Bill Moyers Journal: Policies for the "Forgotten War"

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Policies for the "Forgotten War"

(Photo by Robin Holland)

Conversing with Bill Moyers on this week’s JOURNAL, former NPR journalist Sarah Chayes discussed many of the complex challenges on the ground in Afghanistan, including what she suggests is a fundamental contradiction in American strategy:

“We’re paying a billion dollars a year to Pakistan, which is orchestrating the Taliban insurgency. So it’s actually U.S. taxpayer money that is paying for the insurgents, who are then killing – at the moment – Canadian troops... It’s been very clear to me, watching since 2002, that Pakistan has been buying us off by a well-timed delivery of an al-Qaeda operative, which has then caused us to look the other way about the Taliban... so this is why 99 % of the people in Kandahar believe that we are allied with the Taliban. Everybody thinks that America is allied with the Taliban.”

What do you think?

Should the United States remain in Afghanistan? Why or why not?

If the U.S. should remain, what should our mission be? Counter-terrorism? Democratization? Nation-building?

How do you suggest reformulating U.S. policy and strategy to realistically pursue that mission?

Note: We’d like to thank Sarah Chayes for adding to the discussion on the blog. Her responses are in bold below.

Tag(s): Afghanistan , foreign policy , war
Posted by Bill Moyers Journal on February 22, 2008 7:30 PM | Permalink

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Comments

u.s. forces will completely withdraw from Afganistan and Iraq on July 4th 2009. Only reason why we are over there is the oil, NOTHING ELSE! Bush owns an oil company www.rense.com/general14/bushsformer.htm if this site does not work for some reason just look it up under google invalid caused Alot of needless bloodshed all over oil! Douse him in gasoline and burn him at the stake! THINK ABOUT IT

Posted by: Charlie | March 17, 2009 10:22 AM

Billy Bobs will fight Billy Bobs unless they has sumpin' else to beat on. A'ts jus" 'tway 'tis.... an you cain't stop 'em! Know what, the modern Indo-Aryan peoples dwelling in Afganistan aren't Arabs. It wouldn't matter anyway, because all people alive today are aware and modern and live in a failing global economy. Notice how the U.S. elite operates twin narco states for fun and profit (Afganistan and Colombia) leaving most of their citizens in insecurity and poverty? It stems from the needs of the exploiters, not the nature of the victims.

Posted by: Grady Lee Howard | March 10, 2008 9:07 PM

Sarah, I have appreciated Bill Moyers, and the majority of thoughts introduced; but none as much as yours. If only the people running this world would express the same intelligence, wisdom and compassion. Exemplify our true potential,--our humanity,--our ability to change our reality, perhaps to realize what has always been our goal,--heaven on earth.

Posted by: Dh | March 6, 2008 8:37 PM

To extrapolate from a small group within a tribe to make conclusions about the relationships between tribes, that comprise a country, may not provide realistic info. for developing expectations of actions that may change if key elements were removed. The arabic cultures, countries, regions, tribes have been involved in armed conflict & oppression for centuries. Were the US military power removed in the near future, then a struggle for power will occur until another power takes control. Then that group will begin to look at neighbors to defend against or usurp its valuables. Arabs will fight arabs, unless they unite to fight a common enemy. Iraq & Iran were at war for 7 or 8 yrs. & the rest of the region had some peace. To bring our military home NOW will be just to refurbish for the next conflict. To leave our military there until the region is peaceful will prove to be very uncomfortable. So, who wants to be the next president?

Posted by: Billy Bob | March 6, 2008 10:11 AM

On micro financing why not get connected with http://www.kiva.org/? On alternative crops why not try the Jatropha plant that is being used for biodiesel and energy. The plant grows on poor land and can improve the land. see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jatropha_oil

Posted by: Robert Michael Foster, MA | March 2, 2008 10:02 PM

If oil, morality, the American idea of America are not considered, and 9-11 is the only reason America acted then: The military should have been sent to destroy elements in Afganistan that supported terrorism, and then withdraw all forces. Iraq should have been told to completly comply with disclosure or have govt. structures destroyed by air and we should have then withrawn from the area. Of course this is not how the real USA sees it's role in the world. Of course a stable region that supplies such a large portion of the world's oil must be maintained. Of course the USA is not independent, so that actions are not pure & ideal,(as it was Saudia & Egyptian citizens that carried out the 9-11 attacks & not Iraqi.) Therefore, the USA will operate in the uncomfortable regions of selfservice that all the world functions in. We just let self image get in the way, at times. So, Iraq had to pay for a lesson to Egypt & Saudia Araba. So Am. military personell die-look at how many US citizens die in cars. (I strongly stand with our military) So, the NDP & candidates conspired to deny states' voters' rights to...

