Creating a “nation” from an amalgamation of tribes by drawing lines on a map, then expecting the result to be anything other than violent in an area run by warlords…Go on…
Creating a “nation” from an amalgamation of tribes by drawing lines on a map, then expecting the result to be anything other than violent in an area run by warlords…Go on…
Sure, but that’s not the proximal cause of the US decision to pursue the course that we did in Afghanistan. As you note, doing the line drawing didn’t appreciably impact the tribal nature of that society, so I would argue that Britain’s actions there actually had very little influence on anything at all.Creating a “nation” from an amalgamation of tribes by drawing lines on a map, then expecting the result to be anything other than violent in an area run by warlords…
The thing about Trump is I think the Taliban would have been a lot more hesitant about trying this with him in charge.
I am quite sure the vast majority of the people that benefited from the education, buildings, and institutions we built did what they could to secure a bright future for the country. Why wouldn't they? But not everyone that wanted a Taliban free country was in a position to pick up a rifle. It is a large country with many people who are agnostic about the Taliban at best. And those people did not send their kids to western schools or encourage their daughters to seek employment in the new buildings, or probably even live in the cities. Nearly 70,000 Afghan soldiers died in the last 20 years. That is more than the total membership of some coalition partner militaries. I am sure some Afghan military units fled because of Taliban sympathy or cowardice. But there is plenty of reporting that they did not have logistics (bullets) because the US supplied tail was gone. Some units did not know how to fight effectively without US air power. And some units were ordered to not fight because the government had fled making efforts pointless. Does any of this mean we "owe" them anything? Respect for those that did try whether entrepreneurs, educators, security forces, or civil servants would be fair. For those that worked closely and publicly with us, like interpreters, we owe them a way out. Dismissing the entire country and all it's people is unfair.We have not f'd over anyone. The American people owe nothing to the Afghan people. We helped them for 20 years, educated them, built schools, govt buildings, etc, that we didn't owe them. We gave them the chance of a lifetime to secure a democratic future for themselves, and they didn't take it. Any suffering that comes is on them, and would have happened for the last 20 years as well if not for us.
Say what you will about the AFG leaders, corrupt as they were, but a generation of Afghans just grew up in a relatively open society far different from the one the Taliban first conquered. Keeping them in line may not be so easy.Looks like the new Northern Alliance is already looking for some help…
I was literally just saying this to a coworker of mine who has a lot of time over there.Say what you will about the AFG leaders, corrupt as they were, but a generation of Afghans just grew up in a relatively open society far different from the one the Taliban first conquered. Keeping them in line may not be so easy.
I don't mean to indicate no Afghans fought and died bravely trying to secure a brighter future for themselves. Don't think I said anything like that, but it wasn't my intention if I did. Also never intended to dismiss an entire country and all it's people. I agree we should help those who helped us, like the interpreters. Though I still wouldn't say we 'owe' them that. Ultimately, we were the ones helping them secure their own future, not the other way around. We also didn't owe their military ammo or air support. American taxpayers gave them planes, training, and tons of ammo for 2 decades.I am quite sure the vast majority of the people that benefited from the education, buildings, and institutions we built did what they could to secure a bright future for the country. Why wouldn't they? But not everyone that wanted a Taliban free country was in a position to pick up a rifle. It is a large country with many people who are agnostic about the Taliban at best. And those people did not send their kids to western schools or encourage their daughters to seek employment in the new buildings, or probably even live in the cities. Nearly 70,000 Afghan soldiers died in the last 20 years. That is more than the total membership of some coalition partner militaries. I am sure some Afghan military units fled because of Taliban sympathy or cowardice. But there is plenty of reporting that they did not have logistics (bullets) because the US supplied tail was gone. Some units did not know how to fight effectively without US air power. And some units were ordered to not fight because the government had fled making efforts pointless. Does any of this mean we "owe" them anything? Respect for those that did try whether entrepreneurs, educators, security forces, or civil servants would be fair. For those that worked closely and publicly with us, like interpreters, we owe them a way out. Dismissing the entire country and all it's people is unfair.
…held together by pallets of $100 bills….continuing to pour cash down that endless money pit.
Speaking of money, any truth to the rumor that the Afghan president fled the country with his helicopter and cars stuffed with US taxpayer currency?
Resurgent Taliban pledges to honor ‘womenâs rights’ in charm offensive
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid held a news conference to say that the insurgents would honor women’s rights, within highly restrictive Sharia law.nypost.com