By Kerry Patton and Scott Winchell
Also posted at The Gold Coast Chronicle
Afghanistan is the land of the displaced, maimed, tortured, and murdered. Centuries of war has been borne upon them. World super powers such as Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, The British Empire, and the USSR have all failed to control Afghanistan and its warrior people. Now it looks like the United Sates and its NATO allies may as well.
It is important to note, this time around, they believe the USA will definitely leave in 2011. This perception, right or wrong is more powerful then truth. They have led existential lives on a war footing for seemingly forever. Western policies, diplomacy, and words mean very little to them. Hundreds of years of war have taught them well, and they now have for the first time, the date they can plan upon. They have a window of choice never before presented to them. They are therefore prepared to leave, to escape, once, and for all time.
These warrior people have been capable of dealing with war, and succeeding. However today, it has also become apparent that they are no longer willing or able to socially or psychologically deal with the aftermath of another war anymore, especially the aftermath.
While war causes death and destruction, nothing compares to the sheer brutality visited upon Afghanistan when invaders departed the land, and others filled the void of power and control.
During the USSR/Afghan War, it is estimated that between 100,000 and one million Afghans died during the ten year duration of that war. After the war ended, and the USSR retreated, the Taliban assumed control of the country from 1996-2001. Interestingly enough, or better said, horrifyingly so, during this regime’s reign, well over 600,000 Afghan lives were lost. They suffered untold brutality, destruction, torture, and murder during the Taliban’s genocidal rampage against those who did not subscribe to the Taliban’s barbaric ideology.
Today, trusted, and verifiable sources who will remain unnamed deep inside Afghanistan have revealed that the Afghan people are preparing to flee the country. They claim they are planning to “escape.” They are weary of the aftermath, and now they believe, and rightly so, that it will be even worse this time if the Taliban resumes authority over the land of the lost. They believe it as if it were fact already in place.
Things are different this time on another front. Those speaking of escaping Afghanistan are not mentioning the old refugee status they sought in Pakistan like so many during the USSR/Afghan war had once done. Rather, today, they are speaking of truly “escaping” the country, and the horrors. In fact they are so sure; they have already established international systems with well-planned logistics systems needed to start their new lives outside of Asia.
The cost of ‘escape’ from Afghanistan ranges between $10k and $22k. Five thousand of that money goes solely to transportation costs. The remaining costs are earmarked for bribes, food, shelter, etc. They must also have enough funds to establish communications with relatives and associates internationally. They must purchase cell phones with international calling cards and internet services for the use of Skype and other secure methods to communicate in a safe manner.
The majority who desire to escape Afghanistan are the many other tribal peoples such as the Hazaras, Tajiks, and Uzbeks because they know when President Obama mentioned the year 2011, the Pashtun dominant Taliban will once again seize control over the country. Minorities know they will be targeted, along with anyone that cooperated with the allies, and the Karzai regime.
Where to go then? Without getting into specifics that sources have provided SUA, the following is a prioritized list of the locations Afghans plan on “escaping” to:
The United States and Australia – Afghans believe getting to the United States would be very hard or virtually impossible through their illegal migration network. However they have repeatedly stated that the United States is the primary destination in the world leaving Australia as the secondary target. It would cost over $5k just to get to Australia from Indonesia. A network of “coyotes” would then bring Afghans to Indonesia (route not revealed) where they would then board something akin to a thirty person sea vessel to reach Australia. Australia is a high priority because it is rumored that some Afghans who have worked closely with Australian SAS operatives grew to admire them greatly.
Norway and Sweden – Norway and Sweden appear to them to be peaceful, loving, welcoming types of countries. Afghans have this imaginary image that the two countries are amazingly lush and wonderful. A come ruse Afghans use is to appear to be about 15 years of age which allows them to easily walk up to a border guard, police officer, or other official and play the game of “where is my mommy?” This ploy is common and very successful, and they are then sent off to a camp. During the interim time, the non-existent family member is never found, which then allows the 15 year-old Afghani (again in appearance only) to be placed into a foster home in a preferred country. They would then re-establish their true identity there, and secure the emigration of family members shortly there-after.
Indonesia and Turkey – According to sources in Afghanistan, these two locations are relatively easy and safe to get access to with little threat to safety due to their extensive Muslim populations, and openness to non-western refugees.
Italy and Greece – Afghans have been known to ply devious methods to stay in these countries. First, they arrive, and soon claim to lose their travel documents and then they falsify their true place of origin. This allows them freedom to obtain newly acquired travel documentation allowing freedom of movement throughout Europe. There are known bad places where they hope to never end up. The two worst locations for Afghans are now India and Pakistan. They have stated the ability to freely move around those countries is extremely difficult today, unlike past migrations.
Interestingly enough, it is easy for them to secure travel arrangements once they leave Afghanistan. Once in route to their final destinations, they have acknowledged that with money, private Americans and Canadians and other westerners in the area are easy targets to secure physical transportation due to their free spirited hospitality and liberal views.
Leaving Afghanistan is known to be somewhat simple. While many Americans and other westerners know Afghanistan is a poor country, and they assume it would be almost impossible to obtain the estimated $10 to $22k needed to escape. However, Afghans have plenty of methods in which to obtain these funds in a surprisingly expedient manner in the short term. They know they can borrow, trade, and/or assume jobs easily. By living as they have, they know how to live “on the street” and how to bargain and parlay well. This allows them to obtain funds quickly for bribes and/or illegal “tolls.”
Very few Americans and Europeans have ever met an Afghan outside of serving in the Armed Forces. Tomorrow, Afghans plan to change that. A very large amount of Afghans are planning to leave because they fear what will result when the Taliban and their terrorist friends re-take the country. They are planning quickly now, they have logistics in place, they have created an international network, and they have identified the flaws in the systems of western countries and therefore, are adept at gaining access. Whether we leave Afghanistan in 2011 or not does not matter. What is most important is the perception of the local people who believe we, the United States, are about to abandon them like we did after they defeated the Russians. Time to ‘esacpe’.
