Welcome to Democracy Now! I’m Amy Goodman, joined by Juan González. Today we discuss the U.S. War in Afghanistan and an eye-opening investigation by The New York Times on Abdul Raziq, a key ally in the fight against the Taliban.
America idolized Raziq as a model partner, despite his reign of terror over Kandahar, funded by the U.S. and its allies. The investigation reveals his dark side, marked by torture, murder, and abduction on an unprecedented scale in the Afghan conflict.
Journalists Matthieu Aikins and Azam Ahmed spent over a year uncovering the truth, showing how Raziq’s brutal methods, tacitly accepted by the U.S., led to both effective control and increased recruitment for the Taliban.
The documents obtained through the investigation reveal the complicity of the U.S. government in overlooking Raziq’s atrocities for the sake of strategic goals. The brutal tactics of Raziq served as a point of contention in the war, ultimately leading to the collapse of the democratic Afghan government.
It’s time to confront the truth about America’s involvement in Afghanistan, learn from our mistakes, and avoid repeating them in future conflicts. A frank reckoning is necessary to understand the impact of supporting leaders like Abdul Raziq in conflicts around the world.
Thank you for joining us. Let’s continue seeking the truth in the face of difficult realities. Democracy Now! – uncovering the unvarnished truth behind global conflicts.