Posted by: Billy Bob | February 29, 2008 12:06 PM

Underscoring our desperate need for accurate human intelligence, Ms. Chayes astutely paints a portrait of an Afghanistan which is seldom seen or mentioned in today’s mass media. Her unique ability to go native and personally interact with the Afghan populous allows her to make first hand observations that would by other means, spy satellites, be impossible. While most Americans are fed their daily dose of political spin regarding the success of the U.S. led U.N. military mission in Afghanistan, Ms. Chayes’ report thankfully tempers this political spin or view point with an illuminating insight into the complex policy tests facing both the U.S. and its allies. In stark contrast to the falsified political justifications for invading Iraq, Afghanistan, Al-Qaeda, and the unrepentant Taliban can be directly connected to the attacks which were leveled against the United States on September 11th. So, in my opinion, the war against them is both just and necessary. Regarding the U.S and U.N. missions, military and political, within Afghanistan, the military should focus on what it does best – the use of violence in order to achieve a clearly defined political goal. Ironically, that political goal should be the reduction of violence, establishing basic security...

Posted by: James Monroe Powell | February 27, 2008 3:38 PM

Thank you, Sarah, for taking the time to elaborate on your thoughts re Canadian involvement in Afgha'n. I will forward this to appropriate gov't and media contacts that I have.

Posted by: Canucklehead | February 26, 2008 8:30 PM

To Canadians who have written in to this blog. I am going to shock you. I strongly support not just continued Canadian presence in Afghanistan, but increased combat troop presence. I feel very strongly about this, and have told the Manley panel as much twice. Here's why. As I stated in the interview, the "insurgency" in Afghanistan isn't really an insurgency. That is, it is not a spontaneous uprising by Afghans against the international presence in their country. I was in Kandahar when the Taliban fell in 2001, people were overjoyed to be rejoining the community of nations; they were overjoyed that foreign countries were coming to help. I have never experienced spontaneous hostility because of my nationality, even in Kandahar, supposedly the heart of Taliban country. The "insurgency" is really the INVASION of Afghanistan, by proxy, by the Pakistani government. So Canadian troops in Kandahar are actually PROTECTING Afghan civilians from invasion. Things have changed a little bit in the last year or so, but that's still more or less the case. Therefore, instead of asking yourself whether things are going better since your troops arrived, think about how much WORSE they would be going if they were not...

Posted by: Sarah Chayes | February 26, 2008 7:20 AM

Wow, What a beautiful story!!! It sounds so simple, and maybe it is... Find a person who knows what is going on in a country, has been living there, and ASK her to talk about it. Brilliant! Why aren't the media doing this??? I'd like to see this program broadcasted several times, especially before 10pm, so all can see it.

Posted by: Graham Quigley | February 26, 2008 12:12 AM

I am an 85 year old Canadian woman and I most heartily thank Bill and Sarah for presenting this programme.I am a life-long Socialist and we demand in our Party ,the New Democratic Party that the soldiers are brought home immediately.We are assured by the Military and the Government that things are Great in Afghanastan.Oh how I wish that Sarah could stand up in our House of Commons ,where we are soon going to bebate our place in Afghanastan,and tell how it really is over there.What courage and it makes me glad that I am a woman.We have promised NATO to stay until 2010 but if the young men going over to fightcould view that journal ,maybe many would be reluctant to go.

Posted by: Joy Taylor | February 25, 2008 7:40 PM

As a Canadian viewer, I heard some very troubling things in the excellent interview with Sarah. We've seen 80+ dead Cdn soldiers come home from Afgh and every such "repatriation" drives a spike through my heart. To think that our gov't is involved in any kind of a duping by the U.S. or GWB is deeply disturbing; to think that PM Harper and Co. could be complicit is beyond the pale. Thanks, Bill, for this. I have alerted several in our national media to the interview b/c this is a story which, as my fellow Cdn further up the thread indicated, no one else up here is telling.

