Ethics in the US Relations with Mujahideen - Research Paper Example

Introduction: The attack of Afghanistan by USSR during the last days of December 1979 was able to capture the attention of the world, and this became a major international relations. Williams (2013) explains that the invasion of Afghanistan by Soviet Union occurred after 30 years of an end of the World War 2. It is during these years that there was a major difference between the two superpowers, because of ideological differences. That is, Soviet Union supported communism, while the United States supported capitalism. Tsouras (2003, p. 33) asserts that the “decision of the Soviet Union to invade Afghanistan had a severe effect on the diplomatic relationship between the Soviets, and the United States, changing the complexion and nature of rivalry that existed between the two countries”. Furthermore, Mayer (2008) maintains that the occupation of Afghanistan by the Soviet Army created a regional and a global security concern mainly because the neighboring of Iran, Pakistan and other nations of the world, were waiting anxiously for purposes of witnessing the response of United States. Mayer (2008 p. 61) asserts “that the response of the United States was a covert action by the CIA to arm and train the Mujahedeen fighters in Afghanistan for purposes of fighting the Soviet Union”. This operation began in the 1980s, and ended in 1989 with the withdrawal of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. This paper analyzes the ethical issues surrounding the assistance that the United States gave to the Mujahedeen fighters during this period, only to label them later as terrorists when the Mujahedeen were no longer taking care of the interests of United States. In meeting the objectives of this paper, this paper will talk about the Mujahedeen fighters, and the role that United States played in helping them to defeats the Soviet Union. This paper also analyzes the role of the Soviet Union in this crisis, and the reasons of its invasion of Afghanistan. Specifically, this paper will talk about the kind of support that the US gave to the Mujahedeen fighters, and the kind of support that Soviet Union gave to the Afghanistan government, and the impact of these supports today. This paper further identifies the methods in which the international community can use for purposes of disarming the Mujahedeen fighters, and the role of the society in this process. Furthermore, the researcher will talk about Al-Qaeda and their relationship with the Taliban, and how they evolved into becoming the enemies of United States. This paper focuses on the reasons as to why the United States used the Mujahedeen fighters in the 1980s, and to later on brand them as terrorists in the years of 2000s. This paper is divided into four major sections, the introduction, the body paragraph, the analysis, and the conclusion. The introduction contains the information about the topic, and the major issues of concern. The body paragraph consists of the information about the role of the Soviet and US in this war, giving an answer to the major issues raised at the introduction. The analysis section contains information on the ethics of the US intervention in Afghanistan, and after its intervention. The conclusion is a summary of the major points raised in this paper. This paper takes the stand that it was unethical, for the United States to sponsor the Mujahedeen, and later on brand them as terrorists. The Mujahedeen Fighters, Soviet Intervention, and American Help: Williams (2013) explains that Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in the later days of 1970 for purposes of protecting its communist ally, against the Islamic fighters who were against communism. Baldwin (2008, p. 51) explains “that in the year 1978, the government of President Mohammad Khan was deposed by a left wing military organization that was under the leadership of Nur Taraki”. This new government had very little support, and to remain in power, it decided to form a close relationship with the Soviet Union. Furthermore, for purposes of pleasing the Soviet Union, the government of Taraki began implementing communist ideologies that were greatly resented by the Muslim population, and a large majority of Afghan citizens. Marsden (2009) explains that due to these policies, rebellion arose against the government of Taraki, and this consisted of urban and tribal groups referred to as the Mujahedeen. It is due to these rebellions and internal fighting amongst the leaders of Afghanistan that made the Soviet Union to intervene and protect its interests in the country. In intervening, the Soviet Union sent a team of Special Forces who disguised themselves as the Afghan army, and assassinated the then president, Hafizullah Amin. Mamdani (2004) maintains that the Soviet Union saw Amin as a threat to communism and its interests in Afghanistan, and on this basis, he had to be eliminated so that a new president could take over, and eliminate the Mujahedeen fighters. On this basis, Kalinovsky (2008) argues that the major reason of the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan