tv Cross Talk RT July 9, 2021 12:30am-1:01am EDT
12:30 am
or against prisoners deemed a danger to the state. that was the foundation for the method of psychological interrogation, psychological torture, disseminated within the us intelligence community, and worldwide among allies for the next 30 years. and how the victim say they still live with the consequences today. the news hello and welcome to cross talk. we're all things considered. i'm peter labelle last me and appears to be near washington's 20 year effort to nation. building up dennison was always going to end this way, a complete and total failure. it is doubtful to corrupt government in kabul will last long after the american withdrawal of dennis and remains broken and the
12:31 am
american people poor and no one is held to account the cross walking up canister. and i'm joined by my guess, marvin wind bomb in washington. he is the director of afghanistan and pakistan studies at the middle east institute in del mar. we have scott ritter. he is a former intelligence officer and the united nations weapons inspector. and in kabul, we have woodstock or are him. he is a conflict. peace and security expert art tillman cross talk rules and effect. that means he can jump in anytime you want. and i always appreciate when you go to scott, 1st, many of us watching this conflict for 2 decades expected this outcome was only the date that mattered most here. made my introduction, i said, i call it a complete and utter failure. the american people are poor and no one is held account, and if no one is held account, scott,
12:32 am
then it's going to happen again. go ahead. your thoughts, of course, is going to happen again. it's in the it's, it's in the d. n a or the united states. so when we intervene, we intervene using a american centered template that is designed to placate domestic political factions. here in the united states, not to solve problems overseas, we've seen this almost everywhere. united states intervenes afghanistan was doomed to fail from the start because we didn't respect your asked you and tribal sensitivity is partially wally and nothing we didn't understand the area we came in . we impose our will and then we sought to build afghans in, in, in our model, especially their military. i mean, when we try to do is, is build a miniature united states army, a miniature united states, security services, trained equip, like u. s. military. and they can't function why?
12:33 am
because you can't take it american style, military templates and impose it on corruption. and that's what we have. we have generals who inflate their rank still money to treat their soldiers or lee. there's no motivation at the end of the day of the soldiers, not willing to die for a cause. then the army that she's part of isn't going to fight, and that's where we see the united states without a touch. we've had military leaders who have deceived themselves and deceive their civilian leadership and saying that they have a solution. and yet every year, every 2 years, we rotate these military years out defeated. and we rotate a new series of military leaders. we say the same thing. tie with us become obvious, we weren't going to when we weren't going to prevail and it's time to leave. it's going to be ugly. going to be very ugly. the only way to get out of my stock and let me go to and you and couple, i mean we are we, this was known, this was known to the politicians and this was known to be american military. all
12:34 am
you have to do is to read the asking and papers and it was one big cover up sham corruption operation. and we know it is, this is knowable, fax, it's in the afghan papers. it didn't get enough coverage and in the mainstream media. but this is knowable information and they knew this from the very beginning . it wasn't something that slowly got out of control. it's your country, and it's your government here. i mean, what are your reflections after 20 years? i mean, what has been accomplished here after through 2 trillion dollars, a $100000000000.00 to train the afghan army and police. and now we have reports on a daily basis. they're just dropping their arms and they're fleeing if they can, across the border. that's a lot of money down the drain here. what did you get for it? go ahead in kabul. what i think it's a really harsh analysis or saying it has gone down the drone or draw are green and everybody is dropping the guns. and i don't think that's the case. yes, we have had corruption prevailing. a lot of money has been spoiled. but that, that,
12:35 am
that was expected in a, in a scenario where you, you have starting from scratch all on the ashes of the conflict left behind by the russian withdrawal and late eighties. that's hard to happen. we had the institutions and a lot of money was pumping all of the sudden. now let me come to the point of what is that we have achieved, mainly, you know, honest on in 2001 was in tatters. we had a civil war wing on whole of the country was a failure. and after 2001 institution was stablished, we have a democratic system established. we had 4 rounds of residential elections, 3 downs of parliamentary elections, provincial councils were selected elected. we have a large gallery of one strained at home and abroad on, on in the morning of more than institutions. we have a very strong special forces that are defending the country. i mean,
12:36 am
dropping the arm is all around most talk. i mean, hey, hang on here, but there is growing reports. is that one providence after another following to the taliban, after a 100? i'm sorry. excuse me. after a $100000000000.00. ok. all you see is that creep of the taliban here? right. let me get marvin into the, into the program marketing washington and hang on, let's get, let me get. let's get everyone in the conversation 1st. then we can, you know, jump in. marvin, let me go to you. we have heard you heard the program so far. i know you probably don't agree with me or scott, your thoughts, my friend, please. well, i know i have differences with you in scott, not that would you say doesn't have some validity. but i think you've joined some of the conclusions 1st of all, when the international forces came in, remember, this was an international effort. this was not led to be sure,
12:37 am
but this was in the national whatever that was supported by the u. one. my point here being is when they came in, there was a great deal of support for the foreign forces. they didn't see them as occupiers at all because this life under the bond was rather sad. i was there when they want to me, when the told all would you troll problem and it was the proverbial graveyard. so it was a big change and as we started pointed out that have been accomplishments, but there's no question at the ball was dropped off. first of all we went into iraq and that took off. so we never really united states what contribution and those early days we are, we allowed a v in churches to rebuild. and by the time we woke up to the fact that there was
