During the Afghan War, it was clear who the enemy was. The Taliban were a group of religious zealots who harboured terrorists, killed with fervour and enslaved women.

But then why did so many Afghans join with the Taliban during the years that Canada was fighting in Kandahar? 

And if the Taliban were our enemies, who exactly were our friends and allies? In many cases, they were torturers, rapists and murderers themselves.

 

Featured in this episode: Rangina Hamidi, Matthieu Aikins, Ahmad Malgarai, Bruce Moncur, David Pugliese (Ottawa Citizen)

 

To learn more:

“Our Man in Kandahar” by Matthieu Aikins in The Atlantic

“House of Pain: Canada's connection with Kandahar's ruthless palace guard” by Graeme Smith in The Globe and Mail

The Dogs Are Eating Them Now: Our War in Afghanistanby Graeme Smith 

“Today We Shall All Die” Afghanistan’s Strongmen and the Legacy of Impunityby Human Rights Watch

 

Additional music from Audio Network

 

This episode is brought to you by Oxio, Ground News, 22 Murders, HelloFresh

 

If you listen on Apple, subscribe to Canadaland Politics for $2.99/month for ad-free episodes of COMMONS, Wag the Doug and The BackBench.

https:/apple.co/3wjxaRW

During the Afghan War, it was clear who the enemy was. The Taliban were a group of religious zealots who harboured terrorists, killed with fervour and enslaved women.
But then why did so many Afghans join with the Taliban during the years that Canada was fighting in Kandahar?&nbsp;
And if the Taliban were our enemies, who exactly were our friends and allies? In many cases, they were torturers, rapists and murderers themselves.
&nbsp;
Featured in this episode: Rangina Hamidi, Matthieu Aikins, Ahmad Malgarai, Bruce Moncur, David Pugliese (Ottawa Citizen)
&nbsp;
To learn more:
<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2011/11/our-man-in-kandahar/308653/">&ldquo;Our Man in Kandahar&rdquo;</a> by Matthieu Aikins in The Atlantic
<a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/house-of-pain-canadas-connection-with-kandahars-ruthless-palace-guard/article1372156/">&ldquo;House of Pain: Canada's connection with Kandahar's ruthless palace guard&rdquo;</a> by Graeme Smith in The Globe and Mail
<a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Dogs-Are-Eating-Them-Now/dp/0307397807">The Dogs Are Eating Them Now: Our War in Afghanistan</a> by Graeme Smith&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.hrw.org/report/2015/03/03/today-we-shall-all-die/afghanistans-strongmen-and-legacy-impunity">&ldquo;Today We Shall All Die&rdquo; Afghanistan&rsquo;s Strongmen and the Legacy of Impunity</a> by Human Rights Watch
&nbsp;
Additional music from Audio Network
&nbsp;
This episode is brought to you by <a href="https://canadaland.oxio.ca/">Oxio</a>, <a href="https://ground.news/commons">Ground News</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/22-Murders-Investigating-Massacres-Obstacles/dp/1039001270">22 Murders</a>, <a href="https://www.hellofresh.com/commons16">HelloFresh</a>
&nbsp;
If you listen on Apple, subscribe to Canadaland Politics for $2.99/month for ad-free episodes of COMMONS, Wag the Doug and The BackBench.
<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/canadaland-politics/id6442726282?ign-itscg=30200&amp;ign-itsct=podcast_box_link">https:/apple.co/3wjxaRW</a>

COMMONS is a documentary podcast that proves Canada is anything but boring. Each season, host Arshy Mann guides you through the country’s dark underbelly, bringing you stories about crime, corruption and all manner of misdeeds. This season: the truly unbelievable story of Canada’s longest war.

COMMONS is a documentary podcast that proves Canada is anything but boring. Each season, host Arshy Mann guides you through the country&rsquo;s dark underbelly, bringing you stories about crime, corruption and all manner of misdeeds. This season: the truly unbelievable story of Canada&rsquo;s longest war.

A politics show for people who hate politics.

Advertisement