was to promote communism, and to prevent an ally from ascribing to capitalism, an ideology supported by the United States. Downing (2009, p. 39) maintains that “the new government installed by Soviet Union was unable to crush the rebellion, and this forced the Soviet to release an army of more than 100,000 fighters to invade Afghanistan, and fight off the Mujahedeen fighters”. On this note, Feifer (2009) explains that the help that the Soviet Union gave to the Afghanistan government was financial help, and military support. This is in terms of military personnel, as well as equipments that could be used in suppressing the rebellion. Baldwin (2008, p. 72) asserts that “this was an opportunity for the United States to install a regime in the Soviet Union that would be its allies”. On this basis, the United States decided to train, finance, and provide intelligence information to the Mujahedeen fighters in Afghanistan. Furthermore, the United States government provided heavy military machines to the Mujahedeen fighters that were able to change the battle in favor of the Mujahedeen. For example, the United States was able to give the Mujahedeen fighters the stinger missiles, which were used to destroy the heavily armored Soviet Attack helicopters. Goodson and Johnson (2011) explains that before the introduction of the stinger missiles, the Soviets were in control of the air battle, but after the Stinger missiles were introduced, the Mujahedeen controlled the air battle, thereafter managing to drive the Soviet Union out of Afghanistan. It is important to understand that the other intention of United States was to frustrate the efforts of the Soviet Union in protecting the communist regime of Afghanistan, as well as assert its position as a dominant power in the world politics. Jenkins (2002) explains that during this period in time, the Soviet Union was the biggest threat to the security and well being of America, and hence it had to be fought through all means. The USA government decided to support the radical Islamists, because they did not have any ideology that could threaten the existence of United States (Hillstrom, 2006). However, upon assumption to power, the Mujahedeen transformed themselves into Taliban, and they started supporting radical Islamic groups such as Al-Qaeda. It is important to denote that Al- Qaeda was a radical group that called for the destruction of America and its allies Israel. To make this threat into a reality, Al-Qaeda carried out a bomb attack on American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, in the years 1998. Furthermore, Al-Qaeda was responsible for the 2001, September attack in New York, that killed more than 3000 people. It is important to understand that by then, Al-Qaeda was led by Osama Bin Laden. Atwan (2006) explains that Osama Bin Laden was a Mujahedeen fighter trained by the CIA during the periods when Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. It is due to these attacks on American interests and the support that Taliban gave to Al-Qaeda that resulted into America branding the group as terrorists. Hershberg (2003, p. 33) asserts “that Al-Qaeda under the leadership of Osama Bin Laden carried out terrorist attacks against the interests of the Americans all over the world”. This made the American government to declare a war on terror, and hence the capture of Bin Laden and destruction of Al-Qaeda became a major foreign policy for the American government. However, Hershberg (2003) argues that the method in which the United States used to attack and destroy Al-Qaeda were unethical. This is because they invaded Afghanistan, killing many people; this includes children and women in their pursuit of Osama Bin Laden. ANALYSIS: Braithwaite (2011, p. 28) explains “that it was unethical for the United States to support the Mujahedeen, and later on turn against labeling them as terrorists”. Hershberg (2003) explains that after the 2001 September 11th attack, the United States developed a policy aimed at fighting terrorism all over the world. According to this foreign policy, the United States had to attack any country that was believed to be harboring terrorists, or did not corporate with it, regarding security matters. On this basis, United States decided to attack Afghanistan mainly because it leadership failed to corporate with it, in fighting Al-Qaeda. Atwan (2006) explains that United States believed that there were Al-Qaeda cells in Afghanistan, and hence they required the cooperation of Afghanistan to destroy these cells and due to this refusal, the United States attacked Afghanistan, for purposes of removing the Taliban from power, and fighting Al-Qaeda. Hershberg (2003) explains that the attack of Afghanistan by United States was a change in the country’s foreign policy. For instance, in the 1980s, the main threat of the existence of United States was the Soviet Union, and on this note, the United States had to support the Mujahedeen fighters against the Soviet Union. However, after the end of the cold war, in the 1990s, the United States become the sole super-power, and hence this affected its foreign