Posted by: canucklehead | February 25, 2008 5:54 PM

Sarah Chayes-(12:37pm today) You make me thirsty for pomegranate juice. Have a good trip back home. (I like your jacket: I am a weaver of hand spun wool.) You know the "garden of eden" where pears and apples originated is just to the north of Afganistan.

Posted by: Jack Martin | February 25, 2008 2:36 PM

I was pleasantly surprised by Sarah Chayes' pictures, non-exploitive and commonplace. I believe she is showing us her home, the home she has chosen in her heart. And yet I have a class conscious question. Why is it that Harvard MAs with their connections can get so much more attention for "helping" than anyone else? I don't blame Sarah because she didn't plan her birth, but now has chosen a difficult path. Her exchange with Bill was cryptic. She intimated how one can manipulate a people by turning their power (electricity) on and off. Phillip Foti (23rd-12:58am) related the same when he described the practices of WBHM in Birmingham. Sarah said she was trying to provide a legal living for her Afgani community with co-operative enterprises, but that opium dominates the economy. Clearly, the people at the bottom benefit relatively little from its sale but are basically serfs in an international enterprise. She is fighting serfdom and dependence more than opium. Worker ownership and collective enterprise are despised by capitalists here.Sarah has the special opportunity to experiment with economic democracy. As Ruh (23rd-11:21pm) was saying about Kosovo oil going to big operators, there would be no point developing an extractive...

Posted by: Jack martin | February 25, 2008 2:17 PM

Is it just me or does anyone else feel the Journal has dropped the ball in exposing the manipulation of the Democratic primaries, especially since the culprits are the same folks who brought us the Afghan war? As Mr. Moyers reported this week, the United States is funding the Taliban by way of Pakistan in order to keep the war in progress. This isn’t anything knew. U.S. government funding of jihadists started well before the coup against Benazir Bhutto’s father in 1977. Nothing has changed, except that we’re now the verge of blowing an opportunity to break the neoconservative grip on the White House. And on March 4th, that window of opportunity may slam shut for another four years. That’s because Bush political strategist Karl Rove is using the ultimate dirty trick– placing a false candidate in the Democratic race. In 1988, when Bhutto first ran for president in Pakistan, the slogan at the U.S. embassy there was “Anybody but Benazir”. Earlier this month, if you watched the coverage of the CPAC meeting of conservatives in Washington, you saw a similar rallying cry. Their banner read “Anybody but Hillary.” Nobody in that camp appears to be losing any sleep over...

Posted by: Factcheck | February 25, 2008 12:56 PM

Hello again, all. What a conversation. The depth of kindness of some of your words almost frightens me. May I not let you down. I'd like to weigh in on opium, a subject that got some time during the interview, but could perhaps do with a bit more discussion. "A tired infidel woman" argues that if businessmen can offer farmers credit to grow opium, they can "damn well" offer them credit for growing something else. Here's the flaw in that exclamation. The market. WE, in the West, are still willing to pay a whole lot more for opium and its derivatives than we are for pomegranates or almonds. Therefore, any normally constituted businessman interested in making a profit will invest in opium-growing rather than in other products. Here's the thing: Afghans don't use opium, or only very few of them do, and in ways and quantities that are not dangerous. (A tiny bit of opium, not heroin, mixed with milk as a sleeping draught, for example.) Opium is, in fact, our problem, not theirs. The only reason it has come to skew their political system as much as it has is because we have demanded that they ban it. So...

Posted by: Sarah Chayes | February 25, 2008 12:37 PM

Heartily agree with the flood of lauditory comments already posted. One other angle - By comparison, what shame ought to be felt by the major network's bottom-fishing, bubble-headed, politics-made-sport "news coverage".

Posted by: Mark K Reed | February 24, 2008 11:52 PM

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Posted by: Chris | February 24, 2008 11:36 PM

I'm late to the party here, but after watching Ms. Chayes speak again (I watched on Friday but had to see it again via quicktime), I needed to add a word. Or two. 1) I don't think I've ever had so powerful a sense of having been connected to a subject by "merely" watching, and listening to, someone speak as I did listening to Sarah. (And, at 65, I can say I've some experience in the matter.) I can imagine Sarah writing an essay entitled "Why I Speak" as a nice book-end to Orwell's "Why I Write." 2) "I think hope is irrelevant." I almost slid off my typing stool. But I completely agree. I've certainly not lived a "determined life" all the time (being in the presence of a stellar soul, however remotely (by TV & webcast), seems always to set one off to make comparisons), but I was reminded of this graf from GB Shaw: "This is the true joy in life: Being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one, being a force of nature instead of a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself...

