The perceived insults are many: not only troops’ sometimes heavy-handed treatment of ordinary Afghans, or the video that surfaced last month of U.S. Marines urinating on the bodies of Taliban fighters, but also men and women consorting freely in heavily guarded international compounds, or the consumption of alcohol at restaurants with a mainly non-Afghan clientele.
Moreover, as the conflict’s endgame begins in earnest, some Afghans regard public expressions of piety as a way of hedging one’s bets. This month, for example, the Information Ministry ordered female television newscasters to cover their hair and refrain from wearing heavy makeup on-air, a directive that was widely ignored, but nonetheless cast a chill…
Still, the sense of bone-deep grievance, expressed in furious cries of “Death to America!” that echoed at the scene of virtually every protest, resonated even among those who would never consider taking to the streets with sticks and stones in a rallying cry for Islam.
“I was personally offended by what happened,” said Hamed Saboori, a college-educated 30-year-old who described himself as a moderate Muslim. “But there are elements that want to take advantage of this irresponsible act. The whole issue has been manipulated.”…
Even if the protests show signs of ebbing, lasting damage may have been done to what the Americans regard as essential partnerships with the Afghan government and security forces.
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