is good but the red the blue i dot no hows the relly the eval 1 .

god help us all!!!.

Very interesting...

My sincere appreciation to the author of this beautiful documentary which reflects some facts about the immmortal Massoud who devoted his whole life fighting for freedom, and finally he lost his life in that way.

Hello,
Thank you very much for beautiful documentary.

Best Regards
Ahmad

Arthur, don't stop. What you are doing is so important. I have contacted my MP to ask questions in the House. It's a very small step but it's what I can do right now. Let us know what else we can do.

Thanks John. Our political leaders - or should we remind them, our public servants - need a great big wakeup call on Afghanistan. It's time for results, especially in cleaning up the Karzai government.

tanks

I am surprised at what goes on in this world and yet we seem so clueless.

Thank you for opening our eyes. I wish I can make a difference and do something but what?????

Get on the phone to your MP, Senator or Congresswoman. Tell 'em it's time to quit playing "The Great Game" and get serious - ie, seriously effective. Thanks for surfing by!

I travel about 6 months of the year. Is there anything I can contribute to while abroad?

Arthur,

I came upon your website as a result of your segment on The Hour last night. This is a great website! Keep up the great work.

Thanks, RG. And sko, yes certainly. Your emails or phone calls while abroad to your politicians' offices at home have greater impact - they know you're aware, and that you really care.

Best reporting I've seen on Afghanistan. I learned more about the people and conflict from a few minutes on your website, than months of bla, bla, bla from all other newscasts. Keep it up!

I would like to say thank you for creating this site.

This site offers other ex Canadian military an insight into the actions in hot spots of the world.

It is a shame that people have chosen not to heed your observations.

Please stay safe in your journeys because I know the feathers you are ruffling have long talons.

Thanks again

Thanks for the nice documentary. I am delighted to know more about Ahmad Shah Massoud. Cheers.

I remember some of this footage from your Return to Afghanistan documentary. Or maybe it was excerpted from the original. At any rate, it is nice to be reminded of this important man Massoud. As John said above, you are providing such important information to us that we are unable to get elsewhere. I will write my Congressmen today. Thank you to the Skyreporter.com team.

Thank you for your work. Can you tell me your take on the Senlis Council - quoted by Stephan Dion - as suggesting that we support poppy farmers by buying up the opiate and using it for pharmaceuticals etc. I was surprised to hear a liberal suggest something so outside the box. It seems to me crucial that we find a way to support local economies. Is poppy production a reasonable metier to foster?

As a former journalist myself I greatly admire the work you continue to do. I must also say that it is refreshing to see a journalist who does not "cave" into the media's often biased coverage of world events (for whatever reason). This Web page is a great tool to educate citizens about current world affairs, however people who might stumble upon it are probably already fairly well-educated in these issues (they are looking for the info). Do you have any plans to offer your work in a more mainstream media in the future?

Arthur - It would be really interesting if you were to produce a segment showing how you manage this site, produce/edit clips, etc. In essence, a 'behind the scenes' look at Sky Reporter.com. It would be a great resource for others considering producing a similar website/content. Your videos are superb! I've learned more about Afghanistan on your website than watching news on T.V.

Everyone, thank you for these wonderful comments. Now, please stand by. We have a news bulletin, just in from Kabul. I'll have it up momentarily. Please refer to our previous stories for further background.

Arthur Kent is a good reporter. He should re iterate for the uninitiated the original story that the "Northern Alliance" allies of the "West" were a bunch of Heroin dealers that the Taliban were unable to suppress because the region was too mountainous.

It would also be really nice if he would cover the fact that in 2005 the Pentagon closed it's Al Queda office declaring that "Al Queda was no longer a threat." If I was President of the United States as long as Bin Laden was alive the Al Queda office would never close. But I am not President, and since 911 seems to be forgotten, what with the British and the Americans now de-emphasizing the War on Terror, why is NATO in Afghanistan? If the Americans can forgive and forget why shouldn't we?

It would be nice if he would cover the fact that the sole reason for the continuing NATO presence there is so that Unocal can build a pipeline to Pakistan thereby avoiding the Caspian Sea.

