty removed by vandals and barbarians – as they victoriously departed the dying embers of that once-proud-city of Romulus and Remus on the river Tiber.

All Empires have had, have and will always have Achilles Heels.

Academics and researchers continue to study the Roman Empire because it provides one of the finest examples of how a modern technologically advanced superpower can be brought to it's knees.

It is not the best example for the twenty first century – where the ability to understand and master control of the Internet and to bring every device – including mobile, management and implanted devices – under your control or to a standstill – or turn them against their own masters - may well be the next step in both control, all out warfare and total defeat or victory – but it is still one of relevance where a technologically advanced superpower has entered the arena to battle with one of the most backward and 'primitive' (lacking a high degree of technological sophistication) terrain.

He found that Achilles Heel – and exploited it to the utmost.

Intelligence analysts have been aware for a long time what the strategy was – but their masters - secular politicians – blinded by Mammon – and with ultimate faith in their superior technology – continued on their blind path to ultimate victory over 'the savages' and 'primitives' of Afghanistan.

'Savages' because they attempted through international bodies to impose 'social and political control' – introducing 'Christian' Western values and laws to isolate the populations from their tribal traditions and tribal rulers.

(Only when they were assassinated did such attempts end.  I say 'assassinated' rather than 'murdered' because NGO's and their Officers were being used as political pawns to undermine or subvert Afghan institutions and replace them with Western values.  Many of those Officers assassinated were selected or appointed for their NGO 'mission' or 'appointment' in Afghanistan precisely because they were genuinely committed to the principles of the United Nations and other agencies, were non-political and wanted to 'make a difference' by changing Afghanistan for the better.

How do you explain to someone genuinely committed to higher ideals that these international institutions serve their political masters and are used to subvert societies? They are in effect, alternative instruments in the counterterrorism or counterinsurgency 'toolkit' to be used as directed.

Someone (one individual) will have direct links to senior politicians or others more directly involved in the military campaign but most will be 'the good Samaritans' I described above. The pathos is that it is so difficult if not impossible to differentiate in a war zone – so all become targets.

So that is what happened in Afghanistan.

As soon as the NGOs parachuted in by the Christian West (through the United Nations, the Red Cross and other Agencies) were ejected (through terrorism, kidnappings, murder, ransom, rape) from the country, all that they 'created' was demolished almost overnight and the country has returned to what it was before 'the Invader'.

Kabul, a good example, is now beginning that return to what it was before

'embedded' and 'independent' foreign groups and individuals arrived to support (even if they were unaware of this) the coalition forces, which in their turn, desperately required these agencies of 'humanitarian relief' as 'cover' or part of a domestic (Western democratic) agenda to provide politicians in Christendom with political legitimacy amongst electorates to justify war and interventions.

I am now quoting myself from at least three years ago (but more than ten in private)

'Afghanistan is a tribal nation.........you cannot parachute in democracy, MacDonalds and Pizza Hut.......'

Sadly, nobody ever listens. If you are not singing their tune and agreeing with, what was a totally lost cause – chasing this enigmatic character - like dust in the wind – all over the Islamic world and not focusing on what the real military priorities in Afghanistan should have been – you end up with a situation now where it becomes impossible to withdraw – because you have created new problems which make it imperative to maintain the wrong military presence and configuration long into the future – out of sheer incompetence and arrogance – without capitulation to the enemy:'primitive savages' having 'defeated' the greatest military power on the planet.

But you will say:''this is preposterous! We have a strong military presence in Afghanistan and are defeating the terrorists!''  ''You on the other hand are a supporter of these terrorists!  If indeed we are losing the war in Afghanistan, it is because of disloyal people like you!''

I would answer such criticisms and anger like this: everything I have said would have prevented Christian lives being needlessly wasted in Afghanistan.  I never said their should not have been a military presence in Afghanistan. I said that it was wrongly configured and present for the wrong mission.  It was however the mission which this enigmatic individual prayed to Allah it would come for.

The United States and coalition forces took the bait – hook line and sink – and have been fighting the longest most costly and most irrelevant war in the history of the world.

Indeed, you might say that the scope of these irrelevant wars have been expanded or 'inflated' to encompass Africa, Asia and in time the Americas.

The Achilles heels of Empires are pride and arrogance.

On these two points, there can be 'no surrender' to 'primitives'.

Anything, even death, is preferable to the humiliation of being dragged in chains naked behind a donkey through the streets of a desolate village with the locals stoning 'the Crusader' to death - as traditional punishment for the most heinous of crimes under Islam. The roll-sacked and firmly bagged heads from their lifeless bodies being used for sport – a game and tradition as old as the Empire of the Mongols, with the dogs in eager attendance waiting patiently for their spoils.

As the dark-tinted windows of Mitsubishi, Nissans and the ISI-provided security Mercedes and army jeeps speed through in this affluent part of Lahore leaving dust trails as they passed, the locals could not but wonder as to who was the VIP being treated.

The scenario for his medical check-ups were always the same:

Police and army – unfamiliar to the local people – would arrive early to block off streets.  They were polite and mannerly to the local population and would occasionally joke and fraternize politely with the local children on their way to or from school at 6.50am or around - 2-3.30pm – and the local people - all curious to know who was this important visitor, with such a large motor cavalcade, to their Doctors Hospital.

(It did not only treat people of wealth but gave priority to all in need - with especial emphasis for those whose family were in service to the Nation.)

After a little over a year of these visits, rumors were at a frenzy about the man whom nobody could see.   Let's call him here 'The Man In The Iron Mask'.

It is believed (but I have no proof of this so it is just hearsay) that one amorous individual confided to his/her secret lover who the mysterious patient at the Hospital really was.

