“I have travelled a great deal - to Afghanistan, Iran, Egypt - and can very well differentiate between moderate Muslims and Islam.” WellsDealsIslamIranAfghanistanEgyptModeratesDifferentiate Author:Geert Wilders
“NATO is still the most remarkable alliance in history. It stuck together through 40 years of Cold War, and it then joined together to fight in Afghanistan. In the 1980s, I would not have thought this was going to be possible.” YearsStillsWarTogetherFightingColdStuckRemarkableAfghanistanCold WarAlliancesNato Author:Paul Wolfowitz
“At no time in the past, now or in the future has or will Russia take any part in actions aimed at overthrowing the legitimate government. I'm talking about something else right now - when someone does this, the outcome is very negative. Libya's state is disintegrated, Iraq's territory is flooded with terrorists, it looks like the scenario will be the same for Syria, and you know what the situation is in Afghanistan.” KnowsLooksDoeStatesGovernmentActionPastTalkingSituationRight NowNegativeIraqTerroristRussiaOutcomesTerritoryAfghanistanSyriaScenariosLibyaLegitimate Government Author:Vladimir Putin
“The New York Times will tell you what is going on in Afghanistan or the Horn of Africa. But it is no exaggeration that The New York Times has more people in India than they have in Brooklyn. Brooklyn is a borough of two million people. They're not a Bloomingdale's people, not trendy, sophisticated, the quiche and Volvo set. The New York Times does not serve those people.” PeopleDoeTwoMillionsMediaNew YorkIndiaAfghanistanSophisticatedHornsBrooklynNew York TimesExaggerationTrendyVolvoTime Will TellQuicheHorn Of Africa Author:Edwin Diamond
“In a post 9/11 world, in which the uncritical essentializing of people from the "Third-World" has been legitimized; Iraq and Afghanistan have been dehumanized in an attempt to disseminate enlightenment in those "dark" regions; the discourse of "honor killings" is prevalent in the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan and has carved a niche in Western academic discourse as another instance of the incorrigible bestiality of the Orient.” PeopleWorldHas BeensDarkHonorEnlightenmentThirdsWestWesternKillingIraqInstancePostsRegionsAfghanistanAcademicDiscoursePakistanFrontiersNicheProvincesThird WorldIncorrigibleHonor Killing Author:Nyla Ali Khan
“American troops on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq. And so she [Hillary Clinton] is saying we're not going to go back down that road, which is what the American people want. They don't want us putting more troops.” PeopleWantClintonIraqAfghanistanTroopsWant UAmerican Troops Author:Eric Bolling
“When I became secretary of state, we had 200,000 troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. And I'm very grateful that we have brought home the vast majority of those.” StatesHomeGratefulMajorityIraqAfghanistanTroopsSecretary Author:Hillary Clinton
“You know, NATO as a military alliance has something called Article 5, and basically it says this: An attack on one is an attack on all. And you know the only time it's ever been invoked? After 9/11, when the 28 nations of NATO said that they would go to Afghanistan with us to fight terrorism, something that they still are doing by our side.” KnowsSaidStillsFightingNationsSidesMilitaryTerrorismAfghanistanArticlesOnly TimeAlliancesNato Author:Hillary Clinton
“According to a recent Harvard study, $6 trillion, when you include the ongoing healthcare expenses for our wounded soldiers, which is the least they deserve, but $6 trillion for Iraq and Afghanistan alone.” StudyDeserveSoldierIraqExpensesAfghanistanHealthcareWoundedOngoingHarvardWounded Soldier Author:Jill Stein
“[ Iraq and Afghanistan] don't get better, they only get worse. Bombing them has only enabled them to grow and multiply.” GrowsIraqGet BetterAfghanistanBombing Author:Jill Stein
“It's important to understand the origins of ISIS were in the chaos of Iraq and Libya, and the origins of Al Qaeda were in Afghanistan.” ImportantChaosIraqAlsAfghanistanIsisAl QaedaLibya Author:Jill Stein
“You know, terrorism in Afghanistan had everything to do with the support for the mujahidin by Saudi Arabia and by the CIA that sought to create an international religious extremist group to fight the Soviet Union.” KnowsFightingReligiousSupportGroupsUnionsInternationalTerrorismAfghanistanSovietSoviet UnionCiaExtremistArabiaSaudi ArabiaSaudisExtremist Groups Author:Jill Stein