Also, it would be helpful if he would do a story showing that Paul Wolfowitz was sent to the World Bank to secure financing for these pipeline projects that are way to risky for private business to undertake.

Basically, no sane businessman or businesswoman would actually build a pipeline through Afghanistan, and no sane banker would fund it. So with Wolfie at the World Bank they can secure the financing for such a project. With NATO there to provide security the pipeline has a snowball's chance in hell of actually surviving long enough to make some money.

As for the President of Afghanistan he and his government will survive for a long time. At least long enough to see those loans signed and the pipeline built.

In the next Canadian election I am going to vote for the party that promises to bring the troops home immediately upon election.

Cheers mate

Thanks for your contribution, OFUC. But let's remember that 80% of Afghans want and need NATO's and the Canadian Forces' help in keeping the Taliban out of their lives. Provided our government starts displaying some smarts on Pakistan and reforming the Karzai government, surely we should help our troops acheive the success that they and the Afghan people deserve.

Thank you very much for your work. I particularly appreciate your videos about our immortal hero Ahmad Shah Massoud. Your site is beautiful and most important of all, just and well-done.

Cheers,

Monia

achieve not acheive....

Thank you for your response Arthur Kent. I have been a follower of your work for a long time and admire what you are doing here. I am working through your stories.

I have a relative serving in Afghanistan as a Corporal. He totally is convinced of the good Canadians are doing. In order to maintian peace in the family I don't talk about Afghanistan in his presence.

I would actually like some news on Pakistan. It is an underreported area, and an important one. For example what has happenned to all the Afghan refugees that moved there under the Soviets? Are they still there or have they moved back home?

Pakistan is very important for the nuclear issue. As a young child I remember India breaking a nuclear treaty with Canada and constructing its first Atomic bomb with Canadian technology. What I find interesting is that India took 25 years to build up its nuclear arsenal while Pakistan accomplished the same thing in a much shorter time. Who helped them and at what price? That is a story far too in depth for coverage even by you. It is relevant to what will happen with that nuclear arsenal if Mr. Musraff's government falls.

The preceeding paragraph is a very long lead in to my question are there protests against Mr. Musraff's government? Should we be worried about this or is it just hysteria?

My opinions on Afghanistan is shaped by reading a book called "Jawbreaker" by CIA agent "Gary". Have you read the book?

Cheers OFUC

Peter-Excellent, informative reporting on the Afghan situation. You and Eric Margolis should team up. The Hour brought your work to light for me. I am aware of much of what you had to say but not to the depth after reading some of your articles. I am very interested in the man on the ground reporting because our troops are at risk and I know our government does not tell us the truth and in doing so, leaves our troops with one hand tied behind their back by not fighting out in the open, the corruption of the Karzai government and the complicity of the Pakistan government. I will admit it is a delicate issue to confront. An independent council should be named to study the entire Afghan war with particular attention to Canada's involvement. A report to be presented to the Canadian people each month. Spend the money needed for our troops, or bring them home. Also, I think the world should hear more from Afghans, those inside and outside hear in Canada.

My apologized Arthur. I guess I have dated myself. Your work stands on its own. Please keep getting the message out.

Good work Arthur, the Kents are famous for this in Canada.Your honest and sincere reporting assists us all in better understanding the complex situation prevailing in the Afghan war zone.I suggest you provide a feed to McKay and Harper so they too know the situation from a Canadian-in-the-field reporter of other than our normal news services.
Parry Sound, Ontario.

Thanks Ted. I'm certainly knocking on Mr. Mackay's and Mr. Harper's doors, but they're still not answering. The same experience I've had in past with Messrs. Bush and Blair. Send troops to war? Easy. Explore every political and diplomatic option to win the peace? Uh, just what might those be?

Your passion for Afghanistan in general and the Afghan people in particular seems very emotional. May I ask why and how and any other reason aside from being a concerned and a hard-line journalist?

Arthur,

Thank you for reporting the real story in Afghanistan!

I enjoyed seeing you on "THE HOUR."

I will keep logging on to your web site to find out what is really going on in the Middle East.

Will you be speaking in the New York City area anytime before May 15th?

