What is Digg?28 Comments
- sherrife, on 01/25/2008, -6/+27The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are merely two theatres of the same racist, imperialist war on terror.
Don't be fooled by the guise of 'humanitarian intervention'. The US state department estimated that the life expectancy for Afghanis before the war "45.1 years for women and 46.6 years for men". The CIA World Book now has figures in the range of 43 for both genders, whilst other ( probably less biased) sources are much less optimistic, stating rather that children are expected to live to the ripe old age of 38.
This is not about democracy, this is not about peace, this is about strategic, economic and military control.
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/sa/8222. ...
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world ...
http://www.afghanimodelschool.org/afghanistan.htm
(My apologies for posting the same post under two different articles about Afghanistan). - phnx0221, on 01/25/2008, -5/+24Wow. There is so much outlined in this article that I wasn't aware of, it is surprising. The fact that we had favorable relations with the Taliban during the Clinton Administration while Unocal (there's that damn company again, they were doing their pipeline in Mayanmar as well) was looking to build their pipeline through Afghanistan, they were working with the Taliban, and the government of Afghanistan. In fact, they admired the "discipline" of the Taliban, and according to the article, the Wall Street Journal stated that "[the Taliban] are the players most capable of achieving peace in Afghanistan at this moment in history".
Unbelievable.
It gets worse. So, the Taliban, fearing a sullied relationship with the West, actually offers to put Osama Bin Laden on house arrest, and after viewing the evidence hand him over to the United States. And we turned them down, preferring to make a show of our might by bombing them?!
We did the same with Iraq. Saddam offered to leave the country, and we refused the surrender, preferring to make a grandiose display of our might, and our strength, and our propaganda campaign to go after the enemy with force, and bring democracy to the region of those left behind.
I am absolutely disgusted after reading this article. Yet I am also grateful to have read it, for at least I know completely (it isn't just an idea in my head), that we would much rather prefer to make a show of our might, solidifying our presence in those regions for years to come, then actually have the offenders brought to justice as claimed. We have killed millions of people, displaced millions more, and have arrested and tortured thousands, over a display of arrogance, and a securing of a presence for economic and resource related strategies. Those *****. - natedouglas, on 01/25/2008, -3/+20****** blood*
The Afghan War is something I've tried hard to forget about these past few years. "Okay, they're out there looking for Osama or wtfever, and they're allowing the peasants to grow poppies, and they're sort of... like... maintaining order or whatever. Aside from that football player getting whacked by his buddies, the situation is at least tolerable."
Thanks a lot, Buttmunch.
(;-)) - cxrfreeman, on 01/25/2008, -3/+18if you like this piece, check out Pilger's documentary, 'War on Democracy'.
- sherrife, on 01/25/2008, -3/+16You and Amy are examples of a broader phenomenon I've noticed even on the radical left. So many people are viciously against the Iraq war, but have maintained the illusion that Afghanistan is fundamentally different. That's why I posted this article, to try and destroy those deadly misconceptions.
Nations never go enter other nations for humanitarian reasons under capitalism; it's always about corporate profit and strategic interests of the ruling class. Because lets be clear. The average American has not gained from this war. In fact, thousands of working-class soldiers have died, a million Iraqis (from estimate by leading European medical journal, Lancet) as well, and at the same time as hundreds of billions of dollars fund this invasion, 45 million Americans have no access to healthcare. These wars are about imperialism for the rich. That's why we will never see interventions into Sudan, Congo, Haiti, Somalia etc.... It's just not profitable or of geo-strategic importance. - thomsamuels, on 01/25/2008, -2/+12"I am absolutely disgusted after reading this article. Yet I am also grateful to have read it, for at least I know completely (it isn't just an idea in my head), that we would much rather prefer to make a show of our might, solidifying our presence in those regions for years to come, then actually have the offenders brought to justice as claimed."
...nearly as poignant and thought-provoking as the article itself. - thomsamuels, on 01/25/2008, -2/+12It's almost a futile act to mentally reason with the justifications that the leaders of my country have for acting the way that they do. I would, in a different time and place, be a patriot (a curiously American sentiment) in the way that the brave men that made our country were. But, we live in this time. And I can't help but be overwhelmed at the sheer magnitude of our global decisions. I'm not yet ready to say that I am ashamed of my homeland (our president is another matter altogether), but our actions continue to leave me fewer choices. I truthfully fear that the country of Afghanistan (a country, mind you, with real people, families, problems, love, hate, and beauty) will forever be brushed "under the carpet" for an idea that is neither moral or logical.
This war has nothing to do with what it means to be an American. I cannot escape the noxious feeling that I get when reading this story.... - phnx0221, on 01/25/2008, -2/+11Ah, Omar beat me to this. Nate, I'm in the same damn boat you are. I've been learning more about Afghanistan recently, but only in relation to Pakistan, somehow it never came to me to learn more about our involvement in it (aside from the generally widely known stuff about our involvement with our proxy war). This blows that ignorance wide open. Omar, thanks for breaking that bubble, even though I as well, agree that you're a buttmunch for it. :)
- sherrife, on 01/25/2008, -2/+10Yea, it's ***** isn't it... when you _really_ find out how ***** up the system is, when _every last_ illusion is removed and you come to the clear realisation that thousands of people are dying daily, as a logical, and _predictable_ result of capitalist exploitation.
"The need of a constantly expanding market for its products chases the bourgeoisie over the whole surface of the globe. It must nestle everywhere, settle everywhere, establish connections everywhere'" - A prescient quote from a relatively unknown social theorist writing in the 1800's. - sherrife, on 01/25/2008, -1/+8I think the point is that these wars are not being fought on behalf of the American working-class, but in spite of it.
