- Joined
- Mar 10, 2002
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Crazy how history repeats itself. Ahmad Massoud, son of the legendary commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, who played a crucial role in repelling the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and later led the United Front, also known as the Northern Alliance, against the Taliban before being assassinated by Al Quaeda two days before 9/11, is now heading up a force from Panjshir Valley to fend off incursions from the Taliban. Surrounded by enormous mountains, Panjshir has never been conquered by the Taliban, just as it was never conquered by the Russians.
The late, elder Massoud was a pro-democracy advocate who wanted a federalist system of government in Afghanistan, where none of the ethnically distinct regions would be dominated by the others. He also pushed for the rights of women and was one of Al Quaeda's greatest foes and a man who regularly warned the US of the international danger they posed. Ahmad Massoud, the son, apparently also was advocating for a federalist system of government, but he seems less pro-American than his father, perhaps because of the apathy the US has shown towards Afghanistan. He trained at a military academy in Britain, but before this Taliban takeover, he seemed to be interested in serving his country as a politician or as an advocate for human rights. He even encouraged people to lay down arms and leave fighting to the government's security forces. Now, he's heading up a militia to defend Panjshir Valley from the encroaching Taliban.
The late, elder Massoud was a pro-democracy advocate who wanted a federalist system of government in Afghanistan, where none of the ethnically distinct regions would be dominated by the others. He also pushed for the rights of women and was one of Al Quaeda's greatest foes and a man who regularly warned the US of the international danger they posed. Ahmad Massoud, the son, apparently also was advocating for a federalist system of government, but he seems less pro-American than his father, perhaps because of the apathy the US has shown towards Afghanistan. He trained at a military academy in Britain, but before this Taliban takeover, he seemed to be interested in serving his country as a politician or as an advocate for human rights. He even encouraged people to lay down arms and leave fighting to the government's security forces. Now, he's heading up a militia to defend Panjshir Valley from the encroaching Taliban.