Posted by: Bill Wilt | February 24, 2008 5:46 PM

Was stunned by this interview. How often do we get to see such a "newsworthy" interview? For an in-depth background of our recent history with Afghanistan please see my parent's independent documentary "Shadow of Afghanistan." www.shadowofafghanistan.com Would love Mr. Moyers to interview my parents. The story needs to be told to all and MSM is not telling. To quote Mr. Moyers "The news is everything they keep hidden, the rest is PR." Thank you, Mr. Moyers.

Posted by: R Burroughs | February 24, 2008 5:17 PM

I have to agree with Sarah. Actually there is not much talk about opium production in Afghanistan. I do not understand why Afghanistan is able to keep its position as number one of the world's opium producer even though international military forces are present out there for so many years. Only this one fact is very suspicious. Although I voted for Obama I am very relunctant to his idea to quit war in Iraq but continue in Afghanistan. If he wants to fight Al-Qaida there, all evidence suggests that Al-Qaida is present in Pakistan rather than in Afghsanistan. I must say that all information about Al-Qaida is very confusing, and I believe that this is intentional. After so many years of "fighting Al-Qaida" I became convinced that Al-Qaida is just a scapegoat, so underneath this kind of "cover" American and maybe other countries' establishment can realize their private goals. I don't want to create another conspiracy theory, but these simple facts prove that this is illogical: under the Taliban opium production diminished, but during the presence of American and other international military forces the production rose to number one in the entire world. Really strange. Also one must take into...

Posted by: Izabella Worwag | February 24, 2008 4:40 PM

Thank you Sarah Chayes,, your comments about the origin of the Taliban match those of a 2004 three hour BBC Documentary called The Power of Nightmares. This program can be viewed on-line at http://www.wanttoknow.info/powerofnightmares. It is three separate one hour programs that were shown on British Television over three nights. Plans are to release the entire program on DVD sometime this year. It is all too typical of the investigative journalism that we no longer see in this country. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions about the content of this program.

Posted by: Richard | February 24, 2008 10:51 AM

Thank you, Sarah Chayes, for your beautifully relevant insights. Though it is unlikely that I could freeze my American life and directly help you now, please know that as a ripe 20 year old, I am committed to being a partner in, not the fight, but the complex process of creating peace, community, tolerance, and sustainability. I wish you and those with you in Arghand the best luck.

Posted by: Dan K | February 24, 2008 12:50 AM

Thankfully for Americans and the larger world, Mr. Moyers did not retire after NOW. Friday nights on PBS have become a bitter pill to swallow due to the world corruption led by the Bush II Administration. Still most PBS stations only show these programs once, while they have time to repeat the trivial and self promotion for hours on end besides the huge gap still remaining in PBS arts programming.

Posted by: James Evans | February 24, 2008 12:49 AM

I can't help but add one more comment as I read more tonight about the terrible situation in Serbia/Kosovo. Bankers Petroleum just gained rights to 50% of the Kucova oil field (490 million barrels of original-oil-in-place) located in the southern portion of Albania ( Kosovo). It seems our government delights in creating problems wherever it goes in the name of oil or opium. The citizens there think the Kososvo decision is about their religion or politics...it is always and only about greed. Oh, and its not over yet: The Company (Banker's Petroleum)has until June 30, 2008 to exercise its option to acquire the remaining 50% interest. I am sure the Albanians will prosper. It is time for the Citizens of the World to "just say no".

Posted by: Ruh | February 23, 2008 11:31 PM

Thank you bill for introducing us to sarah chayes and this story. we are a people of stories. We must make our stories better with our lives. we cannot make our stories better without knowing the people of the stories. The problem comes from our inability to tell the made up stories from the true stories that are being lived this very moment in a true place and time because we are not there and don't see it, don't feel it. another problem comes when we don't want to know these stories, we are afraid of these stories. the stories tell us things have gone wrong and there is a need to correct what has gone wrong. How do we rescue ourselves and correct these stories? The one way I know to start is to find a person like sarah, who is awake and walk with her, keep your eyes wide open and walk along side such shoes. Listen well and act from the heart. Don't worry, your heart will know what to do when the time comes. Have courage and it will make your stories good and you will wonder why you haven't lived your whole life this way...