Why do we hear so little of the ambassadors from the U.S. to other countries? When I was growing up it seems that a lot of the progress made with other countries was through our ambassadorial system. Ambassadors are an important part of any peace effort, yet we hear very little about what our ambassadors are doing.

I agree absolutely, Cathy. But in recent years, especially since 9/11, both communications and orders seem to flow only one way: outward from Washington and London - and, worryingly, from Ottawa, too. Sound foreign policy, like real international news reporting, must be grounded in accurate insight and analysis from seasoned professionals in the region. Not dogmatic political bosses in our own capitals.

Thanks Mr. Kent. I’m Happy not to be spun by the one-sided media coverage that has leaked northward. I’m tired of watching international news (BBC) thinking I’m an outsider in this country. As sad as the recent events have been in the southern states lately, I don’t know why we as Canadians have to follow Stone Phillips and his blue screen interviews wherever he and the American media decide to take us. Interviewing parents before there child’s body has reached room temperature is sensation. Please keep doing the right thing. As hard as your real reporting has been on you has only brought relief and peace to others. You have been book marked.

massdov was a russian puppet and sold his ass to russia. he is a kaffir.

AhmadShah Mosoud was a great man

Ahmadshah Masoud ıs the best person in this world
he was so brave we afghan people are proud of him

Would be nice to see Masood's role in the massacre of hazaras in kabul, and also when talking of corruption,warlords and fat cats, one does wonder, why is it that no mention of masood's friends and family members, such as, fahim and his private army , atta of mazar,are left out.

Ever and ever obscenities and meanness to distruct the reputation of a man of honour. And ever and ever they will fail. Massoud had honesty and love through his eyes. He was a man of exception. I keep wondering why, when people hate someone they keep writing obscenities on forums.

Personally, when I don't like someone I refrain from doing so.

Anyway history is on the way, and the Lion of Panjsheer, whatever evil is said of him, will live forever in people's hearts. And not only in the hearts of Aghani... But everywhere else in the whole world. No insult can alter that fact.

I dont know much only i know masoud was the best honest man and true for his pepole

Massoud and Freedom, Freedom and Massoud. These two synonyms are carved deeply in the hearts of any ordinary Afghan, any Afghan who has stood up above narrow tribal mentality.

thanks alot for publishing the fact.. im an afghan and i want taliban, and pakistani's and all arabs out of my country, if not by negotiation then by force . pakistan is the biggest supporter of not only taliban but terrorism all over the world .. every terrorist are being traned in pakistan .. im a witness . iv been to pakistan and iv seen taliban enjoying in pakistan and also GULBUDIN HEKMATYAR who tried to sell land of afghans to dogs like pakistan . THE AFGHAN GOVERNMENT ( WHICH IS WORSE THEN TALIBAN ) SHOULD TAKE SOME MEASURED STEPS TOWARDS TALIBAN . ALQAEDA AND ALL THESE ARABS AND PAKISTANIS . THEY GIVE THEM A DEADLINE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY NO MATTER WHAT .. AND THEN IF THEY DONT LEAVE THEN WHERE EVER THEY CATCH THEM THEY SHOULD BE EXECUTED AND THEN PACK THERE BODIES AND SEND IT TO PAKISTANI GOV AS A GIFT. Afghans deserve to live afghans kids desreve to get educated afghan womens deserves equal rights as men ... Y not. i dont want my country in pieces .. i have a appeal for my people .. please dont hate each other because of your language color or look. we should be united .. this is the time . if we couldnt make it now we wont be able to do it ever. lets stop blamming each other for thing went wrong in our country and lets be united.

thanks alot
for the hope of peace and health

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU AND BE GREATFUL FROM YOU Mr Arthur with your great dacementary, which shows the reality in Afghnistan, which was hardly said or showed by foreigner journalist, that help people to analyse and evalute the war in last three decades. i think it is a good slap to those ignore the rightness of Massoud and his role in the defeted of Russian, Hekmatyar and TALIBAN.

Yes, we should be all united for the sake of Afghanistan, be we true Afghani or simply lovers of this beautiful country and poetic folk.

Let us ignore those who wish to come back to obscurantism and war.