“Michael Bealmear is a philanthropist, and he has become interested in the issue of refugees, and he proposed that we do an event in his community, where we could dedicate an entire evening focused on the global refugee crisis, focused primarily on Afghanistan.” CommunityIssuesEventsCrisisFocusedEveningAfghanistanRefugeePhilanthropistRefugee Crisis Author:Khaled Hosseini
“At the time we are focusing our efforts primarily on building shelters for refugees. Homelessness in Afghanistan is a huge problem.” ProblemEffortBuildingHugeAfghanistanShelterRefugeeHomelessness Author:Khaled Hosseini
“When I was in Afghanistan in 2007, I went from village to village where refugees had returned, and they were living out in the open under tents, sometimes completely exposed to the environment. And they were homeless, which meant they would lose children in the winter to the cold and in the summers in the extreme heat. It's extremely humiliating for them to be homeless, culturally it's very shameful.” ChildrenSometimesLosesEnvironmentColdSummerWinterExtremesHeatVillageAfghanistanExposedHomelessRefugeeShamefulTentsHumiliating Author:Khaled Hosseini
“There [in Afghanistan ] is a tremendous need for selter. So I am focusing most of the efforts of the foundation to building shelters for refugees in northern Afghanistan and we have already begun doing so.” NeedsEffortBuildingFoundationAfghanistanShelterRefugee Author:Khaled Hosseini
“We will also be funding projects that empower women and children in Afghanistan and now and then give scholarships to Afghan students here in the Bay Area.” GivingChildrenStudentsProjectsAreasEmpoweringAfghanistanNow And ThenEmpowering WomenFundingScholarshipAfghanBay Area Author:Khaled Hosseini
“Probably the single most commen response I get from my readesr, be it through e-mails or letters, is that they did not know much, or at times, they're quite frank, they didn't care much about Afghanistan. But they pay attention more after reading these novels, and at times it has triggered this humaitarian spirt: some have donated money or at time times, people have joined humatiarian organizations that work in Afghanistan.” PeopleKnowsCareReadingPayAttentionNovelLettersOrganizationResponsePay AttentionAfghanistanMailFrank Author:Khaled Hosseini
“I think the changes that have happened, there have been come positive, but by and large, you have to say the changes have been negative. The situation has reached a fairly critical stage in Afghanistan.” ThinkingHas BeensSituationHappenedStageNegativeCriticalAfghanistan Author:Khaled Hosseini
“You have think tanks like the widely respected Atlantic Council that have published reports in the past year that have called Afghanistan a failing state.” ThinkingYearsStatesPastFailingReportsAfghanistanCouncilTanks Author:Khaled Hosseini
“The country [Afghanistan] faces enormous problems. There is a violent insurgency hampering the rule of law and developmental efforts.” CountryProblemFacesLawEffortViolentEnormousAfghanistanRule Of LawDevelopmentalInsurgency Author:Khaled Hosseini
“You have these crops of poppies that supply something like 90% of the heroin sold in Europe and actually represents more than half of the Afghanistan's GDP.” HalfEuropeAfghanistanCropsHeroinGdpPoppies Author:Khaled Hosseini
“At least, it is encouraging to me that President [Barack] Obama has put Afghanistan front and center in this broader so-called War on terror, and that he is taking a different approach to Afghanistan.” DifferentWarPresidentFrontsApproachTerrorBarackAfghanistanWar On TerrorPresident Barack ObamaDifferent Approach Author:Khaled Hosseini
“[Barack Obama] is sending more troops [to Afghanistan], but they have also realized that we are not going to win that war through guns and tanks. We have to engage the neighbors, and it is good that there is a non-military strategy in addition to a military strategy. It is, at least, encouraging. Whether it will work or not, the jury is still put.” StillsWarWinningMilitaryGunStrategyNeighborBarackAfghanistanTroopsTanksJuryMilitary Strategy Author:Khaled Hosseini
“I think the scale of the conflict [in Afghanistan] has dramatically changed in 2003. You're now facing a much more motivated, well-supported enemy. I don't see any quick end to this thing.” ThinkingWellsEndsEnemyChangedConflictScalesMotivatedAfghanistan Author:Khaled Hosseini
“In early 1999, I was watching TV, when I came across a story on Afghanistan. It was a story about the Taliban and the restrictions they were imposing on the Afghan people, most notably women. At some point in the story, there was a casual reference to them having banned the game of kite fighting. This detail struck a personal chord with me, as I had grown up in Kabul flying kite with my friends.” PeopleStoriesFightingGamesTvsMy FriendsDetailsFlyingAfghanistanChordsRestrictionCasualTalibanImposingBannedKitesAfghanWatching TvKabul Author:Khaled Hosseini
