HJ, very interesting. He's right in what he says, but when he wrote it, he did not know that Pakistan has agreed to all our requests, including use of Pakistani land, not just air. What worries me is summed up by a line from a movie. Funny when taken in the context of the movie, Princess Bride, but not so funny now. "Never get into a land war in Asia." The Soviets tried it in Afghanistan and lost. Same with the Brits.
However, as I said before and as the writer who's letter you posted said, most Afghans would be greatly relieved to be rid of the Taliban. If we go about this right, the West and the Afghan enemies of the Taliban have an opportunity to rid the country of the thugs and build a foundation for peace and friendship. The difference between us and earlier invaders of Afghanistan is that we do not seek to dominate the Afghan people, but only to crush the tyrants.
We destroyed the Nazis in WWII, but then helped the German people rebuild. We defeated imperial aggression in Japan, but then helped the Japanese people. These are among our best friends in the world today. Now, Afghanistan may never be like these two, but they prove that a defeated enemy does not have to remain an enemy.
We failed to destroy the tyrant in Iraq, imposed seemingly punitive sanctions on the Iraqi people, and he now gets to blame the suffering of the Iraqi people on us. They remain an enemy and his power over Iraqis is stronger.
We forgot the lesson of WWI. Germany was defeated and then punished, and Europe's reward was Hitler.
I'm rambling now, so goodnight.
Bob |
