UK Column News The War on Terror to the Present Day | UK Column Interviews
Feb 5, 2026
Dr Lucy Morgan-Edwards, former political advisor in Kabul and ex-UN journalist, draws on frontline Afghan experience. She recounts local reactions before and after 9/11. She critiques Western alliances with warlords, the role of narcotics in power networks, media narratives and political influence, and offers warnings about geopolitics, finance and practical resilience for rising instability.
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Life In Afghanistan Before The War
- Lucy Morgan-Edwards recounts arriving in Kandahar in 1999 and living among about 60 foreigners before the war.
- She describes meeting Bin Laden's staff and witnessing Afghan daily life before 9/11 changed everything.
Local Ignorance Of 9/11 Origins
- Lucy observed that most Afghans were ignorant of 9/11's causes and surprised it came from Afghanistan.
- Limited communications and isolation shaped how Afghans perceived external events and blame.
Everyday Hospitality Versus Media Portrayal
- Lucy describes being welcomed and protected as a woman working in Kandahar and organizing public health training.
- She contrasts on-the-ground hospitality with Western media portrayals of Taliban-era Afghanistan.