A united Afghanistan is the best thing that we could offer to our dear Massoud and also to the eyes of the Western people. We should never forget that many are those who rejoice of this fratricidal situation.

We must never let them win!

Do you know Mr. Kent about his background as a KGB agent or you just simply forgot that. For more information of his criminality just have a look to the distruction of kabul and his involvement. Perhaps you could refer to his reacist, arogant atitude towards other ethnics. It is really sad that one side of the story is presented. To be honest and absolutely clear about this I sugest and kindly request that it will damage your reputation among majority of Afghns who really deserve better after so long of hearing myhts about these pupet leaders and foreign intelligence servicse employers.

I have a favour to ask that if you realy want to be free journalist please show both side of the coin not one. I am one of your website fan there are realy good stuff, but these myths are realy disappointing.no offence

I am looking forward to seeing some more good stuff.

sayed

Thank you very much for your excellent report about Lion Of Panjshir Ahmad Shah Masoud Admin http://www.kohsaar.com

Thank you again Arthur for your courage and love for human values.

There is a poster by the name 'Sayed' who thinks he will give the veteran reporter, Arthur, 'wise' advice. The type of advice ISI has been providing the US administration which has resulted in the current military stalemate and has drowned US both financially, politically, and even now morally (That is the mysterious sidelining of anti Taliban elements from Karzai regime's key positions).

In the same way that ISI is furnishing US with 'wise advice' and 'intelligence', Sayed is also trying to give no one else but Arthur, someone who has risked his life many times to provide and acheive first hand information, some advice as to how to stay on the 'favorite' side of Afghans. Sayed, Arthur knows Afghans better than you do. He knows all Afghans. He knows their ethnic affiliations and loyalties too. The moment you talk about the destruction of Kabul without the slightest mention of your fellow Pashton Gulbudden Hekmayaar rocket assualts, any aware and informed reader can understand your political veiw point. Arthur knows who DESTROYED Kabul and why. Who launched a demented rocket barrage on the innocent citizens of Kabul. Arthur witnessed it all. He doesnt need you to teach him who Afghans are and how they think.

You may have only Read or Heard about Shaheed (martyred) Massoud, and that too probably through some ISI RAWA outfit publications, But Arthur Spent time with him. He has interviewed Afghans on how they think of Massoud. He doesnt need some ISI approval or Pashton supremacist favorable opinion in the pursuit of his journalistic career. He knows what is best for him and for Afghans. He also lives the true spirit of an impartial reporter, one that is dedicated to disseminating accurate information even if that hurts the sentiments of a supremacist gang of Afghans who have given Afghanistan nothing but poverty, illiteracy and wars.

Please stop spreading your Hekmatyaar or Mollah Omar type of hypocracy here. Give your advice to Karzai to remove the Taliban and Hekmayar elements from his regime. That will probably attract the attention and respect of Afghans.

I seize this opportunity to thank Arthur again for his bravery and hard work.

Dear Aurthur Kent!
I dont know how to thank you for having/keeping Afghanistan up in your site. and specially thank you for this report about Ahmad Shah Masood.

I was a night guard (security) in Tehran in a construction site, listening to BBC persian, it was the night that Taliban entered Kabul and the government changed, the history changed into DARK-AGES, but only for one country and in our century.

In your countries, the change of a governmrnt might be an exiting moment, with celebrations, with listening to radios, or watching TVs, and elections and votes and counts.
I dont know how to explain the HUGE EXTENT of a special feeling, feeling of fear and anixiety, uncertainity, when you freeze , you can hear your breaths, you can feel the emptyness and you start to immagine a clear future of DRKNESS, killings, violance...
Tehran was as calmn as other usual nights and the families arround that construction site were normally living thier lives, I had no way to call home and no one in Tehran to talk to. I could hear the sounds of explosions in my ears, i could immagine what was heppening there.
The BBC anchor ended the program with these words " I express my condolences to our Afghan audences and wish them patient,,,".

Next day the work begun very normal in the site, me and Agha Sahib another Afghan Guard for the day, we talked about it. The Iranian manager, Sayeed Turabi, was passing and said, "Hay Miwais, Taliban won hu? hey you, bring the cements over there...."
and then he went to do another peice of his work, not even waited for an answer.

