How did the war in Afghanistan start? And how did NATO become involved in this conflict? These details are never discussed because they have for nearly two decades been hidden behind a shroud of secrecy. But now, after nearly two decades of lies, the remarkable truth about the secret documents that helped launch the Afghan war can finally be revealed. This is the story of The Secret Lie That Started the Afghan War.
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TRANSCRIPT
Yet another surge of violence in Afghanistan, including suicide bombings by the Taliban and retaliatory airstrikes by US forces, is reminding the world once again of the fact that the Afghan war is far from over.
AMY GOODMAN: In Afghanistan, a fierce battle is continuing over the control of the strategic city of Ghazni, four days after the Taliban attacked the city, killing more than 200 peopleâincluding over 100 soldiers and police officers. Many residents have fled the city.
SOURCE: Democracy Now, August 13, 2018
CHARLOTTE BELLIS: Ghazni morphed into an urban battlefield last Friday. People were trapped for five days in their homes as thousands of Taliban fighters and Afghan soldiers fought in the streets. U.S. helicopters, drones and a B-1 bomber patrolled overhead.
SOURCE: UN: Ghazni still dangerous for all after Taliban pushed out
JUDY WOODRUFF: In Afghanistan, Taliban fighters overran a military base, killing at least 17 soldiers. They attacked the site in Northern Faryab province and claimed dozens of soldiers surrendered.
SOURCE: PBS NewsHour August 14, 2018
HEATHER NEUERT: The horrific attack is a clear effort to foment sectarian violence and hold back the Afghan peoplesâ hopes for a future of peace and security. It reminds us, once again, the importance of reaching a peaceful solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. The United States continues to stand with the Government of Afghanistan and the people of Afghanistan and will continue to support their efforts to achieve peace and security in their country.
âPeaceâ and âsecurity.â For 17 years now the American people (and the people of the world) have listened to the US State Department tell us how the American military is working to bring âpeaceâ and âsecurityâ to Afghanistan. But this lie is self-refuting.
At 17 years, the Afghan war is now the longest war in American history, and, despite recent reports about negotiations between the US and the Taliban, the deployment of troops in the country has actually increased in the Trump era.
JUJU CHANG: Breaking news on the nationâs long war in Afghanistan: President Trump in a prime time address declaring the US must continue the fight.
DONALD TRUMP: The consequences of a rapid exit are both predictable and unacceptable.
[âŚ]MARTHA RADDATZ: And while he didnât commit to a specific number of additional troops (although he said we will see âoverwhelming forceâ), the president has given Defense Secretary Mattis the authority to set troop levels, and Mattis has favored sending in about 4,000 more US troops.
But as the US falls deeper and deeper into the Afghan quagmire, we risk forgetting how this war was actually authorized. The public is merely reminded, in Pavlovian fashion, that:
TRUMP: 9/11, the worst terrorist attack in our history, was planned and directed from Afghanistan.
But how was that determination made? Who made it? When? And how did NATO become involved in this conflict? These details are never discussed because they have for nearly two decades, been hidden behind a shroud of secrecy. As we shall see, the entire war was waged on a false pretense, based on supposed evidence that was classified and withheld from the public.
But now, after nearly two decades of lies, the remarkable truth about the secret documents that helped launch the Afghan war can finally be revealed.
This is the story of The Secret Lie That Started the Afghan War.
Youâre watching The Corbett Report.
Just one day after 9/11, while the toxic dust was still settling on Ground Zero, the North Atlantic CouncilâNATOâs decision-making bodyâmet to discuss NATOâs response to the attacks.
NATO SEC. GEN. LORD ROBERTSON: On September the 12th the North Atlantic Council met again in response to the appalling attacks perpetrated yesterday against the United States of America. The Council agreed that if it is if it is determined that this attack was directed from abroad against the United States it shall be regarded as an action covered by article 5 of The Washington treaty which states that an armed attack against one or more of the allies in Europe or in North America shall be considered an attack against them all.
[âŚ]Article 5 of the Washington Treaty stipulates that in the event of attacks falling within its purview, each Ally will assist the Party that has been attacked by taking such action as it deems necessary. Accordingly, the United Statesâ NATO Allies stand ready to provide the assistance that may be required as a consequence of these acts of barbarism.
The âWashington Treaty,â more formally known as the North Atlantic Treaty, is the founding document of NATO. Consisting of 14 articles, it lays out the obligations of the signatory nations to their fellow NATO members. Article 5 states that:
