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“Collateral Damage and the
Uncertainty of Afghanistan”
Photos and article by Linda Panetta
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photos from Afghanistan.
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The following should be seen as an overview of
the recent history of A
fghanistan as well as a
reflection of my all too short visit there. We started out for
Afghanistan the afternoon of June 14. Three days later we were
finally landing in Kabul, the capitol of Afghanistan. As I gazed
down 
from the window of the rattling
airplane, I was amazed to see how the desert sands seemingly
silted the roof tops of the buildings and homes below.
Approaching the landing strip one could see the twisted metal of
what appeared to be a helicopter, while the remnants of destroyed
airplanes littered the grassy median - abrupt reminders of the
ongoing warfare that has plagued this purged region of the world.
Early into my visit a young girl approached me
and with a smile from ear to ear, she rather persuasively told me
that I should give her my notebook. Her smile alone was worth ten
thousand notebooks-without a second
thought I
conceded it to her. Her younger brother, Ehsanullah Nasrullah,
who is eight, also thoroughly enjoyed attending school. In fact,
he excelled so well that he was many grades ahead of the other
children his age.
One m
orning Nasrullah and his
cousin, Nabile, were running late for class. As they scurried to
school, Nabile’s attention was drawn to a small yellow
canister. Thinking it was one of the yellow cans of
biscuits/rations that the US had dropped, he picked it up.
Without warning the can began to smoke. Unaware of its deadly
contents, Nabile threw it into the air-in the direction of
Nasrullah. The canister detonated, sending shrapnel in all
directions, tearing flesh from the bodies of the two young boys.
Nasrullah’s wounds were nearly fatal; so severe, in fact,
that doctors wanted to amputate his two legs as well as an arm.
Thankfully, a German soldier was able to arrange to have him
flown to Germany for special treatment and surgery. Eight months
later, Nasrullah returned home to his family. His legs and arm
were retained, but the physical struggles remained persistent as
even walking is, at times, painful.
When asked what his life was like before the
explosion, he promptly andassertively responded
“Perfect!” But all has changed for
Nasrullah and his family. They struggle to pay the
exorbitant cost of his ongoing care. The trauma runs deep for
everyone involved, especially his father. He grieves terribly
knowing that, despite all his efforts, they are inadequate to
meet his sons vital needs. Nasrullah can never again be the
animated child he once was. In fact, even the laughter of other
children is debilitating. He describes the pain comparable to
loud bells ringing in his head. With some scars
visible on his face, it seemed plausible that the pain is due in
part to the shrapnel from the bomblet, but one glance into the
eyes of this inspiring little boy and his mental afflictions are
clearly dramatized. When asked what he wants to be when he grows
up, his face lights up as he responds: “The President!”
He continues to explain “... so I can bring peace and
happiness to my country.”
Afghanistan is a country
littered with landmines and other
antipersonnel
devices.The bomblet that wounded Nasrullah was from a cluster
bomb dropped by the United States. Each bomb contains 202 deadly
bomblets, each fracturing into about 300 steel, body-piecing and
tank-penetrating, fragments. A single bomb can penetrate and
immobilize a tank. With ballistic speed, they have the capability
of affecting a 250 by 400 meter region, and individual bomblets
can cover an area roughly the size of a football field. Reports
by the United Nations and Human Rights Watch put the number of
cluster bombs 
used in US air strikes as high as 1,150
and 3,744, respectively, equating to potentially more than
750,000 anti-tank/airplane and antipersonnel bomblets. As part of
its sinister design, anywhere from 10%-20% of the bomblets will
not detonate, they haphazardly fall to the ground as sleeping
predators. Tens of thousands of these lethal weapons litter the
country lying patiently for their victims to revive them; they
are activated simply by touch or vibration (cattle grazing, or a
vehicle driving by). The indiscriminate targets are often curious
children who mistaken them for a bright yellow toy, or desperate
adults looking to feed their family. Over 280 of the 333
districts in Afghanistan do not have medical facilities. And with
one doctor per 50,000 persons, the likelihood that a victim will
survive is slim at best. 
But amidst the despair, there is hope. One of
the most inspirational facilities we visited was a rehabilitation
hospital in Kabul run by the International Red Cross.. All those
employed are individuals with some sort of physical handicap. The
vast majority of the staff and patients are amputees, some double
amputees. As we walked through the facility we passed by several
patients who, one by one they would, almost methodically, lift up
their pant leg to show us their prosthetic, or they would remove
their 
prosthetic to show us their limb.
And although this was generally followed by a handshake, or an
arm-shake for those without hands, it was always followed by what
I perceived to be a look of gratitude. Ironically, many of them
knew that we (being from the US) were in part responsible for
their terrible plight, but there was no visible hatred nor
condemnation. We felt welcomed. And although there was little we
had to offer, the gift we were able to give was our presence; it
was simply the gift of our time, and our ability to look into
their eyes and affirm their courage. For when you are in the
company of these amazing people, young and old, your attention is
not drawn to their handicap; rather, it is to the 
determination on their faces, the gracefulness in
their stride, and to their incredible craftsmanship. With
meticulous precision they carve out prosthetics, shoes, braces,
crutches, and piece together wheelchairs using both newly issued
supplies and recycled scraps. In all, the hospital has
manufactured over 10,000 prosthetics from recycled plastics. The
knowledge, compassion, and enthusiasm of the 
therapists, nurses and doctors is profound and quite
contagious.
The hospital workers fill an endless need in a
country where landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) seem as
prevalent to the landscape as the war-torn, tattered
ruins--Mosques, schools, hospitals and scorched orchards. First
extensively laid by Soviet forces, and later by the Mujahidin,
Northern Alliance and the Taliban throughout the 1990's, these
antipersonnel weapons take the lives of, on average, 200-300
people per month, and have devastated crops and herds.
(The photo to the right is a landmine being
detonated. For size perspective, a tank is situated next to the
red flag at the base of the explosion).
Although an individual landmine can be purchased for
$3.00, the cost to safely extract one can run as high as $3,000.
Mines are often wired together in an intricate web, making
deactivation very difficult and extremely dangerous.
Additionally, new developments in mine technology have produced:
plastic mines, which are undetectable by metal detectors used by
de-miners; and “anti-handlin” devices which activate
when an attempt is made to tamper with or deactivate the mine.
We also had the opportunity to meet with the
Hazardous Area Life Support Organization (HALO Trust), one of the
leading de-mining organizations in Afghanistan and worldwide. We
watched as they detonated their 1 millionth landmine-of which
870,000 were from Afghanistan. It is estimated that roughly 5% of
the landmines in Afghanistan have been cleared. Although this
number is seemingly small, it represents a significant effort and
dedication by countless individuals (paid less than $5/day) who
risk their lives to eradicate these deadly apparatuses.
Stones, painted red on one
side to illustrate a potential landmine field, and the other
white-representing 
a “safe area,”
delineate regions where the teams have surveyed. Since 2000, HALO
has cleared over 4 million square meters of mine contaminated
area and over 60 million square meters of former battle area
contaminated by UXO. Despite these ongoing efforts, hundreds of
thousands of returning refugees, nomadic clans, and internally
displaced families--equating to nearly one-third of the
population (of 16 million)--remain daily targets. Dependence on
mobility and the richness of the land for sustenance is integral
to their existence. It is also what makes mines and UXO such an
effective killer-- targeting 
anyone and
anything that crosses its path, for years on end.
Afghanistan has a long and complicated history.
To begin with recent history, the Soviet 
Union airlifted thousands of troops into Kabul on
December 24, 1979. During their 10 year occupation of the
country, more than 1 million Afghans were killed, mostly by
aerial bombardments. The U.S. had little overall interests in
Afghanistan until the Soviets moved into the region. For their
part, the CIA organized and trained many of the Mujahidin (or
jihad) as opposition fighters. Ultimately, under the 1988 Geneva
Accords, the Soviets agreed to remove all troops by February,
1989. Once the Soviets withdrew, US interests also dwindled.
Rather than helping with reconstruction, the US handed over the
interests of the country to its allies: Saudi 
Arabia and Pakistan.
With the blessing of the US, Pakistan quickly
took advantage of an awesome opportunity and forged relations
with warlords and later the Taliban to secure trade interests and
routes. From clear-cutting logging practices, 
which has destroyed all but 2% of forest cover
country-wide, to massive uprooting of wild pistachio trees for
the exportation of their roots for medicinal uses, to opium
cultivation, the past ten years have wrought irreparable
ecological and agrarian devastation. The US is now icing over the
denudation by bombarding the country--the remaining forests--with
massive assaults of artillery. Although depleted uranium has been
used less in Afghanistan than in Kosovo, conventional weapons are
littering the country with 
toxins such as
the carcinogen, cyclonite.
