AFGHANISTAN

Alone, Afraid, In the Company of Men Dreaming of Death

By Sami Yousafzai | NEWSWEEK
Dec. 31, 2007-Jan. 7, 2008 issue

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  • Posted By: pudussary @ 01/03/2008 8:46:31 AM

    Dear Human Beings, just think for a second! Will you be able to do that? Will you be able to make your mind to be a suicide bomber? NO right?
    Then, if you cant become a suicide bomber, then think how these people are made? Hope they also have blood flowing in their arteries, but not water! Then why they opt this part? Poverty? Hatered? friends, but dont you think we have contibuted to POVERTY and HATERED? This is the time to reform, save life! save people..and humanity!

    • Posted By: Pezeshk @ 01/05/2008 3:35:15 PM

      Dear Pudussary, thank you for comment. Can I know what is your job or field of study? Where are you from?

      • Posted By: pudussary @ 04/03/2008 9:55:24 AM

        Abu Dhabi, UAE. can be reached "pudussary@gmail.com", by profession is a recruiter/human resource; studied Masters in Philosophy, & Masters in Management.

  • Posted By: Al Mumin @ 12/29/2007 5:43:23 PM

    I think that the artical was very informative. And I think Sami did a good job in writing every descriptive detail and keeping the reader in empathy and on the same page as the reporter. Ohhh yeah to those that felt disgusted by what the reporter wrote or how he reacted. It's easy to say you would play super cop or Marine hero from the comfort of your home as you shovel McDonalds in your mouth or sip your Starbucks. But in real life verses your surreal daydreams and week late reactions you would of probely screamed and passed out or had a bowel movement all over yourself because officer with the AK47 and the looks the the other armed men would of made you feel, just by consciencious behavior that you could of easily been that target. So while your discussing this artical with your co-workers, kinship or next to kin. Rember this you wasn't there Sami was (without arms), while you was daydreaming and listening to Bush, believing the drunking nonsense that comes out of his mouth. That reporter searched for the truth something your too blind to do. Or never could do because that would take to much time out of your meaningless schedule.

    Sami Y. I thought the artical was beautiful descriptive and very well wrote. I felt your emotion and saw the things that you seen by your writing. Keep up the good work.

    Okay to the critic's answer these questions.

    1. If we are not there to liberate Afganistain because if we was we would have left by now , why are we really there?

    2. How come with all the so- called War on Terrorism these wars take place in fuel rich countries?

    3. Why are we fighting anybody other than Saudi Arabia. ( The men the flew the planes into WTC were Saudis.)

    4 . Why are we in Iraq if Saddam didn't have WMD's and why do we only sanction, fight, dictate, rob and police Muslim countries ?
    Please answer.


    • Posted By: crymeariver @ 12/30/2007 6:51:24 PM

      First the article is garbage. The issue I have is this Mr. Al Mumin, you mention super cop and mario and that basically that we would do nothing in that situation. Your statement is just another example of why after twelve years in the armed forces that I left. I have been shot at in war, I have faced extremists. Have you? I put my life on the line everyday for twelve years so people like you and several others can sit back and have the freedoms that you do. I went where my country told me to go, and did what was expected of me. I joined under my own volition and do not regret my choice until to many people started making comments such as yours. I wish you could experience what I have gone through such as pulling a friend out who was dying. Having to look into a friends eyes as he dies defending what we believe in. For you to wrtie such crap it is a slap in the face to every soldier who has ever served. Again I would like to say thank you for your idiotic response and lack of belief in our country. If you do not like what the president is doing then leave. Responses like yours make it seem that the twelve years that I served was a waste of time .

      • Posted By: Al Mumin @ 01/15/2008 6:46:30 AM

        You did waste your time fighting for the hypocracy that you don't believe in here in America. See your political belief, is that this war that your soliders are fighting right know in Iraq is a heroic war, based on liberation and democracy. But thats wrong!! I a war based on capitalization and globalization, a fight to control a third of the East petrolium. Also Its a corporate war in the guise of liberty. See I respect some of the wars that my family died in because that was not a war of this kind. (Civil War, War I, War II etc.) They were liberating wars that mean't freedom and democracy that had to take place. But this police action is garbage. See living in America theres a war everyday, a war on race, religion, sex and drugs. And each of these wars have there govermental and non governmental terrorisim and terrorist. So how come the war on terrorism didn't start in America first? ( Why isn't the World Church, Nazi Party, Klu Klux Klan, and the FBI, not seen as terrorist organizations?) It must be that this is acceptable terrorism, maybe because their anglosaxon Pauline-Christain literalist belifes, real terrorist are ethnicly from the East and Muslims right, Crymeariver? I doubt that you fought at all crymeariver, I believe that you picked me out because of my name. But I also think that your beliefe in what your so called service in the military mean't to you is not the same thing you believe in. See I have a freedom of expression and speech to say and whats on my mind here in America these rights are part of my civil liberities but you said it makes you feel like it was a waste of your time, reading my response?! So this tells me that you really don't believe in the liberty that you say you support. Thank you for supporting my last paragraph when I said that Americans today don't believe in anything because you don't even know what you served for. And really proved my point. I bet you think all Muslims are of Arabic and Indian decent, don't you?

