Ishmael
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2001
- Posts
- 84,005
The ongoing military actions in Afghanistan to remove whatever remnants of Al Queda and the Taliban should continue. But there is a group that are pointing to the failure of the forces involved in the creation of a government and a country. Perhaps they may be excused for not facing the reality of the situation for not having studied Afghan history and culture. I'm not an expert but I have found a few facts that may be of interest.
Afghanistan has been perpetually at war for the last 2,500 years. When not repelling Imperialist powers, they war with themselves.
Afghanistan is geographically situated across all of the major trade routes of old. And apparently of contemporary times as well. It's mountianous with poor infrastructure. This means that most of the peoples there have lived in isolation for centuries. Each valley and habitable area of the country has it's own tribe with it's own leadership. There are a few cities with some industry. But on the main the cities are ruled by the elite and the cops, whereas the countryside is province of the local tribal warlord. Government as we know it begins and ends at the city gates.
It is difficult for a Euro-centric culture to understand the culture of peoples, that except for their weapons, are barely into the stone age. The country side better qualifies as being in the hunter-gatherer stage of evolution
In times of plenty they make war on each other if there is no one else about to war against. In times of tribulation they survive.
The Russians went into Afghanistan, the latest of many foriegn powers going back for centuries, for two reasons. They intended to bring themselves one step closer to access to the Indian Ocean and they wanted a buffer zone between themselves and the rising Islamic Fundamentalist movement growing in Iran. Their method of doing this was to attack and hold the cities, especially the capital, thereby declaring victory in the Euro-centric manner. And if they had been dealing with an advanced culture it would have worked. The made a huge mistake as it turns out.
Everyone wants the Afghans, and the Afghans want to be left alone. Especially in the country side.
Nation builders in Afghanistan are doomed to failure, as are any invader. Short of genocide the Afghans will do as they've done for centuries. Make war, make babies, and generally ignore the rest of the world.
My thoughts are simply that we should:
1. Get out as soon as is practically possible.
2. NOT participate in any UN effort at nation building.
3. Support the Afghani's in repelling any other foriegn invader that may want to take advantage.
Ishmael
Afghanistan has been perpetually at war for the last 2,500 years. When not repelling Imperialist powers, they war with themselves.
Afghanistan is geographically situated across all of the major trade routes of old. And apparently of contemporary times as well. It's mountianous with poor infrastructure. This means that most of the peoples there have lived in isolation for centuries. Each valley and habitable area of the country has it's own tribe with it's own leadership. There are a few cities with some industry. But on the main the cities are ruled by the elite and the cops, whereas the countryside is province of the local tribal warlord. Government as we know it begins and ends at the city gates.
It is difficult for a Euro-centric culture to understand the culture of peoples, that except for their weapons, are barely into the stone age. The country side better qualifies as being in the hunter-gatherer stage of evolution
In times of plenty they make war on each other if there is no one else about to war against. In times of tribulation they survive.
The Russians went into Afghanistan, the latest of many foriegn powers going back for centuries, for two reasons. They intended to bring themselves one step closer to access to the Indian Ocean and they wanted a buffer zone between themselves and the rising Islamic Fundamentalist movement growing in Iran. Their method of doing this was to attack and hold the cities, especially the capital, thereby declaring victory in the Euro-centric manner. And if they had been dealing with an advanced culture it would have worked. The made a huge mistake as it turns out.
Everyone wants the Afghans, and the Afghans want to be left alone. Especially in the country side.
Nation builders in Afghanistan are doomed to failure, as are any invader. Short of genocide the Afghans will do as they've done for centuries. Make war, make babies, and generally ignore the rest of the world.
My thoughts are simply that we should:
1. Get out as soon as is practically possible.
2. NOT participate in any UN effort at nation building.
3. Support the Afghani's in repelling any other foriegn invader that may want to take advantage.
Ishmael
