Before and After pictures in Afganistan

[annm4peace]

Wonder what it used to look like?
check out the pictures here

http://www.rawa.org/temp/runews/rawagallery.php?mghash=86291b418170d2920aa34cb7ff65e8d8&mggal=4

[pbca]

1. Some of those photos look like

they were taken in the 1950s - before the revolution, before the Soviets, etc.,

[annm4peace]

2. Wasn't it a democracy then ?

It was a great country

[pbca]

3. It was, but only sort of

I'm not an expert on all the tribal names or politics but my understanding is that the ethnic group that currently makes up the Taliban was denied the vote, or the right to hold office (or land etc) that was the source of the original rebellion and it has essentially been chaos ever since.

[New Dawn]

12. No, it was a feudal country with a monarchy.

[alfredo]

4. they used to have huge groves of fruit trees, but that's been destroyed.

[reggie the dog]

6. less fruit

more cannabis and poppies everywhere.....

[alfredo]

7. When you get the munchies, the fruit and nuts would be nice.

[ConsAreLiars]

5. Thanks. The before and after is very revealing. More photos at:

http://www.lukepowell.com/

The photographer documents his travels throughout Afghanistan before the US intervention, during the tribal conflicts that ensued, during the Taliban rule and after the US invasion and occupation. Many, many excellent and truthful images, from 1973 to 2003. Read the captions for more understanding.

[countryjake]

8. Thank you very much for link to such an incredible record of Afghanistan!

Spent hours viewing them! I'd already bookmarked Mr. Powell's site some time ago, but had never taken the time to take his "tour" until last night.

I am one who was aghast when our country first decided that invading this nation was acceptable...as if bombing a land "back to the stone age" is even possible, when that had already been done, to excess. A few of those photos moved me to tears, the overwhelming scope of the landscapes, the vitality of the cultures, and I find myself even more shamed that my government continues in its quest to destroy the very spirit of these peoples.

Thank you, again, for finally spurring me to look!

[ConsAreLiars]

9. Glad you found them as compelling as I did.

I have always condemned US intervention in that land. I had only been there in late summer (before Brzezinski) when everything seemed dry and brown and never visited the higher mountain villages. So when, at a rally opposing the invasion, a young Afghan woman described her country as beautiful I went looking for photos. There were several, but Luke Powell's site stood out for the extent of his travels and the stunning quality of his art.

Spread the word. The information most of us get is 99% disinformation and propaganda.

(edit typo)

[defendandprotect]

10. And our corporate-press is making this clear every day . . . right???

I'm sure Americans suspect how catastrophic this has been for both Afghanistan and Iraq but
it's not being put in front of them every day ---

That's a big impediment to getting protests going ---

Was listening to Naomi Klein/"Shock Doctrine" for a while today on Air America . . .
she was commenting on how one interpretion of shocking sensory deprivation is intended to
destroy personality/self -- and in the sense of a country, to destroy their identity, past.

We sure have done that.
How did ALL the people of Aghanistan and ALL the people of Iraq become our "enemies" --- ????

This is insane!!!

And we're headed to a six year war ---
Now exceeds WWI by a year and a half/? ---

Bankrupting our Treasury --- but good for Bush and his warmongering cronies ---

[ConsAreLiars]

11. Wikipedia has a good and reasonably comprehensive history of Afghanistan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan . The history is long and complex. Alexander the Great and Tamerlane and Queen Victoria and Genghis Khan all had some influence but gave up any attempt at domination.

As for more pictures, see http://www.lukepowell.com/