“Let us not lose sight of Afghanistan as we did after the Soviets left. Succumbing to fatigue will lead to failure of the better future Afghans are working for, deal a serious blow to the war on terror, and ultimately increase the danger to our own people as Afghan failure feeds the strength of the extremists.” —JAMES CUNNINGHAM ’74 B.A. (PSc)
Going to school most days was too much of a risk, so he stayed home with his eight siblings and extended family. When the Soviets left, a civil war broke out. Kabul was left in ruins. Then came the Taliban. Mahmodi’s father insisted they not join the thousands who fled. He “had a very deep love and connection to the country,” Mahmodi says. “We were the witnesses of every day’s violence in Kabul. It took very, very tragic forms.” He saw friends killed in attacks. His fiancé was injured in an attack that claimed her brother’s life. He saw public hangings. Hunger became a way of life. Of all the horrors he witnessed, one that most resonates—or perhaps is easier to talk about— did not involve the loss of life. Mahmodi remembers vividly how, one day, his mother obtained a small amount of flour—a prize for even those continued on page 18
During his 10 years as executive director of Afghanistan’s Human Rights Commission, Mohammad “Musa” Mahmodi ’08 E.M.P.A./ ’09 M.A.I.R. faced myriad threats as he worked to expand freedoms, educational opportunities and a more democratic society.
Afghanistan Notebook
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ll told, dozens in the Maxwell community have served in Afghanistan over the last 20 years as soldiers, diplomats, humanitarians, educators and more. Among them is Maxwell Assistant Dean for Washington Programs Mark Jacobson, who assisted in the evacuation effort and provided media commentary about the troop withdrawal. A reservist for over 25 years, he deployed to Afghanistan as a Navy intelligence officer in 2006 and returned three years later as the first Deputy NATO Senior Civilian Representative. During that time, Jacobson worked with Maxwell alumni Omar Qudrat ’10 J.D./M.A.I.R./M.S.P.R, a senior policy adviser at the NATO headquarters, and Hekmatullah Foushanji ’08 E.M.P.A./’09 M.A.I.R., an Afghan National Security Council staffer. Additionally, John R. Bass ’86 B.A. (IR) served as the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan from 2017-20. He returned to Kabul this past August to help manage the evacuation effort as the last U.S. troops withdrew.
Mark Jacobson
John Bass
Over the coming months, we’ll be gathering more stories of Maxwell connections to Afghanistan we hope to include in a new online Maxwell Perspective feature, “Afghanistan Notebook.” To share your story, send us an email at MaxwellPerspective@syr.edu with the subject line “Afghanistan.” Submissions should include details about your role in Afghanistan along with your current position, name, degree, class year and contact information.
Maxwell Perspective | Winter 2022 | 17