While people die in New Orleans, Harlem and other working-class ghettos, your government spends hundreds of billions of dollars killing American soldiers, Afghanis, and Iraqis in one fell swoop. Same thing with us here in Australia. The overwhelming majority of citizens never wanted to go to either country, but we went anyway.
These are not democratic systems. - malaak, on 01/25/2008, -2/+8Thanks for submitting this.... I'm also in that boat w/Amy and Nate.... but we're closer to shore now.
;-) - inactive, on 01/25/2008, -1/+6Uh huh.
Or if they just stayed out of other country's business.
But then they couldn't make all those unfair deals that benefit US shareholders. - zappa717, on 01/25/2008, -3/+8Awe come on. You didn't REALLY believe what they said on TV did ya? You know there's oil there and the pipeline thang. I truly do not believe anything on MSM any more and actually ponder most every conspiracy theory because you just don't know. Sad, sad state.
- inactive, on 01/25/2008, -3/+7Look for Tim Osman.
America created Al Qaeda. Just look before burying. It's not even a secret. Anyone that lived through the 70's saw this as positive news all over television at the time. Stopping those evil Russians was a good thing back then. - zappa717, on 01/25/2008, -4/+8Our government has never been about helping others, only helping ourselves to the resources, regardless of the cost, although I understand the poppy crops are flourishing again.
- zappa717, on 01/25/2008, -2/+5"90 per cent of world trade in opium originates in Afghanistan"
Incredibly horrible the things "we" do. - Truzseeker, on 01/25/2008, -1/+4another dismal failure
- swrostmore, on 01/26/2008, -0/+3For the record - the Taliban refused to turn over Usama because the US refused to provide evidence he was connected to the attacks....and also for the record, the Taliban, and Usama operated with the blessing of the USA in order to keep Russia out of Afghanistan.
- deadowl, on 01/25/2008, -2/+5i'm starting to get confused here.... is the war against scientology part of the war on terror?
- sherrife, on 01/25/2008, -2/+5Nope, a total success for corporate profits and American strategic power. They got exactly what they were after; control of two sides of Iran's border, a gas pipeline, and plenty of weapons sales.
- rlh1, on 01/25/2008, -1/+2Actually, the poor Afghans have been screwed over since the Soviets moved in and it went down hill from their.
You can read 1000 articles on the net pro and against every political and historical point.
I generally tend to think that when things are really bad, people vote with their feet.
Under the Soviets, the Taliban and the Warlords, 5 million moved out.
When the Americans through out the Taliban, millions moved back......
That's probably the only evidence that I needed to make my decision. - rlh1, on 01/25/2008, -5/+6Ah, praises of the Taliban again.
Lets see, during Taliban reign there are 5 million Afghan refugees in neighboring states.
Almost as soon as the Taliban are pushed out, refugees start returning.
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/afghan?page ...
America is making mistakes in this conflict, they should have finished this and never gone into Iraq, but if millions returned after the Americans went in ....... were people better off under the Taliban ? - sherrife, on 01/25/2008, -2/+2Actually they might have been, even the CIA says so. Did you read my first post?
- inactive, on 01/25/2008, -2/+2Right, *****.
What right does any country have to say what goes on in their borders, right?
Might makes right, correct? So the US can do any damn thing they want.
WHoooooO!
Wow, what a surprise. Some dumbass who thinks the US can be a huge ***** but still expects the US to be treated with respect.
How ***** dumb is that?
I realize you are a right wing *****, but TRY to put yourself in their shoes for a few minutes.
Think about what it would be like to be treated the way the US treats them.
And get a ***** clue.
The ***** at LGF are NOT going to help you figure this out. - inactive, on 01/25/2008, -4/+3What a crock of *****. I can't believe this stupid ***** even gets dugg.
This entire article reeks of *****, evidence-free information, and made-up quotes. What a joke it is to imply that we were overstepping our authority by going after OBL instead of accepting a ***** promise from crazed Jihadists (and you can tell that you're crazy if you buy this ***** because of the immense international support for Afghanistan and OEF as compared to Iraq and OIF).
I'm sorry that people are being hurt because of OEF. The Taliban brought that upon them, not us. We bring aid and civilization their way, but we also have a war to win. - inactive, on 01/25/2008, -4/+3If only America was better at implementing strategic, economic, and military control.
- fixhist, on 01/25/2008, -7/+6Pashtoons are all time great warriors, be it USSR, NATO or American Lap dog Musharaf.
"WAR" or "NO WAR" Pathan is the name for being true to word & deeds.
Their Traditions,culture,hospitality,friendships take precedence over good or bad times.
If you don't know,go read your ***** history,Pathans don't read history they make it. - rlh1, on 01/25/2008, -3/+1More Drivel. ---- Right Mr.
The US didn't really give a flying leap what the Taliban did.....other then driving off millions of their own countrymen. But that's not the reason we went in.
It was because ----- a group of people (Al-Qaida under the leadership of Bin Laden) with the support of the functioning government ( The Taliban) plotted and murdered 3,000 people and caused 10's of billions of dollars damage to the US economy.
The US told the Taliban to turn him over. They proceeded to say that under Islamic law, Bin Laden was a guest and they could not turn him over.
If they didn't what the US to have a say " what goes on in their borders" they probably shouldn't have let old Mr. Bin Laden set up their little training schools and once he was a bad boy they probably should have turned him over to the evil United States.....
But of course, it is unjustified. I'm sure that if we took out the financial center of Moscow, the Russians would realize that they just need to accept the fact it's part of our culture.......
But then again, it was an inside job, right.....
Digg is coming to a city (and computer) near you! Check out all the details on our 
© Digg Inc. 2009
— Content created and posted by Digg users is