        I see people die everyday here in Amercia, for non-sense, out the lack of beliefe in the Goodness of AllahSWT. And I have seen people die in my face just from walking to the store. And didn't have to go to the military to do it. Just living here in Amercia the land of do what I say not what I do. And I will continue to slap the face of the soliders that go to Afghanistan, Nigeria, Somolia, Iraq, Pakistan and those that want to help the Zionist ( self ordained Jews) and that want to kill Palestinians, and Iranis.

        Don't get angery at me because I live, eat , sleep my faith, everyday instead of waiting to become holy on Sunday and a devil on Monday. I'm not a Amercian Muslim, I'm a Muslim American. Muslim 1st, American 2nd.

    • Posted By: crymeariver @ 12/30/2007 3:56:38 PM

      1. If we are not there to liberate Afganistain because if we was we would have left by now, why are we really there? We will always maintain a presence there .Think of WWII, we still have bases in Japan and Germany and in other countries. In case you have not read the news lately, the Taliban have regrouped, so to say we would just leave is laughable at best.

      2. How come with all the so- called War on Terrorism these wars take place in fuel rich countries? Have you forgotten 9/11? Osama bin Laden, was the start. We went after him. You should also read on the major producers and suppliers of oil and who has control over most of it. It would be in our best interests considering we are so dependent on fossil fuels don???t you think? And please do not tell me you bike pedal to work everyday, and you don???t warm your house when it gets cold and that you use a huge cloth bag to carry your groceries??? etc.

      3. Why are we fighting anybody other than Saudi Arabia. ( The men the flew the planes into WTC were Saudis.) Bin Laden was also Saudi was he not? But Saudi Arabia did not want him or his wild beliefs so where did he go? And where are we fighting? Last I checked Saudi???s don???t want him either, so friends to me.

      4 . Why are we in Iraq if Saddam didn't have WMD's and why do we only sanction, fight, dictate, rob and police Muslim countries ? You might want to check your sources again; we have done the same to other countries for example, Vietnam and Korea. I understand that you are upset with our government and while I don???t pretend to believe everything that is fed to me,( I am not a mushroom)You have to look at the entire picture. Saddam did have WMDs he just put the UN on hold for (7 plus years) so long in order to get rid of them or sell them to your local neighborhood terrorist. To say he never had them is a fallacy, To say he was never a threat to us, again, a deadly mistake, to pretend Binny boy doesn???t wants America for himself, forget it. Apparently, you have not fought there or had family who has, or you would not be so obtuse and condescending. Please read about US history and for the sake of those who will be reading any more of your posts use the Spell check next time

  • Posted By: Frar @ 01/05/2008 9:57:44 AM

    This is NOT the photo which accompanied my print copy of the Dec. 31, 2007/Jan. 7, 2008 magazine. The photo in my print copy, entitled "Collateral Damage", by Balazs Gardi should win the photo journalism of the year award, but for which year?

  • Posted By: Grim_Reaper_24 @ 01/04/2008 2:22:07 PM

    This is the most fictitous story I have ever read. FIrst, this call was staged. They were just trying to get the point across about how quick and undying the response is to them getting the call to go ahead with their mission. Whatever. If there are any suicide bombers out there I would like to personally thank you for your sacrafice...one let terrorist to worry about. You know how many of you idiots try and fail. You are doing a great job winning the backing of the civilians you take out. All you do is make them angry with you and your cause. The good thing about blowing yourself up means I don't have to waist a bullet on you.

  • Posted By: anilkp71 @ 01/04/2008 2:06:55 AM

    it is true we must apreciate the effort done by a journalist. well done

  • Posted By: roxydog @ 01/03/2008 8:28:14 PM

    If it is that easy to find a Taliban hideout then why hasn't this been tried before and why didn't
    the so called journalist take a GPS and cell phone with him. He could have called in the
    location of the terrorists and all of them could have been smoked by one Apache gunship.

