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BEFORE THE AMERICAN invasion, before the Russian war, and before the Marxist revolution, Afghanistan used to be a pretty nice place.
An astonishing collection of photos from the 1960s was recently featured by the Denver Post.
Amateur photographer, and college professor, Dr. William Podlich took a leave of absence from his job at Arizona State to work with UNESCO in Kabul, bringing his wife and daughters with him.
Later, son-in-law Clayton Esterson revived the later doctor’s photos and put them on the web.
The response was amazing. Esterson told the Denver Post:
Many Afghans have written comments [on our website] showing their appreciation for the photographs that show what their country was like before 33 years of war. This makes the effort to digitize and restore these photographs worthwhile.
Esterson has kindly given us permission to reproduce Dr Podlich’s photographs here on TheJournal.ie.
More of Dr Bill Podlich’s photographs of Afghanistan, taken in 1967 and 1968, can be seen at his son-in-law Clayton Esterson’s website here.
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Watch Egypt 60s Footage on YouTube. Much the same story. Its an odd thing when grandparents had it better than their grandchildren.
You’re actually comparing Egypt to Afghanistan?? They’re a million miles apart in terms of living standards and personnal freedom!
Both were progressive in the 1960s- Westernisation was a policy of both governments at the time, as with Iran too. I’m not saying I’m in favour of enforcing foreign cultural values on a traditionalist country, although there are benefits in terms of human rights. Make no mistake, funding was given to these countries by the US to keep oil profits in their pockets.
For all the idiot red thumbers, you obviously know nothing about Egypt! Yes there’s corruption in Egypt but nothing like the brutal oppression afflicted upon the people of Afghanistan! There’s religious freedom in Egypt, some of the best universities in the middle east were both men and women attend! men and women work side by side in the work place! And plenty of night clubs and bars were young people dance and drink.. not too many of them in Afghanistan!
Daniel, there’s oil in Afghanistan?
I’m not sure about oil, but since end of 2001 most of the worlds heroin comes from Afganistan now. (Poppy flowers)
Mick, that’s true. The Taliban had wiped the production of heroin out.
The Americans are too busy fighting the Taliban and helping to rebuild that country. Maybe if people stopped buying and using heroin the problem would be solved.
Of course there are those who say “well if we legalize it and tax it, we will take it out of the hands of the criminals” which is utter shitetalk!
Tasmania produces a large number of poppies which are cultivated for the manufacturing of a lot of the worlds medicines. So, in essence, they are legal and can be used for good. Afghanistan suffers more from its Heroin production than any country it supplies.
Where did you get that from? The Taliban funded their government entirely on the sale of heroin as charged little taxes as had no system in place. Talking rubbish
What has happened to Afghanistan is one of the greatest tragedies of the past few decades
The place has been bombed back to the Middle Ages
Murica!
Not at America’s expense (fault) but the Taliban that created extremely brutal living conditions. In fairness the US did the right thing by stepping in.
Great article by the way!!
Afghanistan was a victim of the cold war. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979. During the Reagan years, the United States financed, trained and armed the mujahideen that opposed the Soviet invasion. Later, the United States supported an off-shoot of the mujahideen called the Taliban during their rise to power from 1994 to 1996. Another off-shoot of the majahideen would become Al-Qaeda.
War is hell!
Wars??
As Bill Hicks used to say War is when two sides are fighting.
A Thinker: “Truth is the first casualty of war”.
George W. Bush: “War is when two sides are fighting”.
Seriously, no nuclear armed state should have a stupid person running it.
‘Used to be a nice place’ ? I’m sure nit still is in a lot of ways
Bad journalism
Religious savages aka The Taliban have made sure that Afgan society would return to the bronze age and stay there.
Yeah, but as a previous poster has pointed out, the Taliban didn’t just magically appear in Afghanistan – they were financed by the CIA in an attempt to destabilise the Russian occupation
Taliban came into existence in ’94. The Soviet-Afghan war ended in’ 89. The Americans have little to do with the Taliban ever. It’s well known they were created in Madrassas in Pakistani refugee camps by the ISI the Pakistani intelligence service to put their influence on Afghanistans future
So is religion ..!
Typical American who sees war like a game of football…… The afghanis were hardly on the verge of invading the USA with their horse and cart. America supplied the Taliban with arms to fight the Russians and then when the Taliban struck on 911 the US DESTROYED a country with mass innocent deaths but yet couldn’t destroy the Taliban?? Doesn’t sound like you are running any world my friend and what were you doing before 1776 ??? Nothing, America belonged to native Indians you guys were the British immigrants who showed up and took it over so it could be said that you are more of an oppressive force then then Taliban.
We don’t get wrapped up in football like you innocent minded folks. While you dream of winning World Cups we actually go out and win World Wars. Mess with the best and die like the rest. These colours don’t run! Merica.
Ian, you do realise that there was a communist revolution and a communist invasion which contributed more to the destabilisation of Afghanistan than the NATO invasion right?
Despite what you think of them, NATO forces are actually trying their best to get Afghanistan on the road to returning to a state similar to these photos. They’re rebuilding schools, roads and other infrastructure lost over the decades. Only the bad things that happen over there are reported on because, lets face it, nobody wants to hear about Germany building a school in Kabul but everyone wants to hear about accidental civilian deaths caused by the US.