Posted by: lee jankowski | February 23, 2008 10:22 PM

Thanks for the insight on Afghanistan. Thank you Sarah Chayes for doing something for people in need regardless of the personal hazard. Looking forward more great interviews. Frank http://timawa.net/forum/index.php/topic,11538.0.html

Posted by: frank | February 23, 2008 9:39 PM

Thank you for this riveting interview with a credible journalist, who is also "walking the walk" with the suffering people of Afghanistan. Highly informative and interesting!

Posted by: karen | February 23, 2008 5:48 PM

What do you think? Should the United States remain in Afghanistan? Why or why not? If the U.S. should remain, what should our mission be? Counter-terrorism? Democratization? Nation-building? How do you suggest reformulating U.S. policy and strategy to realistically pursue that mission? Before we undertake a mission to resolve the problem of the world, first, we should resolve our own problems at home. Examples, “The ANF also did not allow the public to comment on changes...” Before a school board meeting is adjourn, a person states, "May I ask a question! The response was," You are out of order" etc. This is a power of dictators that assume the roll of god in pretense that our kids are being educated about "Democracy"! It does not matter what I or others think it is a "dictatorial power"! Should we worry about nation building? We have over "41 millions or one in five working American families can't afford basic needs, and many scrape to get by on insufficient income"! For me, the main important issues have been represented in a very informative way. The responses given to the "TRANSCRIPTS" that I have read ( though I have not read all of them...

Posted by: Chris | February 23, 2008 5:04 PM

Sarah Chayes does represent the best of America. The Bush administration is truly the best ally the Taliban and Al-Qaeda can have.They have created a hamstrung military that is incapable of finishing anything correctly. As for Afghanistan, they have nothing America is interested in (oil), and will forever remain underfunded and forgotten. Pakistan is, perhaps the biggest nuclear proliferator in the world today and not an ally, Bush was duped again. India is our true friend in the region and is the only country in the region worthy of our aide. Iraq remains a big factor to anti US sentiment in the world. The war profiteering that is going on (private contractors) will remain biggest obstacle to ending our occupation. Ending military presence there is needed in order to handle Afghanistan. The USA faces the dreaded Stagflation (Thanks to our conservative Republicans) and will not be able to throw money at the problem. Afghanistan should remain our highest priority, but, it will not until Iraq is resolved. Bush's blunders will haunt us for decades, as Clinton's will also. We need to end the Bush-Clinton dynasty. Lets elect Barack Obama President, his multi cultural background and Harvard intellect is exactly what...

Posted by: Erik Hansen | February 23, 2008 3:51 PM

Thank you so much for covering this story! I just committed to joining the support team for an agricultural development project in Afghanistan, and with my research partner scheduled to leave for Kabul next week, I have been really worried about whether I made the right decision. I was very impressed with the work done by Sarah Chayes, and what she said about the agricultural potential for the region -- a wide variety of lucrative crops like pomegranates and pistachios, plus the expertise of the local people in dryland farming -- matches exactly what my co-researcher, who was born and raised over there, has been telling me. Afghanistan is part of the region that developed many of our fruit, vegetable, and grain crops, during the Neolithic. It has many varieties that are unknown outside of the country, and which could be of immense commercial value. The project I am working on is attempting to conserve some of these ancient crops. http://www.theafghanseeds.org/ I think it's also important to consider that there are many places in the world, including California and the central and southern US, that will be experiencing drier conditions due to climate changes this century. Knowing how to produce...

Posted by: Lisa Kadonaga | February 23, 2008 3:49 PM

I was extremely impressed with Ms.Chayes' work and bravery and indomitable spirit. What she's doing is a good start on cleaning up the mess that the Military-Industrial-Complex has made.

Posted by: nunya | February 23, 2008 2:51 PM

I think we should provide financial assistance to farmers who wish to grow legitimate crops instead of opium, then provide transportation of those crops to a market where they get top dollar. I would suggest the US government help (secretly) a non profit organization that already provides funding in the developing world annd who would provide funding in areas of the world like Kosovo and Afganistan. Perhaps a senator could be convinced to provide an earmark for such a purpose.