Immediately following the Soviet retreat,
tremendous infighting erupted as leaders of
the CIA-trained Mujahidin vied for power and
ultimately became embattled “warlords.” With
substantial Soviet assistance, the communist government was able
to maintain power as the civil war of the Mujahidin continued.
Then in early 1992, a coalition of forces, called the Northern
Alliance, united against the remaining communist parties. They
elected Tajik leader, Burhanuddin Rabbani, as the President of
Afghanistan, with Ahmad Shah Massoud as his Defense Minister.
Excluded from this coalition was the CIA’s number one
operative and 
Pakistani protege, Gulbuddin Hikmatyar.
That same year Hikmatyar launched a massive 
and indiscriminate assault on Kabul which lasted
until his expulsion in 1995. Thousands were killed; in 1994
alone, 25,000--mostly civilians--were killed in Kabul. The
bombardments caused immense structural destruction, essentially
reducing one-third of Kabul to ruins.
The oppression and mass killings were so great,
we were told, that the people welcomed the Taliban. The Taliban
(meaning “student”) were largely comprised of Islamic
students and former Mujahidin who were disillusioned with the
chaos that had besieged the country. They were organized under
the leadership of Mullah Mohammad Omar, also a former Mujahidin
from the Qandahar province. They initially built support and
alliances with the stated aim of restoring stability; though they
also 
instated their own fundamentalist interpretation of
Islamic law. Successfully attacking and overpowering local
warlords, the Taliban were able to take control of Kabul by 1996.
The defeated Massoud fled to the North and looked to his former
opponents, Russia and Iran for assistance. Wi
th their support, Massoud reconstituted the Northern
Alliance into a Taliban opposition force.
Early on, the US government supported the
Taliban. They maintained their ties, in part, through the US oil
company, UNOCAL. It wasn’t until women’s rights groups
in the US began to lobby on behalf of the rights of Afghan women
did the US back off from their public support of the Taliban. By
1998, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia gave the Taliban recognition as
the official government of Afghanistan. That support would be
short-lived as the Saudi born dissident, Osama bin Laden and
other prominent Taliban leaders, were held responsible for the
bombings of the US embassies in Nairobi and Dar es-Salaam.
For the people of Afghanistan it soon became
evident that every aspect of life, for the vast majority of the 
population, was going to plummet even further.
Religious icons and temples were destroyed, and most other basic
freedoms, sports and entertainment were withdrawn under the
Taliban. Human rights, especially the rights of women, were
minimally disregarded and mostly discarded. Education and medical
treatment for women was mostly performed clandestinely, and most
professionals, including female doctors, were basically
outlawed.There are more
than 60,000 widows in Kabul
who are the sole providers for their family. Yet, it was common
practice for women to be publically tortured, stoned or raped
simply for walking in the streets, even to seek medical care for
their children, if unattended by a male relative; though even
this did not always provide them safe passage.
Clearly, one would easily equate the Taliban as
a terrorist organization. Their infamous history and deplorable
human rights record stands on their own merits. But,
additionally, the US government knew that the Taliban were
mounting a “jihad” (holy war) against the United
States, seen as the devil incarnate. Furthermore, the US knew
their capabilities since many within the Taliban
leadership--former Mujahidin--were trained by CIA special forces.
Yet despite this knowledge, despite the ongoing
opposition by Women’s groups in the west, the U.S.
government justified giving this despotic regime $43 million US
taxpayer dollars to purportedly “fight the war on
drugs.” Ironically and sadly, this money was given to the
Taliban just months prior to the September 11 attacks.
Did limited eradication of opium crops occur?
Yes. Yet so did the stockpiling of poppies. In fact, it was
reported that the street price of heroin and opium significantly
declined because of the surplus. Under the Taliban, drug use is
strictly 
prohibited. But all the better for it to
be used to destroy “nonbelievers” in the United States.
Furthermore, the question remains, how much of the $43 million
was used to wage the attacks on September 11? One can only
speculate.
Along on our delegation were family members of
victims of the 9/11 attacks. Myrna Bethke’s brother worked
in the World Trade Center and Kristina Olsen’s sister was on
American Airlines Flight 11. They are members of the group
“Peaceful Tomorrows,” which seeks peaceful resolutions
to conflict and terrorism. Together our group met with survivors
of the US 
bombings raids, some of whom had lost as
many as 16 family members. 
“Collateral damage, the follies of war...
the war on terrorism.” Neither apologies, regrets, nor
excuses can console 8-year old Amena. Amena was pulled from the
rubble of her home following a US attack. Not so fortunate were
her sisters, brothers, aunt, uncle, cousins and her mother who
all died. The body of her mother was not immediately
identifiable. In fact, Amena could only identify the torn and
twisted remains of her mother by the tattered dress that covered
the remaining fragments of her body. Many of those wounded and
killed in the assault died because they responded to the cries of
their family members and friends following the initial US
bombardment. But the attack was not over. As the villagers
attempted to pull the bodies from the rubble, the US warplane
doubled back to
capitalize on the opportunity to create
greater carnage. Were these misguided bombings a result of a US
strike that went terribly awry, or was it misleading information
provided by a regional warlord out for revenge? Regardless, the
nearest Taliban forces were 10 km away.
Kabul is currently the only city in Afghanistan
which has maintained peacekeeping forces. As a result of the
added security, there is an sense of liberation in the eyes of th
e people. And as you walk the streets and interview
people, there seems to be some hope that peace can eventually be
realized. From the rubble homes are being rebuilt, stores are
reopening, and Mosques are being restored, despite the trickling
in of promised US aid.
Security and stability is quite fleeting
though, and is especially complicated by US forged relations with
many despotic warlords; some of whom the US swindled into the
Loya Jirga (meaning: Grand Council). They were provided seats in
the council, despite the fact that their had been consensus by
the Afghan leadership against their involvement. An obvious
intimidation factor, many of those brought in were the same
militants who wrecked havoc 
on civilians
prior to and during Taliban control. The imposition of the US on
this and other crucial decisions was certainly a contentious
issue. It not only served to divert discussion on many critical
issues, but it nearly resulted in the collapse of the Loya Jirga.
Originally created to bring tribal leaders together to draft a
constitution that would provide a more representational
government, the end result of this year’s assembly was
primarily limited to selecting a president. In the end, the
acting leader of 
Afghanistan, and American
ally, Hamid Karzai, was affirmed the interim president.
Unfortunately by the conclusion of the Loya Jirga, despite
Karzai’s appointment and as a result of the intense venting
and verbal infighting that transpired, some left feeling
frustrated. Others, however, felt empowered and 
embraced a sense of responsibility to bring about
peace, greater equality, and reconstruction to their beloved
country.
United Nations officials, the Karzai
administration, aid groups and a growing number of bipartisan
lawmakers in Congress have urged the United States to help expand
international peacekeeping operations throughout Afghanistan.
Despite the assassination of the Karzai’s Vice President
days after the conclusion of the Loya Jirga, the Bush
administration says that an expansion of “peacekeeping”
would be unlikely. This, despite the fact that large-scale
reconstruction programs, that include (and may 
be dependent upon) the support of peacekeeping
forces, would give jobs to those who might otherwise 
become allied with the Taliban for support. The Bush
administration needs to develop a new agenda for Afghanistan.
Pumping billions of dollars into the hands of arms-producing US
corporations will prove to be a failed and impotent attempt at
eradicating a ubiquitous “enemy.” “Bombs
away!” ...all in the name of “democracy!” After
all, isn’t this the American way?
Four days after I arrived in Afghanistan an
errant missile blasted through the door of a home about 100 yards
from where we were staying. Most of us brushed off the blast
thinking we had heard a garage door slamming. It wasn’t
until morning that we learned what in fact had happened.
Fortunately, no one was injured. But it served as a reminder of
the constant threat that the people of Afghanistan endure on a
daily basis. Luckily the incident did not deter President
Karzai’s Chief of Staff, Said Tayeb Jawad, from visiting us
the following evening.
When we met with Jawad he asked that we give a
brief introduction of ourselves. I jokingly stated that I was
with the State Department 
and followed with a question
concerning the warlords. Jawad responded: I knew that you
weren’t with the State 
Department
because rather than using the term “warlord” you would
have said “regional commander.” As with the renaming of
the School of the Americas, and so many other examples, the US is
attempting to assuage the fears of those who have been tortured,
abused and exploited by violent and despotic men simply by
changing their title. The whitewashing will not wipe away the
pain, bring back the dead, nor garner the support that the US is
desperately seeking. Our efforts must be a continual reminder to
the government that their attempts to sweep injustice and
impunity under the rug will not be tolerated.
