Killing Modernity: How the US & Britain Destroyed the Afghan Left, w/ Vijay Prashad
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Published 2021-10-05
The war on Afghanistan didn’t really start in 2001. US meddling goes back to the 1970s and British meddling even further. Most people don’t know that there have been liberal, secular nationalist and communist Afghan forces who tried to transform their country but were prevented from doing so by Western imperial powers who supported religious and tribal conservatives to maintain control.
To make sense of it all and to uncover some of this buried history, Rania Khalek was joined by Vijay Prashad, Executive Director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research and author of the book "Washington Bullets: A History of the CIA, Coups, and Assassinations.”
You can listen to every episode of Rania Khalek Dispatches anywhere you get podcasts.
Spotify: spoti.fi/3za9DRK
Apple: apple.co/3zeYpeW
TIME CODES
0:00 Intro
1:22 100 years of Western meddling in Afghanistan
7:10 When the CIA’s Mujahideen killed Afghan teachers to undermine communism
9:03 Why was mass literacy in Afghanistan such a threat?
11:25 Why so much opposition to liberalism and leftism in Afghanistan?
12:58 History of close ties between the Soviets and Afghanistan
16:07 The rise and fall of Afghan communism
20:50 Why & how did the Soviets intervene in Afghanistan?
26:01 How did the international left react to the CIA’s intervention in Afghanistan?
31:42 Would there have been a 9/11 without the US backing the mujahideen?
39:23 Taliban rule was NOT inevitable
46:59 Why did the US withdraw from Afghanistan now?
52:57 What should the left’s position on Afghanistan be today?
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All Comments (21)
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The same happened to my beautiful country of Yugoslavia that was destroyed by America more than three decades... provoked war between left ruins and nestled hatred between people who lived in harmony and respect... until today they’ve been living in unseen poverty and unrest... that’s America, hope God is watching...
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I am a living witness of all this drama. My father was working for president Daud at the time. I was 11 years old when the trouble started and now a 55 years old man, but never saw peace again in Afghanistan and I lived my life as a refugee from the age of 14 till now.
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This is exactly what happened to Éthiopia who just got its democratic transition in 1974 which the USA, UK, and Israel destroyed it.
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Vijay is such a treasure. I could hear him for hours on end and never get tired
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What a gem Vijay Prashad is. Brilliant! I could listen to him all day.
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This video gonna be a epic, hope U get more of vijay in future
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What a great illuminating interview! Vijay Prashad is so knowledgeable and easy to listen to. Thank you so 🔥
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Seriously, Prashad's knowledge and memory of history and context is really incredible.
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The US,Saudis & others who meddle in Afghanistan know If the mass of the Afghan is educated , no one will stop them in their fight against any injustice in the world. That is why they want to keep them uneducated ,poor, divided & fight each other.
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Such an important episode. Wouldn't that be great if this were on Mainstream Media at Prime Time? Pipe dream, I know. Thank you to Rania and Vijay.
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I traveled through Afghanistan 1976 and it Was a Beautiful country and they had very good Food.
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You nailed the issues back in my home country Afghanistan. You both deserve good respect from me and millions of Afghan origins who support liberalism and ordinary ones. Vijay's knowledge extra ordinary about the topics.
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I've only become aware of Vijay this year... This guy is a powerhouse of knowledge.
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Great Host, great Guest! Learned a lot. thx!
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Vijay really has an elephant memory, brilliant n massive, can remember sooo many facts n all at his fingertips. Incredible, respect
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Watching this as I'm writing this, your guests in depth knowledge of Afghanistans political history is incredible. Some of what he shared was actually eye opening especially the part in which explained how involved Pakistan, the Saudi and the US were in the creation of the Mudjaheddin and the subsequent Taliban of today. What Was extremely shocking was the revelation about the killing of literacy workers just so that Afghanistans Evolution would be hampered. Imagine Afghanistan today if that never happened?? Anyway, on a side note does Rania not have the prettiest brown eyes the Left has to offer?? 😉
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This should be school textbook knowledge for everyone
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Thank you, Rania. Vijay is a delight to listen to. Is there a good book- (not an anti-revolution hatchet job)- about the Iranian 1979 revolution?
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Vijay giving context to the whole 20th century in Afghanistan. I've read a bit on this history + found it fascinating + frustrating. Vijay adds so much more color.
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Thank you so much Rania for another outstanding video. This one, in particular and featuring Vijay is priceless! I always learn a lot watching BreakThrough News and am forever grateful.
