de Borchgrave: Afghanistan "on life support"

[11 Bravo]

This is from the editor at large of the batshit crazy, Bush-blowing, Washington "Moonie" Times. If HE is willing to admit that Bush policies are failing and that Afghanistan is spinning out of control, I shudder to think how bad things actually must be.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/commentary/20060416-103032-8779r.htm

Can it be possible that the worm is starting to turn? Is the criminally irresponsible, incompetent, and just plain stupid jug-eared little prick finally going to be held accountable for his actions?

[gratuitous]

1. Oh come on, how do you FEEL?

I mean, "criminally irresponsible, incompetent, and just plain stupid jug-eared little prick" is so ambiguous. Hee, hee.

But the Washington Times might want to be careful how it treads. After all, the official company line is still that Afghanistan is doing "fabulously well" and that the Taliban is totally eradicated. Seeing and reporting the truth in these times is a dicey proposition, and may subject a news outlet to charges of treason. Or worse, an end to the invitations to all the swell cocktail parties.

I'm sure the Moonie Times will be back with the program soon. Karl just needs to make a couple of phone calls.

[wuushew]

2. I have a theory that chaos is the natural state of Afghanistan

Consider the fact Afghanistan is a marginal land locked country with no significant natural resources or manufacturing capacity. I propose that changes to this condition are affected only from outside the country itself.

A period of prosperity was enjoyed when the silk road ran through the country and in modern times the heroin trade was the major source of wealth.

The United States has interfered both in the natural narcotics trade and the inherent nature of Afghanistan itself by pumping aid and dollars into a economy that will once we leave revert to culture and government that reflect the physical realities on the ground. What effort would it take to reach a new sustainable paradigm?

Culture is not a set universal ideas that is self evident to all peoples. Democracy if it can be called that may be nothing more than the combination of the industrial revolution and positive population growth over the 19th and 20th centuries. Perhaps our "superior" way of life is just a subject to determental forces as those of the African herder or the Melanesian fisherman. I have been reading a lot of Jared Diamond recently. In his book "Collapse how societies choose to fail or succeed" he makes compelling arguments that environment overwhelming shapes societal success or failure. His book and series on PBS "Guns, Germs and Steel" also gave excellent examples of how societies are shaped by surplus or deficiencies of their surroundings.

I postulate the environment also shapes things like religion and cultural values. If being tough and aggressive are advantages to personal success, then why should we be surprised when fundamentalist religion and anti-women behavior thrive in similar conditions. Only deviation from the natural state can affect change, change that we are obligated to support and fund?

Why are we in Afghanistan, how long do we stay and what are our goals? Our own country is facing sizable financial and energy crises that will become unmanageable in the very near future. Can we afford to meddle or wage wars on anything?

[endarkenment]

3. de Borchgrave is a fascist asshat. eom.