Strategic bombing campaigns in the past in places such as Germany and North Vietnam have not weakened a regime but rather have united the population behind the current leadership, and this seems to be now happening in Afghanistan as well.

Bombing Alters Afghans' Views of U.S. L.A. Times

Asia: With the rising civilian deaths, a nation onceregarded as a savior is increasingly being seen as theenemy--and the Taliban as a victim.

By ALISSA J. RUBINTimes Staff Writer
November 5 2001

QUETTA, Pakistan -- Sardar Bibi Khan, a farmer from southern Afghanistan, never thoughtmuch about America other than as a place that helped his country overthrow the Russians,but one month into the U.S. bombing campaign his view has changed.

Khan, 35, said he came to Pakistan to find medical aid for a sister whose arm was shatteredwhen an American helicopter fired a missile at her house. When the rest of the family rushedoutside to seek safety, the helicopter fired on them, killing six of her seven children and herhusband, Khan said.

... when [the U.S.-led forces] are killing innocent people, we believe that whatthe Taliban was saying about America is true: They are trying to kill Muslims and finishIslam."

Khan's disillusionment with America--and a newfound sympathy for his nation's Talibanregime--is shared by a number of Afghans in what aid and human rights workers say is apalpable shift in views since the bombing began...

"There's an increased feeling that the West doesn't care about what's happening to Afghancivilians," said Peter Bouckaert, a senior researcher for Human Rights Watch.

Those sentiments were repeated in dozens of stories from recently arrived Afghans inQuetta... interviews with Afghans who have arrived in Pakistan in the lastfew days provide at least a barometer of the mood.

"But now that America is bombing, people are saying, 'We were your enemy, but now weare with you and will support you.' I was not in favor of the Taliban, but now that they arefighting to save our soil from foreign troops, I have some sympathies with them."

... Last week, the Americans bombed the electricalgrid in Kandahar, knocking out all the power, Wahab said. The Taliban managed to divertsome electricity to the city from a generating plant in another province. But the Americansbombed the dam that drove the generating plant.Now, Wahab says, "there is nothing but darkness."

... With his livelihood essentially wipedout by the bombing campaign, it is hardly surprising that he has little sympathy forAmericans.

... "Now people are angry at America because they have destroyed our houses and they areforcing us to leave and to come here in Pakistan as refugees. I brought my family, but Icouldn't bring any of my belongings. I have nothing now," Qudar said.

... "When they started the bombardment I joined the Taliban," he said."I hate America because they are non-Muslim. When I go back I will join the Taliban againand I will fight," he said.Mohammed said he was particularly upset when he saw that the U.S. had bombed the cars ofcivilians as they were driving."Did they think that Osama [bin Laden] or Mullah [Mohammed] Omar [supreme leader ofthe Taliban] was in one of them? I do not like America. They are bombing families andhitting vehicles," he said.

The animosity is a warning sign that the international alliance fighting terrorism risksdriving Afghan civilians into the arms of the Taliban, aid workers said.
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