It was only a matter of time before the two Doctors – both brothers and both working at The Doctors Hospital – one in Paediatrics the other a Kidney Specialist - who were treating this VIP - became known to a select few outside the hospital.

It happens that they were not treating one individual but also the children – one of whom has a serious illness – genetic I believe. (My speculation about it being genetic is on the basis of DNA analysis carried out on behalf of the CIA under the pretext of disease inoculations administered in both Pakistan and in Afghanistan to identify immediate near relatives of this individual.)  These inoculations were carried out by reputable bodies most of whose individual team members were totally unaware of the intelligence-gathering nature of this operation – and indeed were genuinely shocked and disgusted when they later learned the true motives behind what they thought were humanitarian relief efforts to vulnerable populations.

So the ….... brothers (who had their own hospital) but were called in, as Specialists, to supervise these tests, carried out their duties most efficiently.

Around late 2003 – early 2004 the fairly regular visits to the Hospital abruptly stopped – just as they had abruptly begun.

Some speculated that this VIP was now deceased. 
A comment by Benazir Bhutto, the then Prime Minister, fueled speculation.

(She was a good ruler and respected by her peers.)

Her tasks were monumental.  One was to bring to heel the ISI.

Finally at a meeting she demanded to know the truth.

(It is believed that a foreign intelligence agency linked the ISI to this mysterious individual.  This echoed an earlier era when General Javid Nasir was identified by a foreign intelligence agency as the one singular military Officer who originally organized al-Qaeda in Khurasan and brought (or 'invited') this mysterious hospital visitor to the tribal border region to assist in the Holy Cause over a decade ago.)

General Nasir was undoubtedly a committed patriot and widely respected within the Pakistan Armed Forces. When a foreign intelligence agency became aware of his plan to annexe the Pashtun region of Afghanistan-Pakistan this was secretly relayed to Karachi and Islamabad and, on advice, Nasir was dismissed from his post.

[Interestingly, and not well-known, there is a link between the ------- brothers at The Doctors Hospital and General Nasir.]

''Oh He died some time ago.....''  Benazir Bhutto casually announces to the astonished media present (after having been briefed sometime earlier by the DGISI.)

This is now the backstory to the DGISI's briefing:

(I am summarizing)

''He died, we deep froze him for our country's security and national interests. If we say he is dead the Americans will leave – as they did when the Soviets pulled out of Afghanistan.

You do know how much money we got from the Americans for our military and police anti-terrorist budgets last year?  We cannot afford to loose the American money.''

I would like, at this juncture to digress for a minute.

When researching my book about Islamic insurgency in the Southern Philippines I came across a lot of material which did not appear to 'fit in' to the book at that time.

One was a saying by a tribe -  The Bajao Tribe (Bajau/Baju.)

This tribe is the original 'Sea Gipsy' from which every other in the world has derived.  'The Taosug' are another (rival) tribal group in the area of the Sulu Seas.

The saying was this:

''If you come across a Tausug (Taosug/Tosug) drowning in the water, spear him (kill him) because he is bad.''

''If you come across a Chinese, drown him, because he is a cheater in trade and business.''

''If you come across an American, save him, because he gives you bread.''

I remembered this as the story was being relayed to me - as to how this meeting between the DGISI and Benazir Bhutto unfolded, over tea and biscuits.

''As soon as the War on Terror is ended – so are the Americans in this region...but our security threats will continue to remain as they always were.''

''Prime Minister, how will we fund our troops on the India-Pakistan borders?   How will your Party explain to the nation why we cannot defend against India – because we will not have enough money to pay the armed forces in this and other tasks?''

''Will you take money from the nuclear program and give it to other vital branches?   Who will make up this difference for our country's nuclear defence?   Certainly not the Americans. ''

''They will give us money – yes - but only if they believe they are getting something in return.''

''We have to continue having them continue to believe that they are getting something in return.''

''That, Prime Minister, is why we deep froze Him.''

''In time, we will give the Americans everything they want.  And they will be so grateful to us they will give us even more money to fight terrorism.''

Few knew about this meeting.  It took place when the Prime Minister was en route to another destination.  No official notes were kept but both the Prime Minister and the DGISI had a trusted party(ies) in attendance.

The above in quote marks is an entirely fictional account of a fictional meeting between Benazir Bhutto and the Director General of Pakistan's Intelligence Service – the ISI.

As I understand this was well-known in Washington years ago.  But many politicians in the Capitol live in their own world – a bubbled reality show where everything is 'bright and beautiful'.

Anyone who said otherwise was most unwelcome and their view dismissed as products of 'unhinged minds' or not understanding how politics and 'the real world' works.

You could say that both groups – in Islamabad, Karachi and in Washington - are living in similar 'Reality Show' worlds – but sometimes also existing in parallel universes.

Prime Minister Bhutto however announced to the world that this individual had been dead for some time.  Relations were already strained between the ISI and the Prime Minister because she was getting briefings from a foreign agency which were not just contradicting the ISI's version of events but suggesting more serious activities (perhaps tantamount to treason?) of the ISI and elements of the armed forces.

The Prime Minister was assassinated sometime afterwards.

So that's the story folks.

As I did say, it is a story and should not be read as 'Gospel'.

It is an interesting story because it contains most of the elements you might expect to be present.

I rarely do fiction but thought this story of particular note.

Now you can sleep easy?

©Patrick Emek, October 2017

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achilles%27_heel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamabad

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karachi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashtuns

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romulus_and_Remus

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benazir_Bhutto

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaäba

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inter-Services_Intelligence

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippocrates

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctors_Hospital,_Lahore

http://doctorshospital.com.pk