Famous Quotes & Sayings

Lakhdar Brahimi

It also seems that the Afghans themselves want to avail themselves of this opportunity and all recognize that the UN is uniquely qualified to help bring them together.

William T. Vollmann

'In the nineteenth century, we beat the British more than once,' Afghans often told me. 'In the twentieth century, we beat the Russians. In the twenty-first, if we have to, we'll beat the Americans!'

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

The majority of Afghans do not see the Americans as foreign occupiers who must be defeated. Instead, they are hungry for the Americans to step up and help them make their country safer, their government cleaner and their economy stronger. They are disappointed because the international community has done too little, not too much.

When US-led forces toppled the Taliban government in November 2001, Afghans celebrated the downfall of a reviled and discredited regime.

After spending time in the East and meeting with ordinary Afghans there, it's hard to imagine how a future Afghan government will retain control of provinces such as Khost or Paktia once U.S. forces are gone.

The London Conference should not be an occasion for celebratory backslapping, but for rolling up sleeves and making up for past weak performance. The gains made by Afghans are not sustainable without greater international support and commitment.

William T. Vollmann

Americans worry that Afghanistan has become a petri dish in which the germs of Islamic fanaticism are replicating - soon Afghans will be hijacking American planes and bombing embassies everywhere. And their fears are not necessarily unfounded. The Taliban are unemployed war veterans, ready and even eager to return to the battlefield.

A new wave of millions of Afghans will overwhelm hospitality, (we must) insure that we have local and federal governments on board.

Richard Engel

The Taliban may pine for a pre-industrial society, but most Afghans do not.

In media coverage of the war, Afghans are often characterized as corrupt and deceitful. There has certainly been plenty of corruption and deceit in this conflict, but why? What inspires these behaviors? In 'Green on Blue,' I wanted to render a world that is often overlooked: that of the average Afghans who are helping America wage its war.

George W. Bush

Braving deadly attacks and threats of violence, Afghans voted in large numbers,

Donald Rumsfeld

We know that Afghans ... know how to fight.

Lots of Afghans are disappointed and cynical because they feel like people who perpetrated serious human rights abuses have been allowed back in the parliament.

Emma Bonino

Because of the regional context, because of where they come from, because of the complexity of the issue, without a strong commitment of the international community the Afghans know that they cannot do it themselves.

Because of the international community's failure to provide sufficient security and financial assistance, Afghans are struggling against a resurgent Taliban movement, entrenched warlords, and severe poverty. Afghans have managed to progress despite these challenges, but they need real support, not just rhetoric.

Stephen Kinzer

The Afghans are probably the world champions in resisting foreign domination and infiltration into their country.

Lakhdar Brahimi

For the past ten years the UN has been trying to help the Afghans end their wars against one another, but we have been unsuccessful.

I believe a high number of Afghans have turned out to vote.

Brad Thor

The Afghans I met were some of the nicest and most honorable people I've ever encountered. There is a code called 'Pashtunwali,' so if someone invites you into their village, every last man will fight to protect your life. I was impressed by that.

Rory Stewart

As a Scot, I instinctively feel a sympathy towards a culture which is based on generosity. It's very refreshing. Afghans think they're the best people in the world and their country is the best place in the world, and it's strange because you go there and it doesn't really look like it, and yet they assume that everybody else envies them.

Rory Stewart

The Taliban, broadly speaking, are Afghans - farmers, subsistence farmers. As I say, most of those people can't find the United States on the map. Al Qaeda, traditionally, are much more educated, middle-class people, often from Egypt, from Saudi Arabia, North Africa.

Unlike the Afghans and Iraqis, the South Korean people solidly supported the American military presence, which was part of a United Nations operation.

P. J. O'Rourke

The Afghans themselves say that if you put two Afghans in a room, you get three factions.

This will require programs that ensure the participation of Afghans in the development of the country, while meeting the needs of vulnerable groups and poor regions.

Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Certainly Afghans in general and women in particular want a country in which security is a daily reality rather than a campaign slogan or the focus of drive-by speeches from diplomats dropping in for the day.

John R. Allen

We're pursuing a strategic partnership with Afghanistan on the case of the United States and Afghanistan where we're going to push toward a future. It is the future that the Afghans desire with the United States. It is a future that the Afghans desire with the international community and we desire that as well.