CALIFORNIA YANKEE

Afghanistan Pressed To Free Christian

International pressure is mounting against Afghanistan over the case of Abdur Rahman, on trial for converting from Islam to Christianity. Rahman faces the death penalty because he refuses to become a Muslim again.

The United States, Germany and Italy, have all expressed concern over Rahman's plight:

US State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said on Monday that freedom of worship and tolerance were important for any democracy. "These are issues, as Afghan democracy matures, that they are going to have to deal with increasingly," he said.

German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul told Bild newspaper Tuesday that religious freedom was "everybody's right" and urged Karzai to step in.

[. . .]

The country's secretary of state for defence Friedbert Pflueger also told Bild that Germany had contributed 2,450 soldiers to the NATO peacekeeping force in Afghanistan to help it "become a democratic country, not so that people can be sentenced to death on religious grounds."

Italy added its voice to the concerns as Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini summoned the Afghan ambassador to "shed light" on the situation. He ordered the Italian ambassador in Kabul to approach Afghan authorities over the issue.

Publicly, the U.S. is taking what many Americans will see as a much too diplomatic approach to this case.

US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said Tuesday that it concerned broader freedoms, which he said were enshrined in Afghan statutes.

We believe in universal freedoms and freedom of religion is one of them. But I should also note more particularly, as regards this case, that the Afghan constitution as we understand it also provides for freedom of religion.

But Burns suggested that Washington would not try to impose its will in the controversial case.
"We hope that the Afghan constitution is going to be upheld and in our view if it is upheld, he will be found to be innocent.

The Chicago Tribune's Kim Barker does a wonderful job of explaining how wrong Rahman's conversion seems to Afghans:

Prosecutors say he should die. So do his family, his jailers, even the judge.

[. . .]

"We are Muslim, our fathers were Muslim, our grandfathers were Muslim," said Abdul Manan, Rahman's father, who is 75. "This is an Islamic country. Imagine if your son told a police commander, also a Muslim, that he is a Christian. How would this affect you? It's very difficult for us."

[. . .]

"He is my son," said Manan, crying. "But if a son does not care about the dignity of his family, the dignity of his father, God can take him away. You cannot make anything out of such a son. He is useless."

Rahman's plight should not come as a surprise. If you read a little about Islam it soon becomes clear that most Muslims believe once a Muslim always a Muslim. Worse, most Muslims believe any one who gives up Islam deserves death.

At Counterterrorism Blog, Daveed Garteinstein-Ross is much more eloquent:

This case has generated an enormous amount of media attention because the U.S. and its allies liberated Afghanistan from the fundamentalist Taliban regime, so Westerners find it disconcerting that people can still be killed in that country for leaving the Islamic faith. While this media attention is warranted, it is important for observers to understand that the problem of apostasy laws reaches far beyond Abdul Rahman and Afghanistan.

This is fundamentally an issue that people in the counterterrorism field and those who follow terrorism should care about. The Bush administration has invested in a strategy of democratization to counter the extremism that can be found in the Islamic world. But voting rights will not serve as an effective counterbalance to extremism if voting is simply superimposed over the current Middle Eastern political systems, with their lack of basic political freedoms. The most crucial freedoms for creating true democracy in the Middle East are freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom of religion -- and of these, the lack of freedom of religion in the region is the most dramatic.

A number of us expressed fears that the Afghan Constitution did not adequately protect freedom of religion. In December 2003 I posted:

Our long term strategy in the war against terror is to bring freedom and democracy to the Middle East. President Bush set forth this strategy very eloquently in the Advance of Freedom speech he gave at the National Endowment for Democracy and the Three Pillars speech he gave at Whitehall Palace.

If this strategy is to have a chance to succeed, we must ensure that governmental structures are in place that will give freedom, especially freedom of speech and religion, a chance. Unfortunately, the draft Afghan constitution doesn’t do that. If it doesn’t then neither will Iraq’s fundamental law.

Unfortunately, we didn't protest enough as Andrew McCarthy so articulately writes at the National Review Online:

You reap what you sow. What is happening in Afghanistan (and in Iraq) is precisely what we bought on to when we actively participated in the drafting of constitutions which — in a manner antithetical to the development of true democracy — ignored the imperative to insulate the civil authority from the religious authority, installed Islam as the state religion, made sharia a dominant force in law, and expressly required that judges be trained in Islamic jurisprudence. To have done all those things makes outrage at today’s natural consequences ring hollow.

This is a test of freedom for Afghanistan, and it appears Afghanistan is feeling the heat and looking for a face-saving way out.

Prosecutor Sarinwal Zamari said questions have been raised about Rahman's mental fitness:

"We think he could be mad. He is not a normal person. He doesn't talk like a normal person," he told The Associated Press.

