tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823597614278402895.post2057082077699811055..comments2022-03-25T07:28:47.226-07:00Comments on A Freedomist View: Vietnam and the Afghanistan DebateR.J. Rummelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04198556976988573716noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823597614278402895.post-41151422227927544322009-10-20T05:48:58.215-07:002009-10-20T05:48:58.215-07:00Taliban support in Afghanistan was below 5% accord...Taliban support in Afghanistan was below 5% according a poll I saw. Since their more recent move to suicide bombings of non military targets, this support is not going to increase any time soon. <br /><br />In fact, I read an interesting article about Code Pink (a leftist anti-war group opposed to anything military related) visiting Afghanistan and coming away with a changed mind about the US military there. If these people could be convinced that the people really didn't want the Taliban in charge and need the military to stay, that is saying a lot.SionnKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11995342473506441443noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5823597614278402895.post-6607392013049781632009-10-09T17:02:45.436-07:002009-10-09T17:02:45.436-07:00The main problem in Afghanistan is not the Taleban...The main problem in Afghanistan is not the Taleban. The taleban is merely a symptome of a process of state collapse which has happened since 1978 due to the Soviet involvement.<br /><br />Right now, it is probably the Karzai government and those who are supposed to be NATO's allies who are the biggest obstacle. I doubt most of the Taleban are fanatically opposed to the Americans. Mostly, they seem to be farmboys and refugees lured by a certainty of life.<br /><br />In Afghanistan of today, you have three career paths.<br /><br />1. Corrupt government official<br />2. Opium-farmer<br />3. Taleban<br />4. Prostitute<br /><br />The war won't be concluded until Afghanistan has a semi-functioning, non-sectarian state. But those who are in charge there seem to be more interested in keeping the status quo which greatly enrich themselves than to establish a functioning state.<br /><br />In the meantime, due to obvious resentment with the state of the situation, the population will increasingly turn towards those who are against status quo.<br /><br />For how long should an operation last? I think Gordon Brown said something about the 2040's. To make Afghanistan a functioning state which could jump when the west wants it to jump is clearly a titanic challenge.Dimentiohttp://www.revleft.comnoreply@blogger.com