That’s a good study of the arguments presented in favour of continuing the carnage in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with many valid points.

But I think any comparison with Hamas and Hezbollah is wrong, simply because in those cases both organisations sprung up to resist belligerent occupation by Israel. But the US, I believe, never intended to occupy Afghanistan – remember the repeated babarianism of “bombing the country back to the stone age?” – but found itself trapped there. One of the reasons it is still there is actually a good aspect of the US; an unwillingness to allow the internal civil war that would play out against the back drop of the damage to its international reputation.

But sometimes you have to bite the bullet, as the British and the Russians did before it in Afghanistan, the French did in Algeria and the US did in Vietnam. And of course, these examples only strengthen the resolve of the resistance groups, and that is their true relevance to today’s situation.

Briefly, the ability of the Pakistan army to deal with internal threats is grossly underestimated. The US allowed Pakistan to develop the cold war enemy mentality which actually gave rise to the Taleban (it started in Pakistan, sponsored by the ISI and the army), and more diplomatic effort to deal with Kashmir would see Pakistan’s army redirected from conflict with India to concentrate on internal threats.

The article touches on the real problem for the US, the unwillingness of voters to countenance continued involvement with increasing costs in blood and treasure. It’s a problem of democracy. This is the real battleground.

Chthoniid (764) Vote: 1 0 Says:

November 24th, 2009 at 9:42 pm
@Brian Smaller

Now there is something I have never thought on before. Do vegan women swallow?

Would ingestion really be considered different to umm, delivery into other anatomical regions? Either way, it’s inside.

I don’t know but would be willing to help any vegan woman if she wanted to explore this dilemma.

As an aside – Google “Do vegan women swallow” and be amused. Perhpas it wasn’t a joke after all

Also: evidence of left wing infiltration at the March for Democracy.

Charge: We can defeat our enemy in Afghanistan with a more limited counterterrorism strategy, using drones and increased intelligence gathering.

Response: “If the United States should adopt a small-footprint counterterrorism strategy, Afghanistan would descend again into civil war,” Frederick Kagan testified before the House Armed Services Committee. “The Taliban group headed by Mullah Omar and operating in southern Afghanistan (including especially Helmand, Kandahar, and Oruzgan Provinces) is well positioned to take control of that area upon the withdrawal of American and allied combat forces. The remaining Afghan security forces would be unable to resist a Taliban offensive. They would be defeated and would disintegrate. The fear of renewed Taliban assaults would mobilize the Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Hazaras in northern and central Afghanistan. The Taliban itself would certainly drive on Herat and Kabul, leading to war with northern militias. This conflict would collapse the Afghan state, mobilize the Afghan population, and cause many Afghans to flee into Pakistan and Iran. Within Pakistan, the U.S. reversion to a counterterrorism strategy (from the counterinsurgency strategy for which Obama reaffirmed his support as recently as August) would disrupt the delicate balance that has made possible recent Pakistani progress against internal foes and al Qaeda.” — House Armed Services Committee

In Commentary, Max Boot notes, “it is hard to point to any place where pure [counterterrorism] has defeated a determined terrorist or guerrilla group. This is the strategy that Israel has used against Hamas and Hezbollah. The result is that Hamas controls Gaza, and Hezbollah controls southern Lebanon. It is the strategy that the U.S. has employed in Somalia since our forces pulled out in 1994. The result is that the country is utterly chaotic and lawless, and an Islamic fundamentalist group called the Shabab, which has close links to al-Qaeda, is gaining strength. Most pertinently, it is also the strategy the U.S. has used for years in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The result is that the Taliban control the tribal areas of Pakistan and are extending their influence across large swathes of Afghanistan.” — Commentary

“dance me through the panic till I’m gathered safely in…”

I believe the first movie could’ve been ~30 minutes shorter with just half the number of meaningful looks.

Now there is something I have never thought on before. Do vegan women swallow?

Would ingestion really be considered different to umm, delivery into other anatomical regions? Either way, it’s inside.

Then on top of that, this whole Global Warming BS….. Being a farmer and all, this BS on climate makes me sick…. Try growing thousands of acres of spuds & onions, my ass its getting warmer, and on the years it is actually getting warmer it isnt human beings, it is the cyclic nature of this here planet!

Very comprehensive discussion and extensive exposition of the flaws in each of the 36 arguments.

Where is Ian Wishart when you need him?

Source: Arts and Letters Daily where you can also find articles like this: Religion reduces corruption and acts to increase respect for law in ways that boost economic growth in societies where it is present and Religion is blamed when it promotes such evils as persecution or warfare, but gets less attention when it patches up the moral fabric of society.

Look down the LH column.

# Steve: You are a stupid prick.

I did tell you that your time was coming. Kiwiblogers will use the RIP add on.
Your offspring must be disapointed, deciding to work or bludge as a student then learn to get his own blog.
Lots of comments on whore.co.nz, like 3 this week.
‘The boy” may start to think on his own soon, but I doubt it, he is on the same drugs as you.

RIP Phool

Brian said: Now there is something I have never thought on before. Do vegan women swallow?

Just reminded me of a T-shirt I saw on a very attractive lass at a festival long ago. Across her perfect, ahem, chest, were the words: “I swallow”.

I never got to find out if she was telling the truth

I was serious though about my question Luc. Interesting moral dilemma for a vegan.