So the international pressure may be helping Rahman. You can help:

Contact the Afghan Embassy:

Ambassador Said T. Jawad Embassy of Afghanistan 2341 Wyoming Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20008 [email protected] 202-483-6410

Contact the White House:

202-456-1111

Contact the State Department:

202-647-4000

And call the Embassy of Afghanistan:
(Or e-mail.)
Sign a Petition in support of Abdur Rahman, E-mail President Bush, and write the embassy of Afghanistan (hat tip - A Lady's Ruminations):

If you can join the rally for Abdul Rahman outside the Afghan embassy in Washington, D.C.:

Friday March 24 Noon to 1pm Outside the Afghan Embassy 2341 Wyoming Ave NW. Washington DC

Michelle Malkin has more.

At Hyscience, Richard sums up the feelings of most Americans:

As I said yesterday, If after spilling American blood in Afghanistan to not only remove it as a safe haven for Al-Qaeda but to also free it's people from the repressive Taliban regime, a man can still be executed for converting from Islam to Christianity, then we have completely wasted precious American lives, and the Islamists of Afghanistan are too deeply locked into the barbarism of the middle ages and too backward, to be brought into the modern world.

President Bush needs to be much more forceful about Abdul Rahman's plight than this diplomatically correct comment reported by the Associated Press:

We expect them to honor the universal principle of freedom," Bush said. "I'm troubled when I hear, deeply troubled when I hear, the fact that a person who converted away from Islam may be held to account. That's not the universal application of the values that I talked about. I look forward to working with the government of that country to make sure that people are protected in their capacity to worship.

How about saying something like, if you want Christian help don't put Christians on trial for being Christian.

Taliban Re-Arming Stingers

The Independent reports American and NATO forces are following up reports that the Taliban have received new battery packs for shoulder-fired Stinger missiles. The new battery packs were allegedly provided by the Pakistani intelligence service:

Western sources say they are not sure whether the supplies, needed to make the US-made missiles operational, were provided by rogue elements within the Pakistani secret service, or approved at a high level.

[. . .]

It is believed that the battery packs had been fitted in between 18 and 20 heat-seeking Stingers which can hit targets at around 12,000 feet. They are reported to have been handed over in the Quetta region in Pakistan known to be used by the Taliban to launch attacks in southern Afghanistan.

If true, this would enable the Taliban to attack American and British aircraft in Afghanistan.

Stingers were supplied to the Afghan Mujahedin by the US during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan. The missiles proved extremely successful against Soviet helicopters.

Huge Afghan Weapons Cache Found

NATO has found a huge weapons cache in Afghanistan, including 80 tonnes of TNT and 25,000 landmines:

The weapons were stored underground in old Soviet bunkers.

An initial survey indicated one was full of detonators, two contained 80 tonnes of Russian TNT, while another held 15,000 anti-personnel mines and 10,000 anti-tank mines. A fifth bunker was still being explored.

President Bush Visits Afghanistan

Reuters reports President Bush began his visit to South Asia with a surprise visit to Afghanistan.

Air Force One flew to Bagram air base, headquarters of the U.S. presence in Afghanistan, from where helicopters ferried President Bush to the capital, Kabul.

President Bush held talks with President Hamid Karzai and participated in a ribbon cutting ceremony at the official opening of the new U.S. embassy in Kabul. During the ceremony, President Bush said the United States was committed to Afghanistan's future:

He said Afghans who visited Washington often asked him whether the U.S. was committed Afghanistan's future.

"They ask me with their words, they ask with their stares as they look in my eyes, 'Is the United States firmly committed to the future of Afghanistan'? My answer is 'absolutely'," Bush said.

The Associated Press reports President Bush was welcomed by Karzai as "our great friend, our great supporter, a man who helped us liberate."

Like his Thanksgiving trip to Iraq in 2003, the President's visit must have been an incredible thrill for the Americans at Bagram air base.

UPDATE: At Outside The Beltway, James Joyner posts that the President's visit will bring more media attention to our efforts in Afghanistan. At PoliPundit, Lorie Byrd agrees that the Presiden's visit is good for the troops’ morale.

President Bush thanked U.S. and coalition troops at the Bagram Air Base

THE PRESIDENT: Thanks for having us. (Applause.) Laura and I are honored to be here in Afghanistan with you. It's a real pleasure to be with our country's finest citizens. (Applause.) I want to thank General Eikenberery and General Freakley and all those who are taking responsibility to make sure we complete our mission.

I particularly want to thank the members of the United States Army and Marines and Air Force and Navy who are here. Laura and I thank the civilian contractors who are here. I'm really pleased to be with the 10th Mountain Division. (Applause.) Climb to Glory. (Applause.)