policies. On this basis, the United States had to attack the Taliban government, who were the same Mujahedeen fighters it trained and supported in the 1980s. This is mainly because of its foreign policy, aimed at fighting terror, and they viewed the Taliban as a regime supporting terror. On this note, Atwan (2006) explains that the foreign policy of United States is only guided by its self interest, and hence, attacking Afghanistan was to promote its self-interest. That is exerting dominance and influence over the countries of the world, and in the name of fighting terror. In the view of Braithwaite (2011), the American attack on Afghanistan led to the death of many people, some of which were civilians. It is important to understand that the Mujahedeen fighters who later on transformed themselves into Taliban did not have the capability of fighting against the Americans, and on this basis, they were unable to protect their civilians against an attack of the Americans (Dominese, 2010, p. 817). Hilstrom (2006, p. 80) further asserts that, “There are other methods of solving problems in the international system apart from using force”. These methods include the use of sanctions, or even dialogue for purposes of solving the conflict and misunderstanding that the United States had towards the Taliban. However, other scholars wrongly assert that the labeling of the Taliban and the Al-Qaeda by America as terror groups was ethical. Clarke (2004, p. 19) asserts that, “the main reason for interactions of states at the international system is based on their desire to promote their own national interest”. This is a view that is held by the realism theorists, who believe that the maintenance of a state security is the main reason as to why it is necessary for states to engage in international relations. For instance, in a bid to protect its security, and threats emanating from the Soviet Union, the United States decided to support the Mujahedeen fighters. Dominese (2010) explains that during this period of the 1980s, America was not threatened by violent Islamic groups, and on this basis, its relations with the Mujahedeen was ethical. However, when the Mujahedeen turned into Taliban, and started supporting Islamic violent groups such as Al-Qaeda, they now became a threat to the security and interests of the Americans. This is because Al-Qaeda called for the destruction of Americans, and it started killing American citizens, and targeting their strategic interests (Hillstrom, 2006). In a bid to maintain its own security, Chan (2006) maintains that it was ethical for the United States to label Al-Qaeda, and the Taliban as terrorist groups. The idealists also believe in an ideal world that is secure and free from violent. On this basis, the idealists came up with a theoretical framework referred to as liberalism, where there is a need of cooperation in the international system for purposes of protecting world peace and stability (Humphreys, 2011). However, Humphreys (2011, p. 259) argues that another reason as to why it was unethical to invade Afghanistan by America is based on the fact that Afghanistan is a sovereign country, and attacking it amounted to a breach of the sovereignty of Afghanistan. Undermining the sovereignty of an independent state is a concept that the charter of the United Nations does not accept. Based on this argument, on this basis, Rashid (2000, p. 46) argues that it was ethical for United States to support the Mujahedeen fighters, against the Soviets; this is because the Soviets had invaded Afghanistan, breaching its sovereignty. Furthermore, after the invasion of Afghanistan by United States forces, Kalinovsky (2009, p. 48) explains that “the Mujahedeen started supporting violent Islamist groups that were a threat to the peace and stability of the world, in the name of fighting America and Israel”. This therefore accelerated the manner in which violent attacks against American and Western interests increased. However, Hillstrom (2006) explains that in labeling the Taliban and Al-Qaeda as terrorists, United States was guided by their violent activities against civilians. The Unted States sought the assistance of the international community in fighting Al-Qaeda, and this includes institutions such as the United Nations, regional organizations, and various governments of the world. Atwan (2006, p. 39) argues that “based on this fact, the United States was justified in labeling the Taliban, and Al-Qaeda as a terrorist group”. Furthermore, the entire international system was involved in the fight against Al-Qaeda, and this is an indication that the group was a threat to the peace and stability of the World. Kalinovsky (2009) does not agree with this assertion that the Taliban was a terrorist group and it was supporting Al-Qaeda. In fact, Hillstrom (2006) explains that the Taliban were not aware of the planning of the 2001 September terror attack in United States, and its leadership was amongst the first countries in the world, to condemn such kind of an attack. Hillstrom (2006) further explains that the Taliban and Al-Qaeda are two different groups, each with different