Posted by: Andy | February 23, 2008 1:38 PM

I want to thank everyone who has written into this blog from the bottom of my heart for your incredibly moving praise. I need you to understand how much it means not just to me personally but to the whole gang at Arghand -- I am only their ambassador, after all, and I do share your thoughts -- that you take the time to write. Sometimes it feels like we survive on your reflected energy, so believe me, your letters are precious sustenance. A couple of substantive points. To Brit, who wrote about sustainable economics, I could not agree with you more. Though infrastructure and schools are very necessary, they are not in and of themselves sustainable, or self-regenerating, and I think it would behoove donor agencies to consider offering a bit more support to the (sustainable and respectful) private sector, while being careful not to merely line the pockets of the powerful. We should be taking more initiatives in favor of innovative entrepreneurs, perhaps thinking of some of our aid dollars almost as a venture capital fund. As many of you will imagine, I take strong exception to most of what "a tired infidel woman" wrote. We will only...

Posted by: Sarah Chayes | February 23, 2008 1:26 PM

Dear Bill, Thank you for having Ms. Chayes on your show last night. For me it was a verification of what I have understood the war to be all about. The fact that Canada and the US indeed the free world are filling the coffers of Pakistan and at the same time Pakistan is harbouring the Taliban inside their borders has alawys seemed like sheer folly to me. Canada just like the US prefers to engage in support the troops fever, every second car has one of those patriotic stickers on it.I support the troops as well but my idea of support is to get them all out of Afganistan and Iraq and out of harms way. A good half of Canadians and Americans share this view but mainstream media keeps the other Half of the people on the side of stay the course. I also want to thank Mrs Chayes for pointing out that Killing Iraqi's and Afghans as well as destroying opium crops is only building up Al Qeda and Taliban support, Thank you for your Excellent Work, N Farley Tottenham Ontario Canada.

Posted by: Norbert Farley | February 23, 2008 1:14 PM

Comments on your 'earmarks' section refer to Kosovo as the trafficing hub for the opium trade. In light of the eagerness our government has displayed to recognize Kosovo's independence (and I must sadly say that the Obama camp seems to be on board with this) I am having a very sick feeling about what exactly IS going on in Afghanistan. Thank you for two very important investigations.

Posted by: juliania | February 23, 2008 12:48 PM

Ms. Chayes offered what it takes too much work and effort to find... a clear unfettered view of a country that has been simplified to an emotional soundbite in our collective mindset. I will buy her book, recommend it to others, and then help her close the economic loop that will allow her Arghand cooperative to sustain itself and serve as a model for others... I'll buy some of her soap (despite being a modest midwest school teacher rather than a member of the "pampered" NYC affluentia). Now if only governments could put as much emphasis on building goodwill (eg, security and prosperity) via sustainable economics and civil society as they do on the application of "hard power", we'd cut the roots of poverty and instability off at their source. The trick is how to support emerging cultures (their needs, not ours), give them access to globalized markets while permitting them to keep their identity and dignity (their definitions, not ours), while allowing them to determine their own pace and level of engagement. Chayes is right - hope isn't enough; we need to facilitate the action that turns hope into reality. She walks her talk.

Posted by: Brit Satchwell | February 23, 2008 11:38 AM

Sarah Chayes is one of our national treasures. She is one of the few heroes that the US is sharing with the world. Despite the fact that she is one of the most knowledgeable, incisive and brave Americans working in Afghanistan, she is invisible in the US media. Thank you, Bill, for allowing us to benefit from her wisdom.

Posted by: Bill Howley | February 23, 2008 11:33 AM

Dear Mr. Moyers, Afganistan grows and sells opium, and America grows and sells war. I think we should become farmers again for the common good of all and reap as we do exactly what we sow. Thanks again, = MJA

Posted by: Michael J Ahles | February 23, 2008 11:23 AM

Sarah Chayes for Secretary of State!

Posted by: Julie Bland | February 23, 2008 10:55 AM

To the poster who wanted to donate to Sarah Chayes' business: here is the website for her company, which accepts online donations. http://www.arghand.org/

Posted by: meeshy | February 23, 2008 9:26 AM

I was so drawn to Sarah Chayse every thought and word and wished the interview lasted at least another 3 hours. She is not only magnetic but intellectually and politically brilliant. I wish I could be by her side often to learn from her. She is a strong person. Many thanks for giving me the opportunity of hearing her.

