Egregious Eric Margolis and Afghan pipeline nonsense

A letter in the Ottawa Sun (last at link):

Not a major concern

Re: “Quittin’ time in Afghanistan” (Aug. 23). Eric Margolis writes “The war really is about oil pipeline routes and western domination of the energy-rich Caspian Basin.”

Nonsense. Afghanistan has no role in the production or transportation of Caspian Basin oil. Most of that oil is in Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. Azerbaijan has no need for Afghanistan as a pipeline route. Neither does Kazakhstan. Its oil is exported by pipeline via Russia and to China.

Margolis also mentions “western oil and gas pipelines.” There is indeed a long-standing plan to transport natural gas produced in Turkmenistan by pipeline through Afghanistan to Pakistan and maybe India. But that is hardly a vital national security or capitalist interest for the U.S., or for other NATO members. Moreover, the pipeline would not be “western.” The participating countries will own it. And, given current conditions, such a pipeline is not likely to be built for quite a while. In any case, most of the gas would be for Pakistani and perhaps Indian consumption — not a major concern for other countries.

Mark Collins

Ottawa

(Pipelines are always a touchy subject) [their comment]

Links sent with the letter:

http://www.upi.com/Energy_Resources/2009/06/18/Progress-on-TAPI-pipeline-in-doubt/UPI-29261245335324/
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\05\14\story_14-5-2009_pg7_16
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/gail-to-lay-tapi-pipeline/302755/ (see para 2)
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8277
http://www.globalinsight.com/SDA/SDADetail6096.htm
http://www.gasandoil.com/goc/company/cnc92408.htm

More spanking of the misguided (to be, er, kind) Mr Margolis here and here. And on pipelines:

No pipeline shoot!

Update: A thoughtful message received from a friend in England:

Whilst some, and I use that word guardedly, of what Eric Margolis has written, may be true there are some areas of his article which are clearly flawed.

The proposed pipeline scheme will be owned by the participating countries across which it is to be run, not by oil/gas multi-nationals. The end product beneficiaries will be Pakistan and possibly India, for whom the gas/oil will be of tremendous developmental importance.

The idea of the war in Afghanistan being a conspiracy concocted by the multi-nationals is a nonsense.

The idea that only the majority Pashtun group has been enfranchised during the recently held elections is similarly not true. The election has been held nationwide with all eligible having the right to vote. It may be true that some electoral mismanagement or fraud caused some not to be able to vote but the right to vote was officially there.

The idea that the drug trade can be stopped by simply closing the borders of Afghanistan is naive. These borders run for thousands of kilometres across some of the most rugged terrain in the world and are criss-crossed by thousands of official and many more unofficial tracks known only to the smugglers. To attempt to close these would be a well nigh impossible task even if one were to eliminate the corruption of officials on both sides of the borders and in Kabul itself. The real answer is to be found at the root of production. Eliminate the Taleban who now benefit from the profits of the trade. Eliminate the fields and provide the Afghans with an alternative source of income in a sound economic atmosphere.

To do this means helping the country to adopt a stronger, uncorrupt form of government which can take control of the whole country, rule by democratic consensus and provide the economy and public services which everyone in the country needs and wants. To return the country to traditional tribal rule would be to allow fragmentation, dissension and stagnation whilst the narrow interests of ethnic groups and local 'war lords would take preponderance over the core
national issues.

It is partially true that under the Taleban government a sense of order reigned, allbeit in a way very similar to the best of any of the mediaeval regime you may think of. Would one want a return to ignorance, narrow theocracy and a radical limitation of human rights - especially that of women?

The solution for Afghanistan is to provide the country with time. Time during which the security of all its citizens is provided. Time during which education in democracy or political freedoms can be given. Time in which communications and public services can be installed. This time, this breathing space, will only be achieved with the defeat of armed insurgency and support for fledgling government. There is no quick fix. Yes the Afghans should be able to do this
themselves but they will need help in doing so over a long period of time. Rome was not built in day, Kabul neither.

As for the other reasons put forward for the Allies presence in Afghanistan - there is certainly a connected security issue outside the country. The Taleban and Al Quaeda have been responsible for the training and equipping of groups of Jihhadists in both Afghanistan, Pakistan and more importantly in the non governmental tribal areas which lie between the two countries.These groups have brought their 'war' to other countries- Indonesia, India, Pakistan itself, the north African states, Spain, France the US and my own country the UK.

Once again to strike at the root of the issue is the best and easiest way of eliminating it. This can be partially achieve, as I have previously staterd by armed repression and defeat but in the long term the solution lies in stable consensual government, education and an improved economy in which the young will have a 'raison d'etre' other than that which attracts them into extremist groups.

The pipeline conspiracy theory should be garbaged and the real work of helping Afghanistan shoould be promulgated. It is a far worthier cause than mere sensationalism.