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Afghan Whispers: Crash & Riots

Categories: Central Asia & Caucasus, Afghanistan, Disaster, Ethnicity & Race, Governance, Ideas, Protest

According to media about one week ago violent anti-foreigner protests raged across the capital Monday after a U.S. military truck crashed into traffic [1]. Let's see what Afghan bloggers have to say about this event.

What Happened & Why

Afghan Warrior shares his point of view with us [2]:

“Most Afghans complain about the aggressive driving of the US military convoys. Coalition military convoys often pass through the crowded areas at high speed and sometimes disregard traffic rules. We know such driving tactics are necessary to protect the convoys from attack but they should also remember that it's also dangerous for people and civilian cars. I hope our police should seek better ways to handle the protesters and instead of killing them with bullets they must use tear gas and other equipment to separate the protesters. This one accident will not affect anything bad in our relationship with the United States of America and our friendship will continue. The Afghan people need the presence and support of the United States in order to defeat the terrorists and make a peaceful and safer world.”

Gossip in the Air

Dialogue 3 says there is a lot of gossip in the air [3] (Persian). According to the blogger, some say American driver was drunk. The blogger explains that these people do not know that Westerners don’t drink alcohol in morning. Other people say Tajik ethnic was involved in this event to impose their will to government. Finally some say most of this event was launched by thieves to take advantage of the chaos. The blogger thinks this final thought is a more rational one. He adds it shows Afghan people have not learned how to protest and everything leads to violence.

Hungry & Furious

Faraye Niko bad says people are right. Most are hungry, jobless and do not have bread on their table. The blogger adds that Americans do not have the right to crash into Afghan vehicles and shoot people who came to help them [4] (Persian).