Posted by: Robert Colasacco | February 23, 2008 9:05 AM

I am moved to make a remark substantially *off topic: I notice two things. 1. Ms. Chayes totally charming remark about knowing the pashtuns who inhabit both sides of the Durant Line, and having no difficulty "running" her palm and coconut oil if she wished. 2. Her continued well-being despite what might be perceived by a hard core traditionalist as her tendency to encourage both the uppityness of women and the independent thought of men. Someone very important, maybe several someones, have her back. They have my thanks. *Withal, the fact alone that a woman as luminescent as Ms. Chayes has come under the protection of the Pashtunwali tells us that there is a sheikh or maybe three that is sprung like a minibus gone over the side of an Afghan highway... At least "her guys" know a good thing when they see one (specially when she isn't wearing a burka)...This should give us hope for the brotherhood of man

Posted by: jollyroger | February 23, 2008 3:58 AM

Is it too much to hope that the next president invites Ms. Chayes to the White House—and listens closely to her? We desperately need a voice of real truth and reason close to those in power. Meanwhile, though, Ms. Chayes doesn’t wait for hope and is literally taking matters into her own hands, day by day helping to rebuild a country we have helped to unravel. All I can say is…wow, and thank you.

Posted by: Katie | February 23, 2008 1:12 AM

Knew this was a must watch when my local PBS station (WBHM - Birmingham Alabama), immediately cut your show off midway and started Charlie Rose. Now this was a wee bit suspicious, as we don't even get Mr. Rose any longer. It's a shame the rest of my little hamlet will never get to hear Ms Chayes. But of course it's only natural... as around here most everyone knows everything the need to know - about the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and Afghanistan. Thank you PBS for providing streaming video.

Posted by: Phillip C Foti | February 23, 2008 12:58 AM

Thanks so much for making the public aware of this forgotten war and kudos to Ms Chayes for her untiring efforts. I think all of us in America should start asking why the current administration continues to ignore the threat in Afghanistan and instead throws away our resources and the lives of our men and women in Iraq.

Posted by: Mark Shellhammer | February 23, 2008 12:48 AM

Bill introduced Charlie Wilson's War as having a "happy Hollywood ending". Did he see the movie? I think not. The ending of the movie was far from this. It provided the viewer with some limited insight into why Afghanistan is the way it is now. I watch BMJ every week. For most stories I can't "ground truth" the information that is presented. This week I could and I was left wanting. Granted the information in question was trivial. But I wonder if the trivial information is wrong, what about the non-trivial information?

Posted by: Wade Bingle | February 23, 2008 12:45 AM

Terrific interview—as usual. I am against any interference in any Islamic country. All we are doing is spending blood and treasure for nothing; throwing good money after bad. We liberated Afghanistan from the Taliban it voluntarily brought forth and from Al Qaeda it also voluntarily supported. It's time for the Afghans to stand up against their own devils. SARAH CHAYES: "...You've got people now with blood feud against NATO troops because of things like, you know, civilian casualties. These are people who need-- it's blood debt. They need to recoup that debt. And they're not going to be persuaded out of that." I'm sorry, but it seems to me that all these people know is "blood debt and revenge." Thousands of years of that and look where they are—still in the dark ages. After all, the Afghans embraced the Taliban. They harbored the Arabs who plotted 9/11. What did the Afghans grow for survival before their country became a narcostate? What business does a person who makes a few hundred dollars a year have spending ten thousand dollars on a wedding? If "businessmen" can offer farmers credit for growing opium poppies they can damn well offer credit to grow other...

Posted by: A tired infidel woman | February 23, 2008 12:23 AM

Hello, Ms. Chayse is a fascinating lady of international stature. My appreciation to Bill Moyer's Journal for making me aware of her. As a thinking American with international experience, I rarely am able to see someone else that "Get's It", and is "Doing It" Please forward to Ms. Chayse my humble appreciation for what she is doing for humankind, and my wishes that she can safely continue. Her words meant a lot to me and I will past them on to the youth. Ensuite, Elle est extraordinaire. TDH

Posted by: TDH | February 23, 2008 12:16 AM

Sarah Chayes was amazing. I want to support her cause, so like a typical American I'll ask; Where/ how can I throw money at her? (and don't tell me I have to buy a boat for the coast guard, I already heard they don't need one!) It would seem being able to pay your employees a higher wage would attract more employees, increasing production, requiring more raw materials requiring more fruit and nut fields, farmers and so on....maybe they would even have to cut down the opium fields to make way for the shampoo herbals! -Brian

Posted by: Brian | February 23, 2008 12:16 AM

Bravo Ms. Chayes for your insightful, passionate, and extremely eloquent assessment of the mess we are making in Afghanistan. Your ability to help viewers understand the mess our government has made and continues to make, while offering sensible suggestions for improvement - made real by your own economic and personal commitment there - was truly inspirational. I wish you, your company and the Afghan people peace, safety and prosperity. Thanks to Bill Moyers (again and again) and to PBS.

