Subject:
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Re: Thinking Out Loud...
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.off-topic.debate
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Date:
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Wed, 19 Sep 2001 18:42:01 GMT
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Viewed:
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617 times
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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Larry Pieniazek writes:
> > >
> > > snippo
> >
> >
> > But it's not a "conventional" dictatorship. There is no charismatic despot,
> > no military junta; just a whole lot of fundamentalist imams and a generation
> > of men whose only education was war and the Koran. I don't believe that
> > "toppling a dictator" is ever sufficient to change a country's government:
> > in Afghanistan there isn't even a dictator to topple.
>
> Agreed. I wasn't keen on the "nation building" exercise we tried in Somalia,
> it failed dismally. But maybe that's what is required here. I have no idea.
The Somalia analogy holds for a decade ago, I think, when several factions
had a more or less equal hold on different parts of the country. Now I'd say
Afghanistan has "stabilised" as a decentralised theocracy.
> What's the alternative though? I am *opposed* to just going in and
> indiscriminately lobbing bombs or killing civilians. That will accomplish
> nothing. Something much more akin to careful disassembly is required.
>
> Problem is, that's a great metaphor and sounds good but isn't exactly a plan
> you can just roll out.
First make it clear that the US priority is to prosecute terrorists and
destroy their resources, not to fight a holy war against the Taliban.
No foreigners can change Afghanistan's government -- reform has to come from
the Afghanis themselves. I think the way to do it is with a long term plan.
Provide education and health aid, empower ethnic minorities and encourage
religious diversity. Like any text, there's more than one way for mortals to
read the Koran.
--DaveL
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Thinking Out Loud...
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| <snip> (...) But the Taliban are akin to the terrorists. It is just coincidence that they also happen to rule Afghanistan. (...) In Afghanistan, going against the government gets you dead. Pretty hard to go against that. (...) Who's plan? the (...) (23 years ago, 19-Sep-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: Thinking Out Loud...
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| (...) Agreed. I wasn't keen on the "nation building" exercise we tried in Somalia, it failed dismally. But maybe that's what is required here. I have no idea. What's the alternative though? I am *opposed* to just going in and indiscriminately (...) (23 years ago, 19-Sep-01, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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