12:38 am
an insurgency that we would deep into iraq and did not respond and didn't really effectively respond until later. but it was already too late. they had established themselves within the country. let me just add to that much to point it out. a great deal was accomplished and this whole generation of guns came, you know, came into being here with an investment in this country, a strong investment. unfortunately, the leadership and to some extent the united states and some of his taxes, let them down. but don't ever get to says you're not the guns, tribal society or not. they are yearning to see the taller one return. because i mean to say what that is, because when you do, they're going to be millions of refugees, of people who cannot possibly survive and that kind of regime. ok, well scott,
12:39 am
i mean from what we've heard from our other guess here, there could have been other outcomes. it's very hard to convince me that could have been any other outcome than the one we're facing right now. after 20 years, after 2 trillion dollars after $100000000000.00 to train the military and the police force as a can you see and a counter argument how this could have been different because it seems to me that there is no other way to see the outcome that we seeing that we other than what we see now. go ahead, scott: well, in order for them to have been another outcome, we would have had to approach entry and afghanistan differently of meaning that, well, it doesn't mean that we embrace the radical elements of the taliban in their id. ology and how the govern. we needed to understand that there were, you know, there was a moderate taliban at the time. and had we engaged with the moderate taliban? and we, in both to pastry wally it comes to, you know, and
12:40 am
a sound been love and saying, you know, and speaking in the language of islam that you know, these foreigners have betrayed the, the, the, the, the trust and confidence that the gales gave when they gave host to them that they, they betrayed them by attacking the united states. and we worked with, you know, atkins, neighbors, morgan in a more concerted trash and respectful of the fact that they live in the region. we don't, we might have been able to come up with an outcome that was different than what we have today, what, what, what's going to happen. but anytime that we see to impose our will, that we see to project american sensibilities an american way of doing business in a foreign land, especially one like afghanistan, you're doomed to fail. yes, many institutions were built. i don't disagree with this. i. we recognize that there are hundreds of thousands of back ends who are trained in the military, trained in the police force. we understand their institutions. but these
12:41 am
institutions all exist with foundation and framework of provided by the united states. and now that we're withdrawing its framework and foundation is collapsing, there's nothing there. well, a and the same is just gotten history to reinforce my question. i mean, this is what happened to the british. this is what happened to the so we, it's why did the americans think it would be different? because we're american men, we do it better. we always when know, you know, we're very optimistic. whatever you want to say, the bottom line is, we delude ourselves more often than not by believing that we alone have the solution. there is a humorous and ignorance on the part of the united states when it comes to international nations and especially the internal domestic realities of these nations. when we seek to impose our will. don't understand them. see them through a bill driven by domestic american politics. i mean, when you at the explain the congress what's going on and then you're not explaining the re, the about dentist and you're explaining how we spend money in afghanistan. you
12:42 am
create this artificial reality look at david portrays, is repeated testimony before congress will get it today. through the filter reality that we know what today and you'll realize that he was lying and deceiving and just plain wrong about everything. look at the crystals counterinsurgency program. failure from the start wasn't going to succeed. but even if you didn't come in with a different military strategy, or you're going to do is kill afghans more efficiently. that's not how you went to war. you went to war by getting the people tonight. we've got to have the jump in here. i have to jump in here, we're going to go to a short break gentlemen. and after that short break, we'll continue our discussion on afghanistan, space with the ah, ah,
12:43 am
me, and i make no, you know, borders and the blind number please. as emerge. we don't have authority, we don't, the whole world needs to take action and be ready, not a joke. people the judge crisis, we can do better, we should be better. everyone is contributing each in their own way. but we also know that this crisis will not go on forever. the challenge is paid for the response has been massive. so many good people are helping us. it makes us feel very proud that we need together in ah, today industries prefers millions of euros in order to get
12:44 am
a regulation. i will be thinking about making money. it's about the corporation international markets import export. do you imagine the number of the diseases are in every family today due to new viruses or new microbes? it's not true. so it is due to environment. they're not going to take either the momentum much hello. yes, thank you. let me come in today. mostly, don't allow us, the food industry will create more jobs, it will create more value added, it will create more. so i don't see why we shouldn't also fight for the interest of the industry that we have regulation. we want the regulation of the industry. and if we don't have any penalty, that's fine. ah ah,
12:45 am
welcome back to cross stock. we're all things are considered. i'm peter labelle, remind you we're discussing afghanistan. ah, okay, go back to much talking in kabul. i mean, let's, let's go back to the very, very beginning of all of this, the, the, the reason why the united states attacked and occupied afghanistan was because of the role that couple was involved with al qaeda. and the attacks of some september 11th. i think a counter factual history could have come out very differently. per afghanistan aisle kite it was there being given aid and comfort, it should have just been a police operation. go in, take care of that and then leave was occupation of the country absolutely necessary because we listened to scott here. almost every other scenario you can think of.
