Taliban

[MDresden]

Now you say NATO is run by Israel. What's next? The Africans have a monkey army? [Pun from an old 007 movie.]

[faye]

god, you are thick!

[MDresden]

Nope, just taking in all that's said here. We went from when I first got here this being a "US invasion", then we were supposedly puppets of nato and then nato is now a puppet of Israel?

Really? lol.

[faye]

like i said in the very beginning, you need to do some research. for those that have already done their research you are looking extremely stoopid. you don't even know who your puppet master is.

[Whisley 2-6]

because you were sent by a moron, george bush, initially. because someone blew up the twin towers and blamed it on osama bin laden. because the taliban offered to hand him over if bush could provide proof the obl did the deed and mr bush had no proof and your government still has not provided the proof. because you are setting up bases so you can be close to iran and pakistan (just in case). because that is what israel wants you to do as good puppets for the state of israel.

Faye,

George Bush is a moron. I have heard it argued otherwise, but its not very convincing. Not really interested in addressing the OBL-twin towers link although you may be on the wrong side of logic on this one. Here is something I do think is worth considering...How much do you suppose this war has cost the US, in dollars? If you were the US President and wished to establish bases in proximity to Iran and Pakistan, wouldn't it just be easier and cheaper to pay/continue to pay places like Turkey, Uzbekistan, Turkministan, Kyrgyzstan for US bases. Its kinda stupid, even for Bush. I won't disagree with you that the Israeli lobby is powerful in the US. But its just too much of a copout to say that the Jewish puppet master is pulling the strings. I may be ignorant but its just such a red herring. Coincidentally, I would look for the US to begin to distance itself politically from Israel in the coming years. More and more Americans are becoming smarter with regards to the plight of Palestine. Our democracy is like a slow moving ship, it takes it a while to steer in the right direction. Especially when our compass is off, a la George Bush.

Respectfully,

Matt

[faye]

you think george bush and obama are making all the decisions? what about the neocon think tanks, the robert and michael kagans that help design your surges and don't want your govt to minimise military spending.
i am reading about rumsfeld and his neocon cronies and how they got you guys into these wars. very interesting.

[MDresden]

like i said in the very beginning, you need to do some research. for those that have already done their research you are looking extremely stoopid. you don't even know who your puppet master is.

My research is the same as others on here...hearsay from each other. First it's this then it's that...then while we are at it pile on some of this.

Rhetoric is rhetoric.

[faye]

well naturally, we all don't think the same here, but if that is the length and breadth of your research capacity, what on earth do they teach you guys at school in the states???

[MDresden]

you think george bush and obama are making all the decisions? what about the neocon think tanks, the robert and michael kagans that help design your surges and don't want your govt to minimise military spending.
i am reading about rumsfeld and his neocon cronies and how they got you guys into these wars. very interesting.

Lol..."think tanks"...the big octopus in the corner who's power reaches the entire world.

[khushal]

Faye,

George Bush is a moron. I have heard it argued otherwise, but its not very convincing. Not really interested in addressing the OBL-twin towers link although you may be on the wrong side of logic on this one. Here is something I do think is worth considering...How much do you suppose this war has cost the US, in dollars? If you were the US President and wished to establish bases in proximity to Iran and Pakistan, wouldn't it just be easier and cheaper to pay/continue to pay places like Turkey, Uzbekistan, Turkministan, Kyrgyzstan for US bases. Its kinda stupid, even for Bush. I won't disagree with you that the Israeli lobby is powerful in the US. But its just too much of a copout to say that the Jewish puppet master is pulling the strings. I may be ignorant but its just such a red herring. Coincidentally, I would look for the US to begin to distance itself politically from Israel in the coming years. More and more Americans are becoming smarter with regards to the plight of Palestine. Our democracy is like a slow moving ship, it takes it a while to steer in the right direction. Especially when our compass is off, a la George Bush.

Respectfully,

Matt

So Mathew, whats America doing there? Give me your thoughts, if it is so expensive than whats the use.

[Whisley 2-6]

you think george bush and obama are making all the decisions? what about the neocon think tanks, the robert and michael kagans that help design your surges and don't want your govt to minimise military spending.
i am reading about rumsfeld and his neocon cronies and how they got you guys into these wars. very interesting.

Now you are right on the money. I think there was also a good bit of idealism thrown into the mix as well. Topped off with good intentions and a blinding ignorance for the region. In fact, at the time, there was no much information coming from K st (think tank central), policy papers were reading like college students who had stolen their work from the internet. There was a cachophany of "great ideas" coming from these places, coupled with that unmistakable American urge to "do something now". Those are the major contributing factors as to why I am sitting here today. No doubt about it. What I am trying to say despite all this is; while the juice is was not worth the squeeze, lets not throw out the juice. I believe that Afghanistan would be delirously happy if NATO packed up and left tomorrow. America too for that matter. Really Pakistan as well, all for different reasons. But I fear that its the people that would suffer a chaotic power vaccum, ending up with god knows what as an alternative. But hey, I'd be excited. I miss my family dearly.

Respectfully,

Matt

[faye]

Lol..."think tanks"...the big octopus in the corner who's power reaches the entire world.

this is why you need to do research dear, especially about your own country. you appear to be lacking in the basics

[MDresden]

If a reason is given to you...and you personally accept the reason...then that reason...good or bad...is reason enough to continue.

[khushal]

Now you are right on the money. I think there was also a good bit of idealism thrown into the mix as well. Topped off with good intentions and a blinding ignorance for the region. In fact, at the time, there was no much information coming from K st (think tank central), policy papers were reading like college students who had stolen their work from the internet. There was a cachophany of "great ideas" coming from these places, coupled with that unmistakable American urge to "do something now". Those are the major contributing factors as to why I am sitting here today. No doubt about it. What I am trying to say despite all this is; while the juice is was not worth the squeeze, lets not throw out the juice. I believe that Afghanistan would be delirously happy if NATO packed up and left tomorrow. America too for that matter. Really Pakistan as well, all for different reasons. But I fear that its the people that would suffer a chaotic power vaccum, ending up with god knows what as an alternative. But hey, I'd be excited. I miss my family dearly.

Respectfully,

Matt

Mathew,
The people are already suffering. NATO presence is just prolonging the suffering.

[Whisley 2-6]

Mathew,
The people are already suffering. NATO presence is just prolonging the suffering.

I know, I live it daily. Right now the US needs to "complete its plan" so as to "avoid defeat". And I go about doing everything in my power to make my small piece better until I leave. I have never been accused of being a dewy-eyed optomist, unless its by myself. But here, there is work that remains to be done. We are in a full on binge to build permenant structures that will endure as girls schools. Profess the idea of how a local election should run, so that all can understand the stakes. Reform or remove low-level burecrats who steal everything not bolted down. We'll do it till the bitter end, when the policy makers say enough is enough. Afghanistan is ready to govern herself. Then we will walk away, dubious of the future but at least content in the jobs we did. Its a fools errand to expect success. I don't know what I expect. Although I expect I will look foolish.

Matt