I’m interested to see how much of a difference technology will make this time around in Afghanistan , when the Russians pulled out in 1988 , there were no internets and cell phones
the younger people of the region are now able to be part of a broader community and exposed to other societal concepts which they were ignorant of before.
Once a mans mind expands it never returns to its original dimensions.
Situation is very similar to the Viet Kong in the late 60’s early 70’s , now nearly 40 years later Vietnam is finally finding its pace.
We cant change things so much as steer them a bit.
The Taliban operates with impunity not something they are going to give up easily.
Disarm , educate , befriend, fight the propaganda, but using the general population as the battlefield is a losing strategy
Meow, its “C”ong, not with a “K”. Viet Nam was fighting for “independence” for 3,000 years. Afghanistan is even a harder nut to crack, and yes, building schools WILL do more good than dropping bombs.
Vietnam will straighten out eventually as will Cambodia and a lot of other places. The problem is that is can drag on for a long time, like in Burma, or even become perpetual and multi generational like N. Korea and eventually work themselves into a threat. There are arseholes all over the planet and there is no particularly good solution for removing them (sanctions don’t seem to work so well). It’s also a case of danged if you do and danged if you don’t; so, don’t, it’s cheaper. If it weren’t for the fact that the Taliban let a sub-group of zealots attack the United States, it would probably have been better to have let them run their course, which would eventually be ruination. After 9/11 there wasn’t much choice about going into Afghanistan (unlike Iraq, which had no compelling reasons).
One other problem that we fail to recognize t is that the demand for illegal narcotics drives a LOT of the underground violence and warlord power-mongering (it’s about the money!). The legalization of drugs would probably help there (though it might introduce other problems domestically).
There may be a few more folks on drugs initially. Also, socialists would expect us to pay for taking care of the additional addicts; still, economically speaking it would be cheaper than waging the 75 billion/yr war on drugs with its accompanying police state. Don’t get me wrong I think we should live in a more free society, so I’d legalize them. I’d also let them be free to suffer the consequences of their choices. If someone wants to smoke pot, fine – just don’t come crying to me for rent money.
What!!!! more government oversight eeek oooh ahhhh OVERREACTION TIME
I don’t want my illegal activities rationed out to me -keep big government out of my baggy!
just kidding ;)
Government poison dispensaries in the guise of medical assist units is perfect it appeals to my sense of the ironic and allows us to “pick our poison”
Lets see , I’ll have some tobacco mmm mmm 4 Macanuedos please
And some Alcohol : A sixer of good old Budweiser (it’s been years) And a nice Sebastian “Eye of the Swan”
now for something for the weekend , 5 grams of your finest Humbolt Haze sir…
A little bump for Late Saturday , 1/2 a gram of Peruvian flake flake , screen it for me please,
Oh and my Nephew wanted some Ecstasy 2 of those please , why they are so small somehow I thought they’d be larger ,are sure those are right ? .. ok well you’re the expert .
Do you have shrooms we are going to the Aquarium next week. give me a small portion of those enough for 3 people ( never trip alone)
Ok that’s all I need here is my ID and verified sane card
157.55 + 14.60 tax.
Do you still carry coffee and chocolate ?
Class 1 you say that’s too bad .
The war on drugs just hasn’t worked. The knee-jerk reaction is: drugs are bad, therefore we must save people from them. William F. Buckley pointed out one year there were 20,000 drug related deaths while tobacco-related deaths had totaled 450,000 – where’s the problem?
The ‘problem’ is that with freedom, responsibility and accountability are implied. People want the freedom, but none of the responsibility or accountability. In other words – smoke your brains out – just don’t expect the rest of us to cover the lung transplant. The same goes for Mickey Mantle and his liver et al. I don’t much care what somebody does, but they can’t suddenly claim ignorance and expect to be free from the consequences of their actions.