12:46 am
and i think all of this is actually been tried and with the same conclusion. so do you think it was a good idea and the 1st place to have africana span occupied by outsiders go ahead and couple, you know, bob, i was not allowed to finish earlier. just couple of sentences on that. don't look at things from black and white perspective. there's always an on an honest on as well. there are great areas. i want to proceed and response to the 1st question that there were significant mistakes. made the 1st and foremost during the born conference, a lot of leverage and space was given to the warlords. the taliban would not not engage in the conference. they are not getting wider. his baseline within that was not invited. and that created a situation where a certain group was left out of the whole process and they felt like they had 3 months later on when americans game. now coming back to the retrospect, you know, we can go further into retrospect and think of 980-8990. when the russians left
12:47 am
unilaterally without consulting the partners here in cobbler had, at that time and effort was made on international communities park. we may not end up in a situation with 911 happened, so one can really deliberate on the boss and can be there. but what i can tell you is that honest on, did have an opportunity even after the american envision, you know, where in the one conference had everybody had an inclusive bit inclusive, each process, their inclusion of all the parties, whatever the situation were, all would have to be part of the process later on, the americans pushed for military con guest bush administrator administration. didn't allow a peace process to, to begin. and that continued the policies ship happen unilaterally. the one government state wasn't taken in the whole process. so i mean, one can look at in high might and talk about so many things,
12:48 am
but now the situation is as that, yes, we had mistakes. we had achievements a lot of accomplishments. but now is the time where the international community and the regional powers, including china and russia, but have to chip in and contribute to the peace process. the past can be deliberated a lot. we have lost. well, the reason why i bring it up because you're going to have to face that. ok, i would be american withdrawl, so you're going to have to face those reality. marvin, let me go to you. i mean, is it really, really over over? because if you look at the chatter about contingency plans and out beyond afghanistan's borders, american military might be close by. i mean, is it ever really ever going to come to an end because there are too many people institutional interest that would like to see this? keep going on, obviously the government in kabul would like this to continue on. so with we can, we've talked about the past, we talk about the present. let's talk about what's going to happen after the final
12:49 am
american troop. if that ever happens, leaves up canister and go ahead. marvin and washington is not going to be any return troops. the question is, what united states is going to do with power? and the truth is, it hasn't decided, it's just going to, to the extent that it has any capacity at all. because one change from the gulf is expensive. and difficult operation is certainly not going to be a timely kind. the response, which is what is most needed cost in support for our part, for our son's forces that are in jeopardy. so know if there's not going to be that the question then comes down to has the situation worse is, is be an added stage. going to then use whatever capacity it has to try to, to slow the process. i don't think it can stop, but it can only slow it. my,
12:50 am
my sense here at this point is that it may do so, but it is that point, it will be too late because if there is infiltration of the cities, it's going to be impossible to use it or power effectively without killing innocent civilians. let me just go back on one thing. what there are no margaret. how are we going? what did our card on try matic. tell it on, recognize les and again, that there was a diplomatic route to get him what they have always wanted and that goes back to the very beginning. they've always won a restoration of the ambridge in bon, they could not have been violated because if they were, they would be no agreement there. as it was, it was impossible to put together with them the launch or the 1st any kind of agreement and were not for russia and iran, as well as the united states. they would, as sitting on them,
12:51 am
they would not have agreed. you throw the taller bond into that it would have been no agreement. so it, we all will all looking for that magic thing that might have worked if only we done that night same rain. there was no way in which the now, tory is warlords, were going to sit down with the people who when they had as far as they were concerned, defeated. so i, yes it's, there really never was a moment. not one last thing. ok. and i did stage, remember, george bush made a great deal of the fact we're not there for nation building. he wanted to pull out as quickly as possible because your rock is what he was on his mind. and that was the whole point of it. another another, another, another mistake, i mean, scott, i mean again, the reason why i ask this question about what's happening now moving forward
12:52 am
because there's a moral hazard issue out there. if the government and couple know is american error power is going to be out there. and they can call upon it, and of course will be people in the pentagon to be more than willing to do that because raytheon and everybody else, you know, they get, get to get paid to. i mean, the moral hazard thing really bothers me because i visited couple. i talked to officials about corruption and you know, was always about the degree of it. everyone agreed that it's there. and, and so, you know, there's this moral hazard slippery slope issue here. that's why i keep asking, and we really, really leaving, leaving. go ahead, scott. well, i mean, we need to understand it while we were in afghanistan and we had air power based in afghanistan. we had the ability to search more air power from aircraft carriers or maybe and see, and from bases in the middle east through, can you see any airspace there was permissive. right now we're talking about