I was talking about American football, anyway my sentiment was lost on you war is not a game…….. zI would rather my children and any child of this country to dream of winning a World Cup then to dream of war and invade a country only to kill innocent men women and kids. You just have to look at the scars of Ireland.
Hoah and all that ass slapping cap eh Merica! The United States government are the real terrorists, glorifying it for their children so the poor kids are led to believe it’s for national freedom in a country where you can’t fart unnoticed. There’s no justification for war. Both sides kill innocent people so don’t spew crap about live like the best or die like the rest nonsense.
Taliban struck on 9/11??? Jesus you learn something new every day.
It’s scary and sickening how anti-American some Irish people can be.
Fcuk you murphy
“America” has this thing called “Manifest Destiny” which means their governments won’t apologize to what remains of the native Americans today for stealing their land as well as committing genocide against them. “Manifest Destiny” means, to paraphrase Joe Merica, “We’re the best, we’re exceptional, we are above international law, we can rewrite history as we see fit and piss on those who object.”
Susan: I think Joe Merica is actually close to the mainstream of the US Republican party.
Don’t feed him!
Merica…. You’re an arsehole
you invade countries and devastate them. Team America World Police. no thanks.
America never gave the Taliban weapons! Some serious misguided people on this forum. Taliban were worse than the nazis
Yeah like Japan, France, Germany, South Korea! Oh wait!
Excellent. Thanks The Journal!
I don’t know why everyone is blaming America. I would have thought America going in their and taking out the Taliban was needed in order for these people to try and get back to some sort of normality like it was in the 60s. Or would we rather the Taliban remain and carry on shooting women in their death camps?
*there
Well America got them (the Taliban) started. Then again that was because the soviets invaded. I guess the extremists and two super powers between them can share the credit for ruining the place!
Why is no one blaming the actual Soviet puppet Afghan government of the late 70s?
This regime suppressed the people and their religious freedom leading to the formation of the Mujahideen.
The communist government then asked for the Soviet invasion, which led to US backed Mujahideen defeating them.
After that civil war ensues and extremist Taliban group takes power and the rest is history.
Sorry for spoiling internet rants (Taliban struck on 9/11?) with actual historical facts
Ian, you are right on the mark. As my father said to me once “nobody ever protests against the Russians”. The left are silent on that.
“A nice car drives through a nice tunnel” – Journalistic gold!
Great documentary by Lyse Doucet called the unknown country. Well worth a look
Absolutely beautiful pictures but captions are at best facetious (at worst in incredibly poor taste) and display anything but a nuanced view of a country in many ways much marred by this ‘Western influence’ to such such value is ascribed. ‘An American school showing just how progressive this country once was’ ‘Nice western clothes and nice cars’ Really?!
The Americans did not create the Taliban! They did not create the mujahideen either. The mujahideen had already existed. The Americans helped them defeat the soviets.
The IRA got monetary support from irish-Americans but does that mean America created the IRA?!
Seriously commentators on the journal need to get educated about what’s what in the world.
Well said Declan some of the lefties on here are deluded
Fantastic photos.
It’s amazing how in 50 years its turned into a right armpit of a country.
Stupid statement to make
Nice and progressive looking place back then, it’s horrific what politics and religion can do do. But greed is the number one offender. Some of the people here need to learn some history before making idiotic comments.
So, only when you wear “western-style” clothes you qualify as nice?
Photo 26 – The lady who has no feet being able to stand is pretty impressive.
Btw, I was listening to a documentary on Afghanistan and it mentioned how the ruler of Afghanistan in the fifties or sixties had invited the Americans in on some projects that he wanted to see happen in his country.
The Russians were also working on projects.
Saying it was all “western interference” is nonsense!
When motorways were built in ireland with EU money, do we call that European interference?
When we get high speed Internet, do we consider that a interference in our culture?
The Russians blew that country apart in the 80′s.
The Americans went in and targeted the Taliban.
I had a neighbour who’s job with the army was to help build a school over there for children to go to.
@itiswahtitis .
Look at the record overpast 50 years – or u can go back further . But over last 50 years US has invaded 50+ countries and intends to invade more .
one thing – Afganistan is rich in minerals – so US wont be leaving .
Another item not mentioned much is the friendship /deals between the Bush and Bin Laden families . OBL knew too much – so there never could be a trial . Ironic now that USA is turning into new USSR with patriot act / NDAA / mass surveliance – detention without trial and use of torture as routine . Even its leader has a kill list – of which e openly boasts – and anyone he kills is a terrorist .
Europe could end up like Afghanistan in the future if we don’t wake up
http://www.barenakedislam.com/2013/01/29/ukeu-cities-in-the-near-future/
Then we should leave europe !
@Daniel R “it’s an odd thing when grandparents had it better that their grandchildren”.
The current government has pretty much initiated the same scenario in Ireland.
It seemed like a great idea, back in the ’80s to– embolden– and train and equip– Taliban, mujahidin, jihadists against the Soviet Union, which had invaded Afghanistan. And with our help, and with the Pakistani support– this group– including, at that time, Bin Laden, defeated the Soviet Union. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Oct. 7th, 2009 ………. If they didn’t provide weapons they certainly provided funds
Marxism-Leninism was certainly the best for Afghanistan! In communist states there is virtually no (!) unemployment, no criminalism, no poverty and women and men are always treated the same no matter what! If only ireland would be the same.
First they give you Unesco , then they give you roads and then …………….
have your say