  • Posted By: Steve Madison @ 01/03/2008 3:09:52 PM

    I don't get total cell phone coverage here in NE ohio and thye have coverage way out in the boonies of Afganistan!!
    I don't buy this story as being true

  • Posted By: Banafrit @ 01/03/2008 12:21:59 PM

    I have done volunteer work with Palestinian children, and spent a year living there. I hope I made a difference in at least one child's life there. It is easy to see how someone can be brainwashed by these different groups. In their final act on this earth, they were used by these groups, and they meant nothing to them. They were just a means to kill. I actually feel sorry for the suicide bombers. They weren't born filled with so much hate, they were molded, having lived and seen what no human should in their short lives. They are lost souls, who live in despair and poverty, with no hope, who feel this is there only way out from a hopeless situation.

  • Posted By: In2it @ 01/03/2008 12:08:52 PM

    In more organized and mature civilizations of this world, we have a term the activities of the religious jihadists ??? EXTORTION. Organized crime extorts your cooperation by threatening (and engaging in) threatening and violent acts. The religious zealots the world is dealing with now are nothing less (and nothing more) than orgainzed crime with uncommon means to extort cooperation and exact pain and violence and suffering on all those who disagree with them. Let???s also be clear that the Americans, Western Europeans, and others, pretty much have a live and let live viewpoint of life ??? it is called democracy ??? with basic freedoms and rights. However, when this way of life is threatened and attacked (aka, 9/11 as just one example), then all bets are off. 9/11 is a prime example of this extortion ??? make no mistake about it. 9/11 ???invited??? America to this party and now everyone is crying that we are there. Too bad. We???re not perfect, but we have culturally and by way of our institutions, encourage innovation and creative differences and other means to try to make things better. We DO NOT have institutionalized hate and destructive behaviors. We have open debate, elections, etc., with many differing points of view that are not controlled by our Government???s but certainly influenced by our free press. That is the basis of the fear and loathing of these jihadist cultures???Our freedoms and success with our freedoms!

  • Posted By: uhaalag @ 01/03/2008 12:08:31 PM

    hehehe. god blesses them ! and me too !

  • Posted By: sonofspam @ 01/03/2008 11:07:37 AM

    to jc80-say what!!!!! where are u coming from dude!!???

    • Posted By: In2it @ 01/03/2008 12:03:57 PM

      In more organized and mature civilizations of this world, we have a term the activities of the religious jihadists ??? EXTORTION. Organized crime extorts your cooperation by threatening (and engaging in) threatening and violent acts. The religious zealots the world is dealing with now are nothing less (and nothing more) than common criminals with uncommon means to extort cooperation and exact pain and violence on all those who disagree with them. Let???s also be clear that the Americans, Western Europeans, and others, pretty much have a live and let live viewpoint of life ??? it is called democracy ??? with basic freedoms and rights. However, when this way of life is threatened and attacked (aka, 9/11 as just one example), then all bets are off. 9/11 is a prime example of this extortion ??? make no mistake about it. 9/11 ???invited??? America to this party and now everyone is crying that we are there. Too bad. We???re not perfect, but we have culturally and by way of our institutions encourage innovation and creative differences and other means to try to make things better. We DO NOT have institutionalized hate and destructive behaviors. We have open debate, elections, etc., with many differing points of view that are not controlled by our Government???s but certainly influenced by our free press. That is the basis of the fear and loathing of these jihadist cultures???Our freedoms and success with our freedoms!

  • Posted By: jc80 @ 01/03/2008 10:25:51 AM

    Umm.. Imagine if you will that there is no God, no afterlife and our knowledge of whats to come is by idea. Imagine if colors had no labels.. no details, no titles nor definition. Take definition away from life and you have a life thats subject to knowledge obtained from sources around it. We are the limit of ourselves and the experience before.. the sum total of knowledge, never less, never more. If you grow up in the dark, you know not of light... darkness in your future, nothing else in sight.

  • Posted By: jc80 @ 01/03/2008 10:24:06 AM

    Umm.. Imagine if you will that there is no God, no afterlife and our knowledge of whats to come is by idea. Imagine if colors had no labels.. no details, no titles nor definition. Take definition away from life and you have a life thats subject to knowledge obtained from sources around it. We are the limit of ourselves and the experience before.. the sum total of knowledge, never less, never more. If you grow up in the dark, you know not of light... darkness in your future, nothing else in sight.