I know it's not easy to be away from home, but I want you to understand that you're on the frontier of freedom, that you're involved with doing two important things. One is finding an enemy and bringing them to justice so they don't hurt our fellow citizens again. (Applause.) That mission requires steadfast determination. The enemy cannot defeat us militarily. The only thing they can do is to kill innocent lives and try to shake our will. But they don't understand the United States of America. We will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins. We will defeat the enemy and win the war on terror. (Applause.)

And the other thing you're doing is to help this new democracy not only survive, but to flourish. Laura and myself and Secretary Condi Rice who is with us here -- (applause) -- step on over here. (Applause.) We just met with President Karzai. And my message to the people of Afghanistan is -- was the following. One, it takes courage to get rid of a tyrant, or tyrannical governments, and to recognize that the future belongs to democracy. That's not easy work. It's hard to recognize that people ought to be allowed to worship freely and speak their minds freely after living under the grips of the tyrant.

Our other message was, is that the United States doesn't cut and run. (Applause.) When we make a commitment, we keep our commitments. It's in our national interest that the work you're doing here, the work of helping the Afghans develop a democracy -- it's in the interests of your children and your grandchildren. Because, you see, democracies yield the peace we all want. History has taught us democracies don't war. Democracies -- you don't run for office in a democracy and say, please vote for me, I promise you war. (Laughter.) You run for office in democracies, and say, vote for me, I'll represent your interests; vote for me, I'll help your young girls go to school, or the health care you get improved.

Democracies yield peace, and that's what we want. What's going to happen in Afghanistan is a neighborhood that has been desperate for light instead of darkness is going to see what's possible when freedom arrives. What's going to happen in Afghanistan, it's going to send a signal not only in the neighborhood, but around the world, that freedom is the potential. The United States of America believes that freedom is universal. Freedom is not our gift to the world, freedom is the gift from an Almighty to every single person in this world. (Applause.)

I'm proud of our United States military. Many of you volunteered for service after September the 11th, 2001. (Applause.) You saw that our nation was attacked, and when the country called upon you, you said, let me serve, let me join in the fight to defeat the terrorists, so attacks like that will never occur on our soil again. And that's what you're doing here in Afghanistan. You're changing -- you're helping to change this part of the world, and change the world with your courage and your sacrifice. I assure you that this government of yours will not blink, we will not yield. We're on the right course, and the world is going to be a better place because of your service. (Applause.)

So we're here to thank you. I want you to email or call your friends, and more important your families, and told them the old Commander-in-Chief showed up for a little bit -- (applause) -- with a message of appreciation not only for you, but for your loved ones, as well. I ask for God's blessings on your and your mission, God's blessings on our country. Thank you for letting us come by.

The White House has also posted the transcripts of the President and Mrs. Bush dedicating U.S. embassy building in Afghanistan and the press conference following President's meeting with President Hamid Karzai in Kabul.

Afghans And Iraqis Most Optimistic

United Press International reports an international poll done for Britain's BBC says Iraqis and Afghans are most optimistic about their economic future:

In Afghanistan, 70 percent of respondents said their own circumstances are improving, and 57 percent said the country overall is on the way up. In Iraq, 65 percent believe their personal life is getting better, and 56 percent are upbeat about the country's economy, the BBC reported.

According to the UPI, Zimbabweans stood out as the most miserable lot in the poll, with 90 percent saying their country's economy is getting worse, and 84 percent being concerned about their own financial future. Italians were reported to be among the most pessimistic, along with the residents of Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

I haven't been able to locate any more details about this poll.

Afghans Overwhelmingly Reject Al-Qaeda And Taliban

A new poll finds Afghans overwhelming reject al-Qaeda and the Taliban, endorse the overthrow of the Taliban, and approve of the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan:

Eighty-one percent of those polled think that al-Qaeda is having a negative influence in the world.

Ninety percent-said they have an unfavorable view of Osama bin Laden.

Eighty-eight percent said they have an unfavorable view of the Taliban

Eighty-two percent said that overthrowing the Taliban government was a good thing for Afghanistan.

According to the Program on International Policy Attitudes, these views were held by large majorities of all ethnic groups, including the large Pashtun and Tajik groups and the smaller Uzbek and Hazara groups.

The poll was conducted from November 27 to December 4, 2005 and has a margin of error of +/- 2.2 percent.

Some say we failed in Afghanistan because bin Laden got away. The results of this poll suggest we have in fact been very successful in Iraq.

Al Qaeda Refocuses On Afghanistan

Almost two years ago, Newsweek published this article claiming that al-Qaeda was diverting a fighters from Afghanistan to Iraq. The article also claims that al-Qaeda decided to "reorganize the distribution of funding" reducing monthly payments to the Afghan resistance from $3 million to $1.5 million.

