SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Politics : American Presidential Politics and foreign affairs
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: RMF who wrote (37611)10/5/2009 11:07:58 AM
From: DuckTapeSunroof  Read Replies (1) of 71588
 
Re: "Seeing that phrase here and thinking about it at the spur of the moment I'll bet it refers to doing things in old England when they had to do stuff by oil or candle light. Is this stuff "important" enough that I'd want to actually burn one of my precious candles to discuss it?"

I hadn't thought about it (until you asked) but your explanation makes sense....

Re: "But, isn't that what the NEW General is trying to accomplish in Afghanistan. Isn't he trying to finesse those Nationalistic Yearnings?"

Hard to know....

The Pastuns (most in the Taleban are Pastun tribesmen) are a tribe. A very large tribe of some tens of millions. They have been divided in half, separated by a 'line in the sand' that the British colonialists drew --- deliberately --- in an effort to keep 'locals' divided and weak so they could not challenge the Colonialist's rule. (Naturally enough... the Pastun people have resented this and acted as if the Durand line did not exist... acted as if there was no division between 'Afghanistan' and 'Pakistan'.) My theory was that if some 'nod' can be made to the irredentist aspirations of the Pastuns (desire for a 'nation' or self-rule) then perhaps there would be, in the long-run, much less interest by them in radical war-making political movements like the Taleban....

Re: "From what I've read, MOST Afghanis just want to be able to live their lives and raise their families without having to worry about being killed everyday."

I'm sure you are right. Most polls of 'Afghans' that I am aware of also so no real desire (except for among a hard core minority) for a return to the brutality of the Taleban.

Yet I'm sure that the same polls will also show no particular 'love' for foreign rule or the ethnic divisions that history has forced on them....
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News