“I started a foundation, called The Khaled Hosseini Foundation. The mission has been to help the most vulnerable groups in Afghanistan. So the focus has been on women, children, and homeless refugees, most of whom are in fact women and children.” ChildrenHas BeensFactsHelpingFocusGroupsFoundationMissionsVulnerableAfghanistanHomelessRefugee Author:Khaled Hosseini
“The bulk of our efforts [in The Khaled Hosseini Foundation] has focused on helping build permanent shelters for returning refugees who are homeless, living out in the open or in makeshift homes. This is an area of urgent need as Afghanistan's natural elements are quite harsh, with very hot summers, and freezing winters.” NeedsHelpingHomeNaturalEffortElementsSummerAreasHotFoundationWinterFocusedPermanentAfghanistanShelterHarshHomelessRefugeeUrgentFreezingHot SummerNatural Elements Author:Khaled Hosseini
“We [in The Khaled Hosseini Foundation] support and fund projects that bring jobs, healthcare, and education to women and children. In addition, we award scholarships to women pursuing higher education in Afghanistan.” ChildrenJobsSupportHigherProjectsFoundationFundAwardsAfghanistanHealthcareScholarshipHigher Education Author:Khaled Hosseini
“I wanted to write about Afghanistan before the Soviet war because that is largely a forgotten period in modern Afghan history.” WritingWarWantedModernPeriodsForgottenAfghanistanSovietAfghan Author:Khaled Hosseini
“For many people in the west, Afghanistan is synonymous with the Soviet war and the Taliban. I wanted to remind people that Afghans had managed to live in peaceful anonymity for decades, that the history of the Afghans in the twentieth century has been largely pacific and harmonious.” PeopleHas BeensWarWantedCenturyWestDecadesPeacefulAfghanistanSovietTwentieth CenturyHarmoniousPacificTalibanAnonymity Author:Khaled Hosseini
“My family left Afghanistan in 1976, well before the Communist coup and the Soviet invasion. We certainly thought we would be going back. But when we saw those Soviet tanks rolling into Afghanistan, the prospect for return looked very dim. Few of us, I have to say, envisioned that nearly a quarter century of bloodletting would follow.” WellsWould BeLeftSawsCenturyReturnMy FamilyCommunistAfghanistanQuartersSovietRollingInvasionTanksCoupsBloodletting Author:Khaled Hosseini
“I have very fond memories of my childhood in Afghanistan, largely because my memories, unlike those of the current generation of Afghans, are untainted by the spectre of war, landmines, and famine.” WarMemoriesGenerationsChildhoodCurrentsAfghanistanFamineSpectreFond MemoriesLandminesCurrent Generation Author:Khaled Hosseini
“The story of what has happened to women in Afghanistan, however, is a very important one, and fertile ground for fiction.” ImportantStoriesFictionHappenedAfghanistanFertileFertile Ground Author:Khaled Hosseini
“I returned to Kabul after a 27-year absence. I came away with some optimism but not as much as I had hoped for. The two major issues in Afghanistan are a lack of security outside Kabul (particularly in the south and east) and the powerful warlords ruling over the provinces with little or no allegiance to the central government. The other rapidly rising concern is the narcotic trade which, if not dealt with, may turn Afghanistan into another Bolivia or Colombia.” IfsYearsMayLittlesTwoGovernmentTurnsPowerfulIssuesSecurityMajorsConcernOptimismTradeSouthEastAbsenceRisingAfghanistanRulingAllegianceProvincesColombiaNarcoticsBoliviaKabulCentral GovernmentWarlords Author:Khaled Hosseini
“Equally important is the lack of cultivable land for farmers, a profound problem when you take into account that Afghanistan has always largely been an agricultural country, and that even before the wars destroyed lands and irrigation canals, only 5 per cent of the land was cultivable.” ImportantWarCountryProblemLandAccountsProfoundDestroyedFarmersAfghanistanCentsCanalsIrrigation Author:Khaled Hosseini
“A great deal remains to be done in Afghanistan and the jury is out as to whether the international community has the commitment and the patience to see the rebuilding process through.” DoneProcessCommunityDealsCommitmentRemainsInternationalAfghanistanJuryInternational CommunityRebuilding Author:Khaled Hosseini