Yesterday, Strategy Page tells us that Arab terrorist resources in Iraq produced too little in Iraq except hostility to al Qaeda as a result of all the Iraqis killed in terrorist attacks, so al-Qaeda is trying to return to Afghanistan:

The Taliban has attracted additional money, and suicide bombers, from Arabia. Two years ago, most of this support shifted to Iraq, where al Qaeda believed it had a better chance of winning some kind of victory. But too many Arab terrorist resources in Iraq produced nothing, and Iraqis have become very hostile to al Qaeda as a result of all the Iraqis killed by terrorist attacks. So now, efforts are shifting to Afghanistan. However, this is also a hostile environment for Arab terrorists. This goes back to the late 1990s, and used a brigade of al Qaeda gunmen to keep unruly tribes in line. Most of the al Qaeda enforcers were Arabs, who did not hide their disdain for the "primitive" Afghans. This has not been forgotten. Moreover, Arabs stand out more in Afghanistan, where most Afghans are European or Central Asian in appearance (the majority of Afghans belong to ethnic groups related to the ones that overran Europe thousands of years ago.) Afghans have been quick to turn in suspicious Arabs, or any suspected terrorist activities.

I can't argue with the analysis I just hope the pessimism is deserved.

Afghanistan Election Update

It's just past 4:00 p.m. in Afghanistan when the polls are scheduled to close.

Reuters reports that calm is prevailed and voters are flowed into over 6,000 polling centers:

"I am so happy, so happy," says Khatereh Mushafiq, 18, her black veil decorated with white flowers pulled back from her beaming face as she went to vote at a girl's school in Kandahar.

"We (women) are also now taking part in the government and in society. People must take part, people must have a say."

According to Reuters, there were some reports of confusion over ballots that in some places list nearly 400 candidates, their photos and personal symbols, and run to up to seven pages.

At Afghan Election Blog, Sam Zarifi and Charmain Mohamed post that it seems like there is lower turnout and less excitement than there was for the presidential election in October 2004:

Yet it's hard to conclude anything: there are more polling stations and booths than last time, which could lead to shorter lines. Still, there is a sense that there have been fewer voters.

Also, the mood is different than during last year's election. There isn't the same excitement as there was last year; people are not as excited about voting or about the election.

Of course, this could be good thing--perhaps people are getting used to the process, and acting like voting is just a normal thing.

But it could also be a reflection of voter disappointment or cynicism about the candidates and the process.

The BBC also reports less than "brisk" voting:

The BBC's Andrew North in Kabul says, despite reports of queues in various parts of the country, there are signs that turn-out is lower than for last year's presidential vote.

At one polling station in Kabul there were handfuls of voters where last year there had been long lines.

Our correspondent says the picture emerging seems to be one of steady, rather than brisk voting.

At the UN-supported Joint Electoral Management Body's website, a round-up of quotations from around Afghanistan has been posted. They are all positive such as this one:

Ormani – 30 years – Gardez: "Of course all the female members of our family are very happy. I have my 3 sons with me here. My husband allowed us to come and vote, even my old father-in-law encouraged the female members to come and vote. We walked for 2 hours to come here."

The site also contains a number of photo galleries covering the entire election process.

As I was looking for sources for this post I was frustrated that there was an absence of coverage of the vote. As I read the reports about the calmness, relative lack of violence and lack of excitement, it finally hit me; its not that big a deal. The Afghans are getting used to this voting thing.

More Coverage at Publius Pundit.

Afghanistan Goes to the Polls

It is already Election Day in Afghanistan. We all know how important this election is, both to the Aghan people and the war against terrorism. More than 12 million people registered to vote in Afghanistan's first parliamentary elections in thirty-five years. More than 5,800 candidates are running for parliament and provincial councils.

Officials urged Afghans to defy Taliban insurgents and powerful warlords by turning out in force for Sunday's landmark elections. The Taliban urged Afghans to boycott the elections.

The commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan said he expects a big turnout in Sunday's elections. I hope he is right, and pray the Afghans are allowed to vote safely.

Second Missing U.S. Soldier Found

Reuters reports that a second American soldier missing in Afghanistan for the past week has been located:

The governor of Kunar, Assadullah Wafa, told Reuters Afghan forces received information on Sunday night that a wounded American was being treated by villagers in a remote mountainous part of the province:

"Our troops are trying to reach the place," he said. "Villagers have him and are treating him for wounds. But the soldier has not been handed over as yet.

"He is safe and there is no danger to his life. This is a very difficult terrain -- big trees and mountains."

Wafa said the soldier was in the same area as that where a U.S. helicopter sent to rescue the troops was shot down by militants last Tuesday, killing all 16 U.S. Special Forces soldiers aboard.

The BBC reports the soldier rescued yesterday reportedly pointed the US search team in the direction where other members of the team had gone.