I was reminded of a quote of a US ambassador during the Reagan years when he talked about the "unpeople" of the world living "miserable lives" and therefore not important if they are the victims of our crimes.

I was thinking of this when watching the news reporting the death of 5 UK soldiers who were killed by an Afghani police officer. We had the interviews of family members and fellow soldiers. It was followed by today's news of Gordon Brown's recommitment of his intentions to keep British troops in Afghanistan. Clips from his speech were followed up by interviews with a military 'analyst' and the mother whose son is in Afghanistan. This took place on a so-called 'alternative' news channel.

The victims of crimes usually have a different view of things. What is outstanding about all this coverage is that even the concept of asking the local population for their views on what should be done in their country is unthinkable. What would we think if a country invaded the UK, killed a few thousand people in bombing raids and then discussed amongst themselves what the next course of action should be but no matter what that they should support their 'boys on the frontline'? Also you would have the President or Prime Minister of that country arguing, quite rightly, that continuing the occupation is necessary to stop international terrorism. What would we as the victims think of that?

Does anyone even realize how the Taliban came into existence? Well, they were a very disparate, small group in Afghanistan opposing a government of Noor Mohammed Taraki. His government instituted such outrageous reforms such as legalizing unions, canceling all debts of farmers, introducing progressive tax and giving men and women the chance to go to school. Even after the Soviet army left in 1989 most of the local population fought on the side of the government for another 3 years but succumbed to the seemingly bottomless pot of the estimated $6 billion war chest provided to the fanatics courtesy of the CIA. We all know what happened after that.

The "unpeople" who have a history like that might have a more relevant opinion on their own affairs if anyone bothered to report it.