I felt that Jawad, an amicable man, truly takes
the interests of his country to heart. Though, as with many
politicians, his ignorance was exemplified by his statements
concerning the plight of the poor. As for myself, and for anyone
who visits Afghanistan, I am sure that Jawad’s heart is
plagued by: the ongoing US aerial assaults which continue to add
to the enormous rubble already vexing the country; seeing the
remnants of 5 years of some of the country’s most intense
drought epidemic; and realizing Afghanistan’s 
consistent placement on the bottom of most economic,
social and political statistical scales--but there is hope. And
that hope begins in part with the politicians, in part with the
drastically modified role that the US government (hopefully) 
adopts, and most of all it resides within us all.
Each and every individual not only has the opportunity, but we
all have the obligation to reach out to the Afghan victims of
US-issued terrorism.
The attacks of September 11 will be etched in
our hearts and minds for as long as we are alive. And although,
for many, the emotional pain endures, the actual attacks ended on
9/11. In retaliation, in an attempt to eliminate a massive and
ubiquitous enemy, we - the US - have continually, for nearly one
year, battered the people of Afghanistan with ballistic missiles
and bombs. Each of the thousands of aerial assaults raining down
on unsuspecting Afghan civilians are a “9/11" in the
eyes of the survivors, the victims. For as we know, not only have
the Al Qaeda militants been targeted, but the targets have
included wedding parties, clans of tribal leaders, de-mining
camps, relief agencies, social workers, educators, mothers,
fathers, children, infants. And the suffering, maiming, killing
continues. Their pain, sorrow and loss is magnified daily by the
terror endured within violent and overcrowded refugee camps, by
their hunger, their mental anguish, and their inability to gain
access to basic medical care, or even basic hygiene.
In some cultures, individuals believe that a
photo has the potential of snatching away or holding captive
their soul. As I undertake the arduous task of organizing the
hundreds of photos I took in order to circulate them to others, I
realized that the photos have, in fact, thoroughly captivated my
heart and soul. In their smiles and smirks, and with their tears
and laughter is both the uniqueness and similarity of us all.
Although the depth of their suffering is immense, so too is their
hope that tomorrow will be a better day than yesterday, that the
family members they have just buried will be the last victims of
terrorism, and that their loved ones still living will no longer
have to go to bed hungry, fearful, or forced to endure
immeasurable pain.
The victims are countless. Through meetings
with Islamic Relief director, Sakandar Ali, it was made clear
that the hundreds of thousands of internally displaced, along
with much of the current refugee crisis, are a direct result of
the US bombing raids following 9/11. Afghanistan already suffers
from immense poverty and famine as 70% of the population is
malnourished, nearly 80% has no access to potable water, one in 4
children will die by the age of five, and in Kabul alone, there
are over 37,000 street children.
Decades of war and genocide
have ravaged the psycho-social functioning of Afghan society and
culture. In addition, Afghan women have been systematically
bludgeoned physically and mentally. All attempts have been made
to make them voiceless, non-beings cloaked not only by a burka,
but in nearly every aspect of life. Ninety-seven percent of women
surveyed in a 2001 UN study showed signs of depression, while 85%
suffered from significant anxiety. To date there is only 8
psychiatrists in the entire country. 
We visited one of only 2 mental health
hospitals that exist in Afghanistan. We met with hundreds of
women, children and men who shared their stories with us. Many
were victims of US assaults and were also part of a
victims-compensation program organized by Global Exchange (GX).
The grief of the women was overwhelming, as were the stories they
shared with us. It had been months since Orpha had seen her
husband. He had been working in Pakistan raising money for his
family. He arrived home just four days before the US planes
attacked his village, leveling their home. He along with five of
their children were killed. It was stated to
us that the majority of the people outside of Kabul
have no idea who is bombing them. Without access to radio or TV
most are unaware that the assaults are US-led. Others, such as
Orpha’s family in Pakistan had a different view. Live TV
broadcasts offered gruesome details of the US onslaughts. Sadly,
some of Orpha’s family members in Pakistan watched in horror
as they realized that the bombings were targeting her village. As
a result, two of her nephews, practically children themselves,
traveled from Pakistan to help her rebuild a home and to offer 
support for Orpha and her remaining four children.
Despite six months which have passed since her husband and
children were killed, she still collapses in overwhelming anguish
as she mourns for them. Unable to relinquish the trauma and the
grief, she cradles her surviving children who also grieve that
they are powerless to comfort their loving mother.
