<HTML>The US hawks seem to be collectivly drooling over the prospect of invading and/or destroying Afghanistan, the worlds poorest and most backward country.
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It is to be hoped that a consequence of invasion will be a radical change in these conditions. Not overnight, but perhaps over a decade.
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Perhaps the 82nd Airborne will be flying in food aid? Perhaps the full might of the US will be brought to bear on rebuilding the basic infrastructure of modern life which was destroyed in the Wests proxy war against Soviet imperialism?
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First of all, I hardly blame the west for providing military assistance to the Afganis in defeating the Soviets. Our first choice sinse the expulsion of the Soviet invaders has been to respect Afgani soverienty, the problem is that we can no longer afford to do so.
Second, I agree with you. I too hope that the "82nd" will also fly in food aid and (more importantly) work ferverently (with civilian volunteers from Nato and allied countries), together with Afgani citizens, to rebuild the infrastructiure of the nation.
Our war is with the Taliban government - a group that owes its power mostly to the Pakistanies. If America "erred," in this situation, it was in alowing the majority Afgani faction to assume power. We did not back the Taliban specifically (America is currently funding the Northern Aliance in fact - their only opposiion).
However, I believe all of these policies to be justified, even in hind-sight. The situation has simply changed. Now it is America's job (together with Nato) to rebuild Afganistan and prevent it from continuing as a breeding ground for hatred. The "stick" must be there, and it must be demontsrated, but it should be followed by a much much larger "carrot."
The truth is, regardless of how we got here, if nothing is done now, the situation will NOT improve, and one day nuclear weapons will detonate in western cities. We have NO CHOICE but to act now.
ISHMAEL</HTML>