From what I understand, «elections» held under foreign military occupation are generally regarded as invalid under International Law - that is to say, in the event that International Law is something other than what the big guns (the United States government) says it is at an particular point in time….
ynnek58 over 14 years ago
civilization may have started there, but the baby never got out of the cradle. We’re pissin in the wind.
deadheadzan over 14 years ago
Afghanistan- home of the toughest hillbillies in the world.
meowdam over 14 years ago
I’m interested to see how much of a difference technology will make this time around in Afghanistan , when the Russians pulled out in 1988 , there were no internets and cell phones the younger people of the region are now able to be part of a broader community and exposed to other societal concepts which they were ignorant of before. Once a mans mind expands it never returns to its original dimensions. Situation is very similar to the Viet Kong in the late 60’s early 70’s , now nearly 40 years later Vietnam is finally finding its pace. We cant change things so much as steer them a bit. The Taliban operates with impunity not something they are going to give up easily. Disarm , educate , befriend, fight the propaganda, but using the general population as the battlefield is a losing strategy
Dtroutma over 14 years ago
Meow, its “C”ong, not with a “K”. Viet Nam was fighting for “independence” for 3,000 years. Afghanistan is even a harder nut to crack, and yes, building schools WILL do more good than dropping bombs.
ynnek58 over 14 years ago
Vietnam will straighten out eventually as will Cambodia and a lot of other places. The problem is that is can drag on for a long time, like in Burma, or even become perpetual and multi generational like N. Korea and eventually work themselves into a threat. There are arseholes all over the planet and there is no particularly good solution for removing them (sanctions don’t seem to work so well). It’s also a case of danged if you do and danged if you don’t; so, don’t, it’s cheaper. If it weren’t for the fact that the Taliban let a sub-group of zealots attack the United States, it would probably have been better to have let them run their course, which would eventually be ruination. After 9/11 there wasn’t much choice about going into Afghanistan (unlike Iraq, which had no compelling reasons).
One other problem that we fail to recognize t is that the demand for illegal narcotics drives a LOT of the underground violence and warlord power-mongering (it’s about the money!). The legalization of drugs would probably help there (though it might introduce other problems domestically).
ynnek58 over 14 years ago
There may be a few more folks on drugs initially. Also, socialists would expect us to pay for taking care of the additional addicts; still, economically speaking it would be cheaper than waging the 75 billion/yr war on drugs with its accompanying police state. Don’t get me wrong I think we should live in a more free society, so I’d legalize them. I’d also let them be free to suffer the consequences of their choices. If someone wants to smoke pot, fine – just don’t come crying to me for rent money.
meowdam over 14 years ago
What!!!! more government oversight eeek oooh ahhhh OVERREACTION TIME I don’t want my illegal activities rationed out to me -keep big government out of my baggy! just kidding ;) Government poison dispensaries in the guise of medical assist units is perfect it appeals to my sense of the ironic and allows us to “pick our poison” Lets see , I’ll have some tobacco mmm mmm 4 Macanuedos please And some Alcohol : A sixer of good old Budweiser (it’s been years) And a nice Sebastian “Eye of the Swan” now for something for the weekend , 5 grams of your finest Humbolt Haze sir… A little bump for Late Saturday , 1/2 a gram of Peruvian flake flake , screen it for me please, Oh and my Nephew wanted some Ecstasy 2 of those please , why they are so small somehow I thought they’d be larger ,are sure those are right ? .. ok well you’re the expert . Do you have shrooms we are going to the Aquarium next week. give me a small portion of those enough for 3 people ( never trip alone) Ok that’s all I need here is my ID and verified sane card 157.55 + 14.60 tax. Do you still carry coffee and chocolate ? Class 1 you say that’s too bad .
ynnek58 over 14 years ago
The war on drugs just hasn’t worked. The knee-jerk reaction is: drugs are bad, therefore we must save people from them. William F. Buckley pointed out one year there were 20,000 drug related deaths while tobacco-related deaths had totaled 450,000 – where’s the problem?
The ‘problem’ is that with freedom, responsibility and accountability are implied. People want the freedom, but none of the responsibility or accountability. In other words – smoke your brains out – just don’t expect the rest of us to cover the lung transplant. The same goes for Mickey Mantle and his liver et al. I don’t much care what somebody does, but they can’t suddenly claim ignorance and expect to be free from the consequences of their actions.
mhenriday over 14 years ago
From what I understand, «elections» held under foreign military occupation are generally regarded as invalid under International Law - that is to say, in the event that International Law is something other than what the big guns (the United States government) says it is at an particular point in time….
Henri