Massoud began to engage in national politics while an engineering student in Kabul in the early 70s, joining with an Islamist group to oppose the local Communist government. He later distanced himself from extremist tactics, one of his many differences with his former comrade Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.

After playing a large role in driving the Soviets out of Afghanistan, Massoud served as Afghanistan's defense minister from 1992 until the Taliban seized power in 1996, and then joined with other mujehadeen to depose the Taliban. But his goal of a free democratic Afghanistan was challenged by the remaining warlords, the Taliban, and the global chess games of nations.

Massood's men are . . . of Tajik, Uzbek or Mongol descent and largely Shia Muslim. For centuries the Shias have fought with the majority, Sunni, Pathan tribes of the South and East. It is from these tribes that the Taliban draw most of their support.

In recent years that emnity has been deepened both by atrocities on both sides and, most significantly, by the meddling of overseas powers. All the countries bordering Afghanistan, and others further afield, are pushing their own candidates in the war.

The Taliban owes much of its success to military support from Pakistan and financial aid from Saudi Arabia, both Sunni Muslim countries. Though relationships with the Saudis have chilled recently - not least because of the Taliban government's refusal to hand over Osama Bin Laden, the Saudi dissident and alleged master terrorist - private donations continue to pour in.

Massoud's movement had became better-known after a sympathetic portrait in National Geographic in 2000, by Sebastian Junger (author of A Perfect Storm), and - after two decades of funding and supporting radical Islamists - it seemed possible that the US would listen to Massoud's warnings against bin Laden and his ilk, and to support him as a moderate pro-democracy leader. But the Taliban had already grown strong, and bin Laden's planes did strike, and as the t-shirt says, we are all Massoud now - equally vulnerable to being murdered by suicide bombers, and more so each year: in office buildings, in subways, on airplanes, in schools. Massoud was widely respected as an excellent guerilla tactician, a charismatic leader, a lover of the arts, and an advocate of democracy and civil rights. He was called the "Lion of Panjshir" after his native valley and the home base of his operations. This transcript from a press conference in 2000 gives you a sense of his personality and values. He throws down the gauntlet to the other factions which claim that they represent the people.

. . . . the best way is to go toward elections, to go toward a democracy and to allow the people to determine their destiny. We told Hekmatyar on several occasions that if he really thought that he had influence and was effective, then fine, let's move toward elections and let the people legitimately, legally and formally elect you with their ballots. Now, our proposal is the same for the Taliban. On several occasions, I told the Taliban delegations that came here for talks with us in the Panjsher, that you claim to represent the Pashtun tribes - fine, we agree. You say that the majority of Afghanistan is under our control - we agree. You say that the people accept us - we agree. Fine, if there is such level of confidence - then let's go toward elections. You [the Taliban] claim to hold the majority backed by popular acceptance; then what are you worried about? In place of so much warfare and bloodshed, move toward elections and legitimately attain power.

His assassination

propelled an already legendary figure into one of mythic proportions. On April 25, [2002] he was officially proclaimed the national hero of Afghanistan. His portrait is in homes, in shops and on postage stamps. A committee is collecting signatures to have him awarded the Nobel Peace Prize posthumously. And every day, hundreds of admirers make the arduous trek to visit his grave.

He also inspired a symphony, The Lion of Panjir, by David Gaines, performed in 2004.

Beautiful Atrocities posted an appreciation of Massoud on the anniversary of his death in 2004.

Massoud's tombstone in his beloved Panjir valley:

In this place, the Lord of liberty sleeps. "My war was not to obtain the right to govern, but to safeguard the dignity and honor of Afghanistan and her people."

The tomb: