condensed version of Brzezinski Interview (full version below)(condensed if you have 3 minutes on a talk show)Brzezinski: Yes. According to the official version of history, CIA aid to the Mujahadeen began in 1980, after the Soviet invasion. But the reality, secretly guarded until now, it was July 3, 1979 that President Carter signed off on secret aid to Al-Qaida against the socialist govt in Kabul. (the freaking day before the 4th of July!!!!) (not out of "fear of USSR" but to destroy liberal/socialist Afghani gov, like we did in Iran, Iraq, and Indonesia, Latin Am, et al.) B: We didn't push the Russians to intervene, but we knowingly increased the probability that they would. Q: You don't regret supporting Islamic fundamentalism, giving arms and advice to future terrorists? B: … Regret what? That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had the effect of drawing the Russians into the Afghan trap and you want me to regret it?!! (Orrin Hatch agrees!! Great idea! Current anti-Islam "Clash of Civilizations" people were all for it then.) Sen. Orrin Hatch, a senior Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee making those decisions, told my colleague Robert Windrem that he would make the same call again today even knowing what bin Laden would do subsequently. “It was worth it,” he said. (referring to launching Al-Qaeda to terrorize the Soviet Union) B: What is most important to the history of the world? The Taliban or the collapse of the Soviets? Some stirred-up Moslems or the end of the cold war? Q: Some stirred-up Moslems? But it has been said that Islamic fundamentalism represents a world menace today. B: Nonsense! That is stupid. There isn't a global Islam. (none except those backed by CIA, :wink:) |
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Centre for Research on Globalisation http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/BRZ110A.html M.C. The CIA's Intervention in AfghanistanInterview with Zbigniew Brzezinski,
President Jimmy Carter's National Security Adviser Le Nouvel Observateur, Paris, 15-21 January
1998
Posted at globalresearch.ca 15 October 2001 Question: The former director of the CIA, Robert Gates, stated in his memoirs ["From the Shadows"], that American intelligence services began to aid the Mujahadeen in Afghanistan 6 months before the Soviet intervention. In this period you were the national security adviser to President Carter. You therefore played a role in this affair. Is that correct? Brzezinski: Yes. According to the official version of history, CIA aid to the Mujahadeen began during 1980, that is to say, after the Soviet army invaded Afghanistan, 24 Dec 1979. But the reality, secretly guarded until now, is completely otherwise Indeed, it was July 3, 1979 that President Carter signed the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul. And that very day, I wrote a note to the president in which I explained to him that in my opinion this aid was going to induce a Soviet military intervention. Q: Despite this risk, you were an advocate of this covert action. But perhaps you yourself desired this Soviet entry into war and looked to provoke it? B: It isn't quite that. We didn't push the Russians to intervene, but we knowingly increased the probability that they would. Q: When the Soviets justified their intervention by asserting that they intended to fight against a secret involvement of the United States in Afghanistan, people didn't believe them. However, there was a basis of truth. You don't regret anything today? B: Regret what? That secret operation was an excellent idea. It had the effect of drawing the Russians into the Afghan trap and you want me to regret it? The day that the Soviets officially crossed the border, I wrote to President Carter. We now have the opportunity of giving to the USSR its Vietnam war. Indeed, for almost 10 years, Moscow had to carry on a war unsupportable by the government, a conflict that brought about the demoralization and finally the breakup of the Soviet empire. Q: And neither do you regret having supported the Islamic fundamentalism, having given arms and advice to future terrorists? B: What is most important to the history of the world? The Taliban or the collapse of the Soviet empire? Some stirred-up Moslems or the liberation of Central Europe and the end of the cold war? Q: Some stirred-up Moslems? But it has been said and repeated Islamic fundamentalism represents a world menace today. B: Nonsense! It is said that the West had a global policy in
regard to Islam. That is stupid. There isn't a global Islam. Look at
Islam in a rational manner and without demagoguery or emotion. It is
the leading religion of the world with 1.5 billion followers. But what
is there in common among Saudi Arabian fundamentalism, moderate
Morocco, Pakistan militarism, Egyptian pro-Western or Central Asian
secularism? Nothing more than what unites the Christian countries. Translated from the French by Bill Blum The URL of this article is: Copyright, Le Nouvel Observateur and Bill Blum. For fair use only. |