Posted by: Liza | February 23, 2008 12:01 AM

Dear Mr. Moyers, a copy of this amazingly forthright interview needs to be sent to every member of Congress as well as hand delivered to the White House. Each Presidential Candidate should receive a copy and the American Public should demand a response to each of the points raised by Sarah Chayes. I would be more than happy to contribute an additional amount to Public Television to defray the cost of these copies. Money very well spent in my opinion!!! Would PBS consider such an action?

Posted by: Bobbie Kocim | February 22, 2008 11:34 PM

Sarah Chayes is someone we should all be listening to re: Afghanistan. However, there was ONE thing that was NOT mentioned during the interview. . .That American corporations are making hundreds of billions of dollars of the Afghan "excursion" [the same massive profits are being made in Iraq, also!] It's been said many times, many ways. . .War is good business!

Posted by: Brian Flaherty | February 22, 2008 11:34 PM

This story is excellent and it points out just how stupid we have been for years and how stupid we continue to be about the area. Thank you, Bob Mooney

Posted by: Robert L. Mooney, Sr. | February 22, 2008 10:46 PM

Sarah, I don't know if you read these, but you did a wonderful job. You defined the problem, offered valid immediately useful solutions and you are working to solve the problem. This is called being a Citizen of the World. Sounds like there is a need for MicroCredit in Afghanistan.

Posted by: Paul | February 22, 2008 10:45 PM

Incredible interview! When are Americans going to wake up that Al-Qaeda really is Al-CIA-da. I hear similar reports on alternative media all the time, that the war on terror is a hoax, and that our government is actually financing, through nefarious ways, the taliban that we are supposed to be fighting. It is like an empowering triumph for such an interview to air on mainstream media. I want a copy of this interview with Sarah Chayes and intend to loan it to my friends. What a true and honest hero she is. Thank you Bill Moyers.

Posted by: Henry | February 22, 2008 10:29 PM

Reply to Sara Demo: Yes, if we spray their crops, they are out the money they make from growing poppies (which is generous, I am sure). What is the US alternative? Dead poppies and a poisoned field, no income. Why wouldn't they threaten to join the Taliban? As Sarah mentioned, why aren't we helping to rebuild their country by fostering fruit and nut groves to rival those in California? Why aren't we offering them a valid economic alternative? With GE calling the shots in Pakistan and India, Pakistan has no choice but to help us with "whatever". No wonder the Afghans are confused. We aren't really there to help the Afghans, we're there to make money. What a mess we've made.

Posted by: Ruth | February 22, 2008 10:21 PM

Villages shaken-down by a corrupt govt during the day, and by the Taliban at night, of course, echoes Vietnam. As a result we are likely going to lose hearts and minds as we did there. That ppl cannot figure out who their friends really are or how they are going to live decent lives is not surprising. There were ppl like Sarah Chayes in Vietnam as well, herself an advertisement for good journalism, but it took a purge and years of suffering for the ppl there to unite and embark on a moderate path.

Posted by: RE Mant | February 22, 2008 10:17 PM

Sarah Chayes' piece was certainly an eye-opener! But I'm confused about one thing. She said that, if we sprayed (destroyed) a poppy field, the farmer would join the Taliban. But later she said that the Afghans believe that, by virtue of our alliance with Pakistan, we are also allied with the Taliban. This seems contradictory. Can you explain?

Posted by: Sarah Demo | February 22, 2008 10:10 PM

It was great to see and hear Sarah Chayse! She is saying everything that I have been thinking for several years now. We are in Afghanistan for the opium poppy. The Taliban had wiped out the poppy crop prior to 9/11/01 and now it is a bumper crop thanks to George W, et al. In Iraq for oil, in Afghanistan for opium. All the senseless killing and maiming in the name of freedom??? NO! in the name of GREED. When is enough enough? If you think Obama or anyone of those puppets will do anything to stop this flow of cash crops, think again citizens. I respect Sarah's courage and respect her more than any politician. Thank you Bill for offering her a platform from which to speak the truth.

Posted by: Ruth from Mercer County NJ | February 22, 2008 10:08 PM