ideologies, goals, and sources of getting recruits. For instance, Humphreys (2011) explains that Taliban had three major goals that is to bring order in Afghanistan, fight corruption, as well as install an Islamic republic of Afghanistan. They had no desire to rule. On the other hand, Atwan (2006) explains that Al-Qaeda had the desire of continuing with jihad on an international perspective. These two objectives were therefore different, and hence Hillstrom (2006) explains that it was unethical for the United States to falsely accuse Taliban of sponsoring terrorists, as it was the desire of the Taliban to achieve peace and political stability in Afghanistan. Freedman (2001) explains that as per now, the Al-Qaeda forces have been contained, and this is with the death of Osama Bin Laden. On this basis, there is a need of integrating the Taliban and Al-Qaeda fighters into the society. But the first step is to disarm these fighters, for purposes of ensuring that they are not a threat to the society. This should be done through psychological counseling, as well as the use of force. Force should be used in circumstances where the Taliban fighters are not willing to give up their weapons. The other method of disarming these fighters is giving them jobs in the military of Afghanistan, thus preventing them from acting in a manner that would contradict the interests of their government. Conclusion: In conclusion, the intervention of the United States in Afghanistan was aimed at protecting its own national interest. Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan at a time when the Soviets and the Americans were engaged in cold war. This was an ideological war, between communism and capitalism that was supported by the Soviet Union and the United States respectively. In order to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a communist state, the United States had to support a rival group, the Mujahedeen. This was an Islamic group that did not support the introduction of communism in Afghanistan. Furthermore, after the withdrawal of Soviet Union, Mujahedeen transformed itself into Taliban, and they became the enemies of United States because they supported violent Islamic groups such as Al-Qaeda which were a security threat to the United States. However, United States was not justified to use military force in Afghanistan, mainly because the people who suffered were innocent civilians who got killed, either by the Taliban, or even by the Americans. This made the intervention in Afghanistan unethical. References: Atwan, A. B. (2006). The secret history of al Qaeda. Berkeley: University of California Press. Baldwin, D. A. (2008). Theories of international relations. Farnham, England: Ashgate. Braithwaite, R. (2011). Afgantsy the Russians in Afghanistan, 1979-89. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Chan, S. (2006). Theories of international relations. London: SAGE Publications. Clarke, R. A. (2004). Against all enemies: inside Americas war on terror. New York: Free Press. Dominese, G. (2010). Theories of International Relations: from an American Science Towards a Pluralism of Thought. Transition Studies Review, 16(4), 813-828. Downing, D. (2009). Afghanistan. New York: Marshall Cavendish Benchmark. Feifer, G. (2009). The great gamble: the Soviet war in Afghanistan. New York: Harper. Freedman, L. (2001). The Cold War: a military history. London: Cassell. Goodson, L., & Johnson, T. H. (2011). Parallels With The Past – How The Soviets Lost In Afghanistan, How The Americans Are Losing. Orbis, 55(4), 577-599. Hershberg, J. (2003). The War In Afghanistan And The Iran-Contra Affair: Missing Links?. Cold War History, 3(3), 23-48. Hillstrom, K. (2006). The Cold War. Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics. Humphreys, A. R. (2011). The heuristic application of explanatory theories in International Relations. European Journal of International Relations, 17(2), 257-277. Jenkins, B. M. (2002). Countering al Qaeda an appreciation of the situation and suggestions for strategy. Santa Monica, Calif.: RAND. Kalinovsky, A. (2008). Old politics, new diplomacy: the Geneva accords and the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan. Cold War History, 8(3), 381-404. Kalinovsky, A. (2009). Decision-Making and the Soviet War in Afghanistan: From Intervention to Withdrawal. Journal of Cold War Studies, 11(4), 46-73. Mamdani, M. (2004). Good Muslim, bad Muslim: America, the Cold War, and the roots of terror. New York: Pantheon Books. Marsden, P. (2009). Afghanistan aid, armies and empires. London: I.B. Tauris ;. Mayer, J. (2008). The dark side: the inside story of how the war on terror turned into a war on American ideals. New York: Doubleday. Rashid, A. (2000). Taliban: militant Islam, oil, and fundamentalism in Central Asia. New Haven: Yale University Press. Tsouras, P. (2003). Cold War hot: alternative decisions of the Cold War. London: Greenhill Books :. Williams, M. C. (2013). In the beginning: The International Relations enlightenment and the ends of International Relations theory. European Journal of International Relations, 19(3), 647-665. Read More