“The [George W.] Bush administration tripled its aid package to Afghanistan. [Hamid] Karzai finally (and courageously) announced that warlords will be forbidden from holding office in the future government. And finally, NATO agreed to expand the peacekeeping forces to troubled areas outside of Kabul.” GovernmentForceOfficeAreasAidsAdministrationAfghanistanForbiddenPackagesNatoPeacekeepingKabulWarlords Author:Khaled Hosseini
“I returned to Afghanistan because I had a deep longing to see for myself how people lived, what they thought of their government, how optimistic they were about the future of their homeland.” PeopleGovernmentLongingOptimisticAfghanistanHomeland Author:Khaled Hosseini
“I was overwhelmed with the kindness of people [in Afghanistan] and found that they had managed to retain their dignity, their pride, and their hospitality under unspeakably bleak conditions.” PeopleFoundKindnessConditionsPrideDignityAfghanistanOverwhelmedHospitalityBleak Author:Khaled Hosseini
“I did see [in Afghanistan] plenty that reminded me of my childhood. I recognised my old neighbourhood, saw my old school, streets where I had played with my brother and cousins.” SchoolSawsStreetsChildhoodBrotherPlentyMy BrotherAfghanistanCousinOld SchoolNeighbourhoods Author:Khaled Hosseini
“In December of 2002, the late Richard Corliss, a respected movie critic with a long and illustrious career, wrote an embarrassing letter of support for the invasion and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan in the guise of a Time magazine review of Peter Jackson's The Two Towers.” LongTwoCareersSupportLateLettersCriticsIraqMagazinesOccupationReviewsAfghanistanPeterTowersEmbarrassingInvasionDecemberGuiseTwo TowersTime MagazineMovie Critic Author:Viggo Mortensen
“Obviously Pakistan and the U.S. are very different countries, but we have common geopolitical interests in preventing communist take over in Afghanistan and hence, now that Pakistan has a government that we can cooperate with, even though it is a military government, we are working together with them in order to promote our common interests. But obviously we also differ with Pakistan on a number of issues.” DifferentCountryGovernmentTogetherOrderInterestCommonNumbersIssuesMilitaryWorking TogetherCommunistAfghanistanPakistanPreventingDifferent CountriesCommon InterestsGeopolitical Author:Samuel P. Huntington
“The U.S. has and still is cooperating with various military dictatorships around the world. Obviously we would prefer to see them democratized, but we are doing it because we have national interests, whether it's working with Pakistan on Afghanistan or whatever.” WorldStillsInterestMilitaryVariousAround The WorldAfghanistanDictatorshipPakistanNational InterestsCooperating Author:Samuel P. Huntington
“My central focus is what are we doing to protect the American people and the American homeland? Afghanistan and Pakistan are critical elements in that process.” PeopleProcessFocusProtectElementsCriticalAfghanistanPakistanHomeland Author:Barack Obama
“I've been to Iraq three times. I've been to Afghanistan, I've been quite a few places, and I want to tell you something, these kids, they're the best we've got. They're the best Americans, they're the most loyal Americans we've got. And we owe them when they come back.” WantKidsThreeIraqAfghanistanLoyalThree TimesBest American Author:Charlie Daniels
“Something that is completely unwinnable. I mean, it becomes unwinnable if we decide to leave [Afghanistan].” IfsMeanAfghanistan Author:George W. Bush
“Let's take Pravda in the 1980s. I mean you could have read things in Pravda saying that it was a stupid error to invade Afghanistan: "it was a dumb thing to do, we have to get out, it's costing us too much." I mean that U.S. analog of that would be "extreme liberalism," and it has been pretty well studied.” WellsMeanHas BeensWould BeToo MuchStupidErrorsExtremesDumbThings To DoLiberalismAfghanistanAnalogDumb Things Author:Noam Chomsky
“Donald Trump has no credibility to criticize me or my record or anything that I have done. If he had spent a minute in the deserts of Afghanistan or in the deserts of Iraq, I might listen to what he has to say.” IfsDoneMightRecordsMinutesTrumpIraqDesertCriticizeAfghanistanCredibility Author:John R. Allen
“There are some ideas that will translate from Iraq to Afghanistan and there are many that will not. The first lesson of counterinsurgency, in fact, is that every situation is truly unique, has its own context, its own specific set of factors - and you have to understand that context in enormous detail to be able to craft a sound and comprehensive approach.” FirstsIdeasFactsAbleSoundSituationLessonsApproachUniqueIraqDetailsEnormousFactorsCraftsAfghanistanTranslateComprehensiveCounterinsurgency Author:David Petraeus