“From the heavily-armed, loud-mouthed US grunt who I witnessed swearing and shouting at bewildered Afghans as they entered their own country at Torkham, to the remedial and intransigent mouth piece for the dark US military site of Bagram, scene of at least two murders and countless tortures, it was clear to me that Afghanistan is in the grip of aliens. The Americans, it seems, are about as welcome as the parasitic terminators in War of the Worlds. Long gone is the heady rush excitement experienced by Afghans after the fall of the Taliban when Bush and Blair ushered in their troops with promises to liberate and educate. Far from re-building Afghanistan the military forces, especially the Americans, are now viewed with a deep hatred and revulsion.” (11/24/08)