Unless Afghanistan slipping back into a draconian 4th century theocracy constitutes improvement.

The women have asked us to leave. Our presence doesn’t help them, they tell us.

We should listen to them. They should have the right of self determination, as individuals and the right to decide their own form of government and how it will develop. Your attitude is judgmental paternalism and assumes a high minded superiority.
Capitalism and this thread-bare democracy doesn’t seem to be working out so well here. Our country is being gutted and robbed by neo-liberal vampires. I would like not to export this poison.

I agree that we won’t be leaving pipelineistan, nor will we, the armchair generals in the cheap seats – be making those decisions.

I”ll check out the link. It sounds like he/she has another take on the situation which only helps to understand the situation better. I’d like to know how this person is related to McCrystal also.

gw:

Well, there are about 90 or so women in the Afghani Parliament today. Now, they might be better off if the Taliban regains control of the government. I suspect not though. And while there are actually efforts under way now to break down the barriers that keep girls out of school over there, I suspect again a Taliban victory will stop that dead in its tracks.

American capitalism may well be the worst of all political economies. Except, perhaps for all the others. the totalitarian alternatives, in other words. Be they sacred or secular.

That’s a sad commentary on the human condition, true. But the human condition is what it is: barely bearable at times.

Might makes right and the rich and powerful rule. When has it ever not been that way? All we can do is try to pare back the most egregious of outrages.

I fail to see the LOSS of anything, where no gains were ever in place!

Hoss, I’d bet a lot that what we are seeing is the ginup for exactly that.

Everything old is new again, hoss, and Air America is flying in AFPAK and the pilots are all high.

Best buddy to MacCrystal?

Really? REALLY?

And if so, she’s STILL spot on in her analysis and base knowledge of the region.