But I was thinking to what the anchor said at the enmd of the program, weather that was some usual practice of a news caster how to end or did he know about what I was feeling at that moment.
Today, that I am alittle bit of a journalist, I know when journalists COVER alot ,FOLLOW alot, the learn about some details, and they become one of us. They start to feel, share, and understand things that we feel and understand.

And if I am not very wrong, that is Why Arthuer's work has emotional values as well. (Hope I answered your question sko, advocating Arthuer or giving my point of view)

But that is not my only reason to write this, before I exceed the word limits, I may send this and continue on the other post.
Mirwais
Editor in chief
Radio Watandar
Kabul

I could be an Aurther 20 times faster and easier, since I will just review an organised vedio, editted and finalized, ready to give me the piont, the facts, the veiws, in a very short TIME.

I was reading your comments in which you said your going to write this to your PMs. It is such a hope giving thing for the amount of care you all give for humanity. That I apreciate. Seeing this oppurtunity I would like to number some of my people points of veiw, I dont claim all or alot of them, but at least me and my friends.

1- We DO NEED the existance of the International Forces for bringing or maintaining peace and security in out country. So no one Alqaida will be able to use our land to HURT other humans in your countries. Nor any Taliban or Pakies to HURT Afghans more than this.

2-We DO understand the loss of lives of your HEROS fighting for freedom of humanity, for protection of my people, for our future. And we promise that we will do everything we can to build our own National Army and National Police, using this OPPURTUNITY that your forces have provided.

3- Dear PMS, please note that even our children understand the role of International Forces in bring this VALUABLE peace to this country of all those YEARSSSSSS of war and violance.

4- Dear PMs, please note that some politicians are playing with the blood of your soldiers on the ground and with the boold of Afghans living there. They recieve billions of US dollors from the pockets of American people but then they just make fools from those officials giving them the money and expecting them to be a PARTNER in the war against terror. Ask your politically in charged people when will they see the real faces of PAKIS? Paki-Generals working underground with china.
5-Dear PMs, come and visit Afghanistan, meet people here and get the right advise from the right people, GET ADVISE FOR AFGHANISTAN FROM AFGHANS stop, listening to Pakies.

6-Your soldiers are giving blood on the ground, to fight OBVIOSE TERROR, but Pakistan FM invites us to MEET them. To negociate Tliban, terror.
For GOD SAKE , they get your money and use it against your SOLDIERS by supporting Taliban and making them resist there so then they tell you to talk to them. They want USA to give a share to Taliban in the Afghan government. so they can have controll, so they can make things weaker there, SO THEY CAN PUSH KARZAI INTO TABLE TO SING SELLING PASHTOONISTAN.
7-Dear PMs, YOU DONT HAVE TO MAKE YOUYR TROOPS DIE , just press the heart of terror in PAKISTAN LAND. WHERE THEY BREATH.

...

7- Make Mr Karazi understand that the millions of dollars help is not for a government INSERTing Taliban members , terroret Hekmatyar friedsn and members of his party, Drug dealers ....in itself.
Afghsn starts to precieve that this is the international community building this government and they start to believe that this government is a game of Internations.

8- Media is an important practice of democracy, and I would like to specifically bring your attention to this chiotic situation of media in Afhghanistan as I am part of a media organisation in here.
Freedom of speech, media, is deteriorating day by day, by intervention of Iranian PUPETS in the Information Ministry and Gulbuddin friends out there.
Media community is too confused and dis-appionted about the scilence of thier only supporters, the INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

9-Currption is the number one priority that media can have a huge role in destroying curruption, if and if we support and stand behind Afghan Media, which is getting profisinal every day. but weaker and under attack and surviving

I am writing these in this day, the day Ahmad Shah Masood was assasinated, and because most of what I said about the origin of terror out side of Afghanistan, in pakistan are the peiont of views of him, maybe more that I can say clrearly.

Please do forward my notes beside your own understanding to your PMs.
Mirwais Social
Watandar FM kabul
87.5

God bless Massoud, and his dream for his country, and his people. Without this man, Afghanistan at this point would not exist.