  • Posted By: jaj727 @ 01/03/2008 10:20:11 AM

    it is not the true muslims who are doing all this, they are extremists, they call themselves muslims because they either are by birth/ethnicity. Believe me, this is not what Islam is about. Similar to how christianity is broken into all the sectors, that is how Islam is, but this extremists group is something very non-muslim. This jihad, yes it is a war but for religion, there is no such thing in the Quran that says they should blow up everyone, it is to be fought for one's country to spread the religion. These extremists have no way of life except killing, it is like homicidal people anywhere else in the world. They capture people, especially kids at a young age calling them to the religion, but they don't even give a crap about religion. All they care about is themselves. They fight other muslims and no where in the Quran does it say to fight your own kind. And when you do fight, it is only to spread the religion like they did in the Crusades. These extremists sometimes threaten the "suicidal bombers" with their families. If they don't blow themselves up, their families will be blown up. What would you do if someone told you to blow yourself up, and if you didn't, your mother, father, wife, children, will all be butchered like mad cows. What would you do? These aren't muslims, but rather something else, sometimes they almost seem like, don't laugh at me, descendants of Satan.

  • Posted By: jaj727 @ 01/03/2008 10:19:45 AM

    it is not the true muslims who are doing all this, they are extremists, they call themselves muslims because they either are by birth/ethnicity. Believe me, this is not what Islam is about. Similar to how christianity is broken into all the sectors, that is how Islam is, but this extremists group is something very non-muslim. This jihad, yes it is a war but for religion, there is no such thing in the Quran that says they should blow up everyone, it is to be fought for one's country to spread the religion. These extremists have no way of life except killing, it is like homicidal people anywhere else in the world. They capture people, especially kids at a young age calling them to the religion, but they don't even give a crap about religion. All they care about is themselves. They fight other muslims and no where in the Quran does it say to fight your own kind. And when you do fight, it is only to spread the religion like they did in the Crusades. These extremists sometimes threaten the "suicidal bombers" with their families. If they don't blow themselves up, their families will be blown up. What would you do if someone told you to blow yourself up, and if you didn't, your mother, father, wife, children, will all be butchered like mad cows. What would you do? These aren't muslims, but rather something else, sometimes they almost seem like, don't laugh at me, descendants of Satan.

  • Posted By: MarySearles @ 01/03/2008 10:07:32 AM

    God had Abraham and he had Ismael( the iligetimate son) that' the muslims got it? We come down the the
    legimate son Abraham. The middle east has been fighting ever since for 5000 years becasue of it.
    The middle east has so many idols, hindu (can't count em) Budhist, and Muslim and the Jews and American
    are hated because we believe in the right God. One day Jesus is coming back and he's going to destroy all of these weirdos and take up the true believers and it will be all over, Got it? So we won't have to worry about terrorist, or suicide bombers or mutilated bodies anymore. Or stupid Iranians claming the Holocost didn't happen. He's got a lot of nerve. And I am German, blond, blue eyed and white

  • Posted By: kobie12 @ 01/03/2008 9:47:11 AM

    Let me tell all of you something..... These people, the muslim, believe in war "jihad- 'battle; struggle; holy war for the religion'". They will fight and kill, kill themselves, and anyone in their way. They believe that christians are a lower religion, that christians are not equal to them. Fighting in battle or even Killing a christian, or a non Muslium, guarantees their passage to paradise as well as certain privileges there. This is a holy war, a crusade if you will. Open your eyes, this won't end. They are taught all this at a very young age, and will keep teaching and passing on this life style for generations to come......

  • Posted By: kobie12 @ 01/03/2008 9:43:58 AM

    Let me tell all of you something..... These people, the muslim, believe in war "jihad- 'battle; struggle; holy war for the religion'". They will fight and kill, kill themselves, and anyone in their way. They believe that christians are a lower religion, that christians are not equal to them. Fighting in battle or even Killing a christian, or a non Muslium, guarantees their passage to paradise as well as certain privileges there. This is a holy war, a crusade if you will. Open your eyes, this won't end. They are taught all this at a very young age, and will keep teaching and passing on this life style for generations to come......

  • Posted By: MarySearles @ 01/03/2008 9:34:14 AM

    I know that these suicide bombers are wrong, but just think for a momemt about all this mess. How could anyone just get orders to end their life and that's it! I know it's their religion but they won't be coming back to family or babies or parents on one command, do they feelings? I couldn't do it, I don't know of many American's that could, we believe to much in God and his protection, our boys need to come home and they need to come home now, and I'm afraid for the innocents over there also, like I said it's a royal mess!

  • Posted By: pudussary @ 01/03/2008 8:47:15 AM

    Dear Human Beings, just think for a second! Will you be able to do that? Will you be able to make your mind to be a suicide bomber? NO right?
    Then, if you cant become a suicide bomber, then think how these people are made? Hope they also have blood flowing in their arteries, but not water! Then why they opt this part? Poverty? Hatered? friends, but dont you think we have contibuted to POVERTY and HATERED? This is the time to reform, save life! save people..and humanity!

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