12:53 am
a situation where there will be no american aircraft based in afghanistan. everything has to come from abroad, which complicates the delivery of munitions greatly in terms of a timeliness factor. and in terms of a sustainability factor. so anybody who understands if we didn't win the war when we had everything going for us from an airpower perspective. and suddenly things that were going to somehow, with our finger on the scale of an outcome with this ridiculous concept of surgeon air power from, from the, from, from the gulf region. doesn't understand how air power works. we've lost its over, it's done or will be no cavalry riding to the rescue. busy the air bar will not ship is staying when the last american troops leave. when the last foreign troops leave, we're talking about a survivor really factor of weeks, maybe months. but at the end of the day, the collapse of the couple government will be as rapid and decisive as the collapse of the south vietnamese government. between march and april of 975. that's just the
12:54 am
reality. it's got, you'll be much surprised. that's what the name of this program is. it's saigon in afghanistan. let's go to our guest in couple. how do you think, how do you think about the prospect of the government collapsing over the next few months? because it seems like almost in, in abilene i was there propped up because of us power and money. if we leased the power drives up, i don't know about the money because, you know, we've heard these politicians say they'll continue to support it. but i think the saigon analogy is really good. i mean, can remember very well scott, you probably, well as well. and marvin, of course, the debate, you know, should they continue funding on south vietnam and cambodia and even the congress said, no, it's over. it's over here, so let's go back to a couple here. how are you thinking about the collab potential collapse of the government in kabul? you know, the cobbler government,
12:55 am
the government did not collapse after 989 when the situation was much worse than it is. i mean, a situation was much worse than what we had worked right now. and the job resumes survived with a very little support from the struggle struggling law school, which had so many grown the issues. the situation is much different than that time right now. so that is one thing that you have to keep in mind. secondly, the one who says, you know, the, this, the thinking of collapse comes from the mindset that the taliban have people know a certain districts in certain parts of the country and they might be marching forward. but then look at the last week or last 10 days. confrontations, there has been a lot of clearance of the 80 as from the taliban president. so the, the one forces have been able to stand up to the challenge and keep the taliban at base. what i want to emphasize yet, any war of any scale is going to cause destruction couse for any country, even for
12:56 am
a very well sector. strong can be forget about a federal state, like i'm honest on. but the way it would be is really the peace process to succeed . any, any level of insurgency, continuation of warfare is going to try to step in if you want them. there is no doubt and i believe that the only be out for us is the peace process to succeed. so instead of really counting the months and days, let's think of the possibility of the peace process to proceed. ok, hey, let me know. well that, that has given us the hope for a continuation of the peace process. okay, we're almost out of time, you're marvin. i'll give you the last 30 seconds. go ahead. i'm a little bit more pessimistic that we're starting on this. i don't think there is a piece that might have to or convinced that they were on the verge of a military victory. the united states is not losing here. the loser in south got us
12:57 am
then see i've got people and i think we have to keep that in mind. the united states will go on without done, although we will have replications. it's looking all the parts of the world to invest a military lee. and in other ways, so if you ask on people who are going to suffer here, and that's the tragedy that well, we can all agree on this panel. it is a tragedy here many thanks them, i guess in washington del mar, and in kabul. and thanks to our viewers for watching us here are to see you next time and remember ah, ah, ah ah
12:58 am
12:59 am
was very bad news. the people diabetes. and we consider it as one of the very high risk situations in terms of people being infected ah, the british and american governments have often been accused of destroying lives in their own interest. while you see in this, these techniques is the state devising message to end essentially destroy the personality of an individual lifetime. means this is how one doctors, theories were allegedly used in psychological warfare against prisoners deemed the danger to the state. that was the foundation for the method of psychological interrogation, psychological torture, disseminated within the us intelligence community, and worldwide among allies for the next 30 years. and the victim say they still
1:00 am
live with the consequences. today the, the us sets an end of august deadline to follow up on the although the president biden admits the taliban is now again gaining strength. he saved the country on as much as a mission accomplished right. and the responsibility of the afghan people alone to decide their future and how they want to run their country. the brutal murder of a 13 year old girl in austria of the hands of a migrant once again puts the issue of immigration law into the spotlight. amid a growing hesitancy about the influx of afghanistan island seekers into the country under wind.
20 Views
Uploaded by TV Archive on