Last month, concurrent with the scenes of jubliant Afghans in Kabul, we were treated to the celebratory news that 'food aid was getting through' and 'targets were met' ... Now as up to one million Afghans are in danger of death in the coming weeks, according to Christian Aid, the War propaganda office is busy 'spinning like mad' so as to blame the deaths on the Taliban...

The following are two quotes from stories that appeared in the Independent today...in the second story, Christian Aid, an organization that I respect a great deal attempts to put all the spin doctoring about the upcoming disaster into context (reporting from the on the ground from NGOs is always something I have wanted to see more of on Indysites, NGOs being a kind of giant untapped press corps, after all)

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia_china/story.jsp?story=109158

1 million Afghans without food

International aid agencies are warning that more than a million destitute Afghans are beyond their reach and face death from starvation and disease. Conditions are worst not in regions still being fought over, but in areas firmly under Northern Alliance control.

"Unless the security conditions in the north and west improve quickly, we must expect large-scale population movements, suffering and many deaths in the coming weeks," said Kenzo Oshima, the United Nations' chief co-ordinator of humanitarian help ...

Nigel Fisher, Unicef's special envoy to Afghanistan, returned from Afghanistan on Monday to report joyful scenes in Kabul but also worrying developments in the north. "Three weeks ago we had international staff in Mazar," Mr Fisher said. "But they are not there any more because of the security situation."

Mazar is in the hands of Abdul Rashid Dostum, the Uzbek warlord who has rejected the peace deal signed in Germany last week. Aid convoys enter the swath of land stretching from Mazar to Kunduz at their peril ...

The World Food Programme (WFP), which uses six supply routes from neighbouring countries, fears for the estimated 2.3 million people in mountainous areas that will soon be cut off by snow ...

The organisation plans to bring in snowploughs and bulldozers to keep the passes open to its convoys for as long as possible – if local gunmen will allow. The UN agency also reports a "rising threat of ambushes from armed groups".

Outside Kabul anarchy is widespread, and despite Western governments' efforts to blame renegade Taliban fighters, much of the violence comes from the West's friends. The winners are settling scores amongst themselves ...

Ms Niland reports "dissension between different military and political groups, as well as factionalism within warring parties, lawlessness and general mayhem".

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/story.jsp?story=109166

Aid agencies condemn Campbell spin machineBy Jo Dillon, Political Correspondent09 December 2001

Alastair Campbell's international spin machine has been accused of peddling "inaccurate propaganda" about aid to Afghanistan.

Documents issued by the Coalition Information Service – passed to UK journalists by Downing Street – detail allegations against the Taliban, ahead of an expected humanitarian crisis when the winter hits the war zone. But Christian Aid and other agencies, while in no way supporting the Taliban regime, claim the spin does not reflect the situation on the ground.

* The Coalition Information Service claimed: "The Taliban have seized and looted humanitarian supplies for themselves and have harassed and beaten Afghan and international aid workers." Christian Aid said: "The idea that the Taliban are systematically ripping off aid convoys is ridiculous."

* The Coalition Information service said: "The Taliban are clearly more interested in protecting al-Qa'ida than feeding the starving innocent people of Afghanistan." Christian Aid said: "The whole military effort since 11 September is what has disrupted humanitarian relief. We have been working successfully with the Taliban for four or five years. While they didn't make things very easy we did get the job done."

* The Coalition Information Service said: "The World Food Programme met their target of 52,000 tonnes of food delivered in the month to 16 November." Christian Aid said: "Since 12 November [when the Northern Alliance seized control of large sections of Afghanistan] aid getting in has dropped back again to less than half of what they need."

Christian Aid and other agencies have made it clear that security problems in Afghanistan because of unrest and uncertainty in the post-Taliban period are making it harder to get aid in. And even after it has arrived, a lack of infrastructure and increasing lawlessness means it is not getting to the people who need it most, mainly in the mountain regions.

Christian Aid has accused the government spin machine of trying to brace people for loss of life during the brutal winter in Afghanistan without having to take any responsibility for it. "They are spinning like mad," a spokesman said. "They're desperate to create the impression that everything is the Taliban's fault so that when the winter does hit they can keep blaming them."

The Coalition Information Service was set up in three centres – London, Washington and Islamabad – to co-ordinate war information and counter claims being made by the Taliban and Osama bin Laden. Masterminded by Mr Campbell, the Prime Minister's chief press aide, critics insist that it is merely a vehicle for propaganda.

Note that you can 'right click' on the links below and choose to 'open in new window' from the pop up menu to preserve the index page, and avoid that annoying 'back button delay'

Some related links:

The treacherous nature of Afghan politics

Mark twain - the war prayer

Carpet bombing - some quotes

Wartime censorship and ignorance

BBC : Al-Jazeera Kabul offices hit in US raid ... "The channel says everybody knew where the office was, including the Americans ... The Kabul offices of the Arab satellite al-Jazeera channel have been destroyed by a US missile ... The station has been viewed with suspicion in the West for its access to the Taleban ... Al-Jazeera has a reputation for outspoken, independent reporting ... For a time it was the only media outlet with any access to Taleban-held territory and the Islamic militia itself ... "

(Note: earlier the same day we began 'celebrating' the Northern Alliance Al Jazeera, the media outlet was bombed in Afghanistan) Now that Al Jazeera is off the air we are now ready for the pure propaganda ploy of celebrating the Northern Alliance (no dissenting voices allowed please). To provide some balance to this ploy I invite you consider the testimony of the women's movement in Afghanistan, RAWA, as well as the testimony of Human Rights Watch to the terrible human rights record of the Northern Alliance, and some of the stuff they did the last time they 'liberated Kabul' ... Celebrating the Northern Alliance (hip hip hooray?) ... If it would have been up to me I would have bombed Al Jazeera last week and then celebrated the Northern Alliance this week. You know, less obvious. Unbelievable. Really ham handed propaganda ploy...hip hip hooray...

You can find links to stories on Christian Aid on my September Weblog page