Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Big_Bird]

This theme kept cropping up in another thread this week, and I think it deserves its own thread.

From the get go, I've always been very cynical about the true reasons for going into Afghanistan. Because they gave refuge to terrorists? But many countries harbour terrorists. And some regimes (Saudi Arabia comes to mind) bankroll them. There was not one Afghan on the flights into the twin towers. There were better and more cost effective ways to prevent terrorism (good intelligence, better co-operation between nations, making it more difficult for terrorists to function in their host countries, freezing their funds etc) and yet it was decided that invading this one faraway country would help end terror. And yet, the 911 atrocity was mostly planned from Germany and used non Afghan personel and non-Afghan resources. When you get down to it, Afghanistan was just a geographic location, and terrorism can be planned and resourced from so many places. Certainly the Taleban were concerned with their own domestic power, and not with taking on the whole world. I always found it hard to buy that invading Afghanistan was somehow very useful in ending the 'War on Terror.' How so?

A couple of times in the British press, it was mentioned that one month prior to 911 the US had warned the Europeans that there would be some kind of military intervention in Afghanistan. If that's true, then what was it all about? People pointed out at the time that the West had been frustrated and disappointed with the failure to construct an oil pipeline from the Caspian sea. Maybe that was a factor?

I have to suspect that they already had plans to go in there, and 911 suddenly gave them the perfect pretext.

I was reminded of that again while reading an interview with RAWA (an Afghan women's organisation) from which I'll post the following extract:

[Ya-ta Boy]

I don't think it's all that hard to understand. For years, the Taliban gov't of Afghanistan had offended pretty much the whole world. People were appalled at their style of gov't within the country, as far as outsiders were aware of it. Then the Taliban chose to protect al-Queda after their spectacular attack on the US.

The US had to strike somewhere after the twin towers. To not do so would have appeared weak. Afghanistan offered a 'worthy' target. It had no friends, not even Iran, to complicate it and it chose to protect our enemy.

I don't see a need to get into conspiracy theory or deep dark hidden motives like the spokeswoman for that women's group you quoted. She sounds like she lived under the Soviets too long. I do note that she is free to speak out now, which she would not have under the Taliban. If you ask me, she should stop shooting off her mouth, get a gun and start shooting Taliban so she and her children have some kind of future past the 12th Century.

The only problem I have with the Afghan situation is that it has been handled so poorly by NATO. Years have been wasted. The building up of Afghan defense and security forces is years behind schedule. But even worse, the Afghan government has been woefully inadequate. They got a second chance and have blown it. The main responsibility is theirs. I have even less sympathy for the Pakistani government. They've had since 1948 to get their act together and have dropped the ball decade after decade.

[Big_Bird]

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Ya-ta Boy]

the quote function sort of screwed up there in the middle. Oh well.

[Big_Bird]

You need to clean up your quotes a bit. It's hard to follow. But from what I did try to read, I see you just haven't paid any attention.

RAWA opposed the soviets. They are not some communist wannabes. You just haven't bothered reading anything. They campaigned for years against them.

Secondly, you keep persisting with this nonsense about it only being the Taleban that wants to ban girls from schools etc. Except this is crap. Many of NATOs allies now in power, are in fact religious extremists who do not agree with allowing girls into schools. There are many non-Taliban areas where girls cannot go to school, or know the danger of doing so is very great. Girls are still being educated in secret (by women like this) in non-Taliban areas. Kabul was a show piece. The rest of Afghanistan has not suddenly given rise to a liberated women's paradise. Things are the same, and some places worse. The guys we allied ourselves where shits in the same vein as the Taliban. We've installed some of the very same warlords who used to blow girls schools up.

Yata, if you can't be bothered to read what I've written, I just don't see the point in having a discussion with you.

[Ya-ta Boy]

It's not really all that hard to figure out where the switch comes in the quote function. You can do it if you try. I know you can.

The rest of your response is just trash talk. When you decide to discuss it, come back.

[Big_Bird]

[Ya-ta Boy]

Perhaps when you make a weak case you should look in the mirror for responsibility rather than just claim someone didn't read your sacred words and fall at your feet in admiration.

As you say, whatever. (You sound like the Valley Girl of England.)

[Big_Bird]

[bacasper]

[Kuros]

[JongnoGuru]

[Kuros]

[Ya-ta Boy]