“It is God’s will,” Orpha
declares. “I do not want revenge, I do not hate
Americans...” Her humble request is simply for a financial
recompense to help sustain the 
basic needs of
her family. The alternative for her, like so many other widows,
is begging on the streets. An editorial from the Washington Post
(July 6, 2002) 
stated that “If American forces
prove to be responsible for the deaths of innocent people,
compensation should be paid and U.S. commanders should give a
public accounting of how and why such a tragedy occurred.”
GX and other aid agencies estimate that an average of $10,000 per
family would be sufficient compensation. Given the number of
civilian deaths that have been reported, the Boston Globe cites
that a fund of roughly $20 million for this year--approximately
the incremental US cost of a day's fighting--would cover the
expenditures.
By the end of my visit to Afghanistan, I
realized that the silted rooftops that I thought I was seeing
from the airplane as we approached Kabul, were not rooftops at
all. What I was in fact observing was merely the foundations of
former dwelling which had been laid to ruin. The country is
clearly one of extensive ruins. But time and time again I was
inspired by the hope and resilience of this ancient society. Just
as the US government has a responsibility to the victims of 9/11,
they too must take responsibility for the Afghan victims of 10/7,
11/9, 12/3, 12/9, 2/13, 3/16, 4/8, 6/25... The Afghan people must
not be viewed as non-beings, as faceless casualties of war. The
US may choose to silt over the destruction, in hope that the
desert will creep up and blanket the devastation. But as the
remnants/foundations still remain from wars past and present,
they leave a breeding ground from which out of the rubble, terror
and poverty--revenge and hate emerge to cultivate new terrorists
(which in turn serves to cultivate our fears, perpetuate our
hatred and thus acts as a convenient diversion for the US
government). 
Who are the targets / the enemy? As we have
seen through ongoing conflicts worldwide, it is one that can
never 
be contained, and possibly never
subdued; but perhaps that is to our government’s advantage,
rather than being its nemesis as they would like us to believe.
The impetus of this war was apparently to avenge the 9/11
attacks, but what are the current motives and gains? Clearly the
Bush administration, along with weapons manufacturers, have
greatly capitalized on this new “boogie man.” From out
of the closet, where laid to rest was “communism,” is
the “war on terrorism.” But more than simply getting
spooked, thousands upon thousands are being displaced, maimed,
raped, exploited and killed. Will the US wage another hit and run
as they have done in the past in Afghanistan, or will they take
responsibility for their actions and lay the foundation for the
seeds of peace to be planted and nurtured? Ultimately, it seems,
the answer lies with the motives.
Photos by Linda Panetta
For permisson to reproduce photos call: 215/473-2162
To take part in a delegation or to learn more about
Afghanistan, contact:
Global Exchange: 2017 Mission St., #303, San
Francisco, CA 94110. (415) 255-7296 or 1-800-497-1994 or visit: www.globalexchange.org
Resources by Global Exchange include: Afghanistan. An
Introductory Reader in History, Culture and Politics. Meet the
People, Learn the Facts, Make a Difference. Compiled by
Farhad Azad and Nilufar Shuja.
Sources referenced / for additional information:
Ahmed Ghosh, Huma. "Feminist Perspective: September 11th
and Afghan Women." January - December, 2001, www.afghanmagazine.com
Atta, Khaldea. "Drought Exigency to Add to List of
Problems for Afghanistan," January - December, 2001, www.afghanmagazine.com
Azad, Farhad. "The Game for Afghanistan," www.afghanmagazine.com
Central Asia Crisis Unit. "WHO Special Report."
November, 6, 2001. hiebergirardetl@who.int
Hekmatullah Sadat, Mir. "Landmines: Reaping What You
Sow," January - March, 2000. www.afghanmagazine.com
Human Rights Watch. "Background of Afghanistan: History
of the War," www.hrw.org
___________. "Cluster bombs," October, 2001
Pierce, Fred. "Afghanistan Faces An Environmental
Crisis," New Scientist. January, 2000.
Saba, Daud. "Afghanistan's Natural Heritage: Problems and
Perspectives," January - December, 2001, www.afghanmagazine.com
Shorish-Shamley, Ph.D., Zieba. "The Plight of Women and
Health Care in Afghanistan," www.afghan-web.com
Optical Realities Home Page
SOA Watch/NE
