Jeez JF, no wonder we disagree so often. You sure are one of those "glass half empty" kinda people aren't you?
I don't know what to respond to first since you jumped around so much. But, let me first start by saying I believe you're grossly wrong that the Northern Alliance is just as bad as the Taliban. Already they've agreed to a U.N. peacekeeping force in the capital, while a transitional government can be put in place. Something the Taliban NEVER would have agreed to. They were so brutal, even the ethnic Pushtons are welcoming the Norther Alliance with open arms into the capital city.
Certainly, bands of Taliban have gone over the edge and committed some horrible acts from our point of view. But, you've got to remember, they've been fighting this war for a long time, and know who they are dealing with at a far greater level then you or I. It was their families who were massacred. It was their children who were killed, raped and tortured by the Taliban. So, I would be careful about moralizing too much.
The issue regarding radical Pakistani schools is certainly a cause for concern. However, I believe this victory will do far more to turn back the clock on the growth of radical elements of Islam then you think. Remember, foreign journalist are allowed into Pakistan today to report in a free and open way. How many nations on earth would have prevented that kind of reporting? How many nations would have prevented the protestors in the streets from marching?
The support for the Taliban and dissent we've seen in Pakistan, is certainly not cause for celebration. But at least they're allowed to openly disagree with their government. That more then anything demonstrates the kind of confidence their leadership has toward the growth path they're on as a society. The road is rocky, granted. But it's a far better road then tyranny, oppression and a silencing of the free press like we see all over the Mid-East.
As to our press and the lack of support our government has given them. I'll tell you what JF. If our press showed the kind of common sense restraint in reporting that the British press has shown. They might have been granted clearer access. But, let's face it, many of them can't be trusted to not give aid and comfort to our enemies during a time of war. They would have gotten some of our soldiers killed, or ruined a tactical initiative in their zeal to "get the scoop".
The crap they pulled during the Gulf War was absolutely treasonous. They won't get any sympathy from me after their performance during that war.
Breaking story: CNN reporting on the latest "milk bombing".
Puleeze! Their strings were being pulled like a bunch of puppets by Saddam, and they never did openly acknowledge it years later.
When people complain about us not killing Saddam during the Gulf war, one of the main reasons was due to the sympathetic propaganda he was allowed to broadcast on CNN. Further, they tried to do the same thing during this war with their "300 civilians reported killed by the Taliban" broadcasts.
CNN, ABC, NBC and CBS have absolutely NO credibility when it comes to accurate reporting. And I would make